Implementation and Evaluation of a High-Performance Battery Converter System for Providing Synthetic Inertia at Distribution Network Level

This paper presents the implementation and evaluation of a virtual synchronous generator algorithm on a 400 kVA battery converter prototype to provide synthetic inertia at distribution network level. The optimization approach of the VSG implementation is to effectively utilize the damping characteristic of the VSG rotor to achieve an aperiodic inertial power response during sudden power imbalances. Hence, the system is able to provide the maximum synthetic inertia to the grid by fully utilizing the system components without violating safety limits. The impact of the VSG control energy demand and the lifetime of the battery energy storage system are evaluated and possible optimization strategies are suggested. Moreover, the grid frequency constraints needed for the VSG optimization are discussed and gaps within the standards are put up for discussion.