Abstract
The concept of Virtual Synchronous Machines (VSM)
is emerging as an alternative approach for control of power
electronic converters operating in the power system. One main
motivation for applying VSM-based control is to achieve a
simple approach for emulating the inertia effect of traditional
synchronous machines. This paper provides a comprehensive
literature review on VSM and a possible classification of the
different schemes. In addition, the small-signal response of the
inertia emulation characteristics of VSM-based control is
proved to be equivalent to conventional droop-based control for
standalone and microgrid operation of converters. Thus, the
droop gain and the filter time constant of the power feedback in
a droop controller can be directly related to the damping factor
and the inertia constant of a Virtual Synchronous Machine. The
derived results are providing additional physics-based insight
into the operation and tuning of both types of controllers.
is emerging as an alternative approach for control of power
electronic converters operating in the power system. One main
motivation for applying VSM-based control is to achieve a
simple approach for emulating the inertia effect of traditional
synchronous machines. This paper provides a comprehensive
literature review on VSM and a possible classification of the
different schemes. In addition, the small-signal response of the
inertia emulation characteristics of VSM-based control is
proved to be equivalent to conventional droop-based control for
standalone and microgrid operation of converters. Thus, the
droop gain and the filter time constant of the power feedback in
a droop controller can be directly related to the damping factor
and the inertia constant of a Virtual Synchronous Machine. The
derived results are providing additional physics-based insight
into the operation and tuning of both types of controllers.