Predictive Current control of Grid Connected Inverter

to inject constant power under unbalanced voltages

Gustavo Hunter

Ramon Blasco-Gimenez

Ruben Pena

Ivan Andrade

Universidad de Concepcion Universitat Politecnica de Valencia Universidad de Magallanes Universidad de Concepcion

Edmundo Larenas #215
Av. Bulnes #01855
Camino de Vera, S/N
Jaime Torrent #044
Concepcion, CHILE
Punta Arenas, CHILE
Valencia, Spain
Concepcion, CHILE
Email: rupena@udec.cl
Email: i.andrade.a@ieee.org
Email: r.blasco@ieee.org
Email: gushunter@udec.cl

AbstractThis paper presents a theoretical analysis for grid

connected Inverter supplying constant active and reactive power
to the electric system during unsymmetrical voltage fault conditions. It is shown that active/reactive power injected into the
grid will depend on voltage unbalanced level. For a given active
and reactive power and supply voltage, the strategy generates
reference currents. A predictive current control is then used
to impose those currents by the inverter. Results showing the
performance of the strategy are presented during unbalanced
voltage sag and swells.

dia (t)
+ Ria (t) + ea (t) + VnN (t)
dt
dib (t)
+ Rib (t) + eb (t) + VnN (t)
VbN (t) = L
dt
dic (t)
+ Ric (t) + ec (t) + VnN (t)
VcN (t) = L
dt

VaN (t) = L

(1)
(2)
(3)

Keywords Solar power generation,Wind power generation,

Current control, Power generation control, Voltage unbalance

I.

I NTRODUCTION

Given the random nature of wind and solar farm power

generated by these power plants, power electronic interfaces
are connected between the energy sources and the grid.
Usually the grid side converter is a DC/AC inverter which
must keep good performance during grid faults.
Unbalanced transient voltage fault in the network could
lead to power oscillations which could be reflected directly
or indirectly to solar or wind energy sources. These power
oscillations are undesirable because they could harm of the
mechanical stresses and/or reduce the energy capture from
the wind and solar radiation [1]-[2].
This paper presents a predictive current control strategy to
supply constant active and reactive power to the grid during
unbalanced voltage sag and swells. The main contribution of
the work is to demonstrate that a restriction arises for the
amount of active and reactive power to be injected into the
grid. This restriction depends on the magnitude of the zero
sequence voltage unbalanced. A predictive current control has
been implemented to impose the reference currents generated
by the strategy in order to inject a desired active and reactive
power. Results for unbalances sag and swells are presented.
II.

Fig. 1: Grid connected inverter.

Using (4), the system model is transformed into an alfabeta gamma coordinates, where the gamma component reflects
the zero sequence voltage.

1
1
21
2
2
3
(4)
Tabc =
0
23
2
3
1
1
1
2

A. Active Power
t

In coordenates abc considering [vabc ] = [ va vb vc ]

t
and [iabc ] = [ ia ib ic ] , then the active power is obtained
as p(t) = [vabc ]t [iabc ]. Using [vabc ] = T 1 [v ] and [iabc ] =
T 1 [i ] the active power in coordinates is given by:
p(t) = (T 1 [v ])t (T 1 [i ])

(5)

p(t) = [v ]t (T 1 )t (T 1 )[i ]

(6)

S ISTEM M ODELING

Fig. 1 shows the power converter connected to the three

phase supply voltages through filter inductance L and corresponding resistance R. The modelling of the system in abc
coordinates is given in [1]-[3].

Because ia + ib + ic = 0, then the instantaneous power is

calculated by (7).

p(t) =

3
3
v i + v i
2
2

(7)

This is a well-known expression and it is verified that

because the zero sequence current is null, then the zero
sequence voltage presents in the faults does not affect the
evaluation of the active power.

factor. Both
solutions
mentioned above, have the restriction
2
2
2P 2 v2 +Q2 v
+Q2 v
0 so there is a relationship between
that
2
2 +v
2v2 +v

Pref and Qref expressed in (15) to obtained valid reference

currents.

Qref

B. Reactive Power
The instantaneous reactive power is obtained as: |qabc (t)| =
|[vabc ] [iabc ]| and using [vabc ] = T 1 [v ] and [iabc ] =
T 1 [i ], yields to:


|[qabc (t)]| = (T 1 [v ]) (T 1 [i ])
(8)

Vpcc [V]

400
200
0
200
400

III.

Iabc [A]

(9)

s
P v +v

2 +Q2 v 2 +Q2 v 2
2P 2 v

2 +v 2 +v 2
2v

2 +v 2
v

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

5
0
5

P[W],Q[VAr]

10

3000
P
|Q|

2000
1000
0
0

0.05

0.1

time [s]

Fig. 2: Relationship between P and Q

(11)

v
r
P v + v
=

s
P v v

P
=

2 +Q2 v 2 +Q2 v 2
2P 2 v

2 +v 2 +v 2
2v

2 +v 2
v

IV.

C ONTROL

In order to imposed the reference currents by the inverter

a predictive current control is used. In order to do so it is
necessary to obtain a discrete model in coordenates for
estimating the currents in the instant k + 1. These currents will
depend on the inverter vector voltage and the actual current and
grid voltage values. [7], [8].
A. Currents Discrete Model

2 +Q2 v 2
2P 2 v2 +Q2 v

2 +v 2
2v2 +v

(12)

v2 + v2

i2

0.1

C URRENT R EFERENCES

i1

0.05

(10)

Considering (7), (10), P = 23 Pref and Q = 23 Qref . It can

be shown that the reference currents i and i to be imposed
by the inverter, for balanced or unbalanced grid voltage, can
be calculted as: [3], [4], [5], [6].

i1 =

10

On the other hand if the grid voltage is balanced v = 0,

but if there a fault in one or two phases v 6= 0, then the
reactive instantaneous power is calculated by (10).
3q 2 2
|[qabc (t)]| =
2v (i + i2 ) + (v i v i )2
2

(15)

To ilustrate the situation in (15) let us consider the value

of sag or swell in one phase only as (1 )vphase where
1 1. Fig. 2 shows the |Q|/P ratio and the power
factor relationship to be acomplished, in order to obtain real
values of reference currents as a function of .

Using (M A)(M B) = det(M )(M 1 )t (AB), where

dim(M ) = 3, is obtained the instantaneous reactive power of
[qabc (t)] by (9).


|[qabc (t)]| = |T 1 |((T 1 )1 )t ([v ] [i ])

2v
q

Pref
2
v + v2

di
Using the Euler Aproximation for calculating dt
it can be
obtained a discrete model of the system in , as given by
(16).


i (k + 1) =
(13)

RTs
L


i (k) +

Ts
(v (k) e (k))
L
(16)

where:
r
P v v
i2 =

2 +Q2 v 2
2P 2 v2 +Q2 v

2 +v 2
2v2 +v

v2 + v2

(14)

There are two posibles set of reference currents, the first

one i1 , i1 , corresponds to a lagging power factor, while
the second solution i2 , i2 corresponds to a leading power

i
v
e
Ts
L
R

:
:
:
:
:
:

Current of the system in

Voltage applied by the inverter in
Voltage grid in
Sample Time
Line Inductance
Line Resistence

B. Predictive Control

TABLE I: Systems Parameters

Fig. 3 shows the control algorithm proposed. In each

sample time the optimal state is applied, calculated in the
previous sample time. To calculate this vector voltage it is
necessary to minimize a cost function that depends on the
absolute error between the reference current i and the
estimate current of the system ip (k + 1). Note the references
current used for k + 1 it is the same current calculated for k,
because i (k + 1) i (k).

20[mH]

0.5[]

Ts

50 [s]

erms

380 [V] (sag)

erms

220 [V] (swell)

Vdc

540[V]

fe

50 [Hz]

Start

step of Pref = 3000[W ] is applied. The reference power is

set to zero at t = 0.15[s]. The reference active power is set to
Qref = 3000[V Ar] at t = 0.2[s].

Apply optimal v (k)

400

Measure i(k) and e(k)

Vpcc [V]

200

Calculate references i and i

0
200
400

x=0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

Iabc [A]

10

x=x+1

5
0
5

s
ip (k + 1) = 1 RT
i (k)
L
+ TLs (vx (k) e (k))

Wait next
Sample time

ip |-|i

4000

ip |

no
Storage optimal value

x=7?

P[W],|Q|[VAr]

g=

|i

10

3000
2000

|Q|

1000
0

0.05

0.1

0.15
time[s]

0.2

0.25

0.3

Fig. 4: Simulated with references P=3000[W] and

Q=3000[VAr]

yes
Fig. 3: Control algorithm proposed

Good tracking is observed for step changes for active and

reactive power.
B. Simulation result for a Sag=0.4[pu] in one phase

V.

S IMULATION R ESULTS

The proposed system and control technique have been

validated using Simulink/Matlab simulations. The system parameters are described in Table I. The sample frequency is set
20 kHz. The filter impedance connected between the inverter
and the grid is R = 0.5[] and L = 20[mH]. Simulations for
normal and grid fault operation, for a sag of 40% and swell
40% with constant reference active power and reactive power
are shown.
Note that in the sag condition of line voltage is erms =
380[V ] and for the swell is erms = 220[V ]. This is because the
DC link voltage inverter is set to Vdc = 540[V ], and enough
DC voltage is needed to imposed the current when that is a
swell of 40% in one phase.
A. Similutation for balance voltage operation
Fig. 4 shows the result considering initial reference of
Pref = 0[W ] and Qref = 0[V Ar]. Then at t = 0.05[s] a

Fig. 5 shows the results when a sag=0.4[pu] in one phase

is applied. Initially Pref = 0[W ] and Qref = 800[V Ar].
Then at t = 0.05[s] a step change in Pref of 3000[W ] is
applied, to ensure that real reference currents are obtained
for the magnitude of voltage sag consider. The sag fault is
generated during t = 0.1[s] and t = 0.2[s].
In order to track the reference powers the control system
injects current harmonics. This is shown in the current spectrum in Fig. 6.
Fig. 7 shows simultation results when the sag is applied
and the reference reactive power is set to Qref = 3000[V Ar].
Initially Pref = 0[W ] and at t = 0.05 the reference reactive
power is changed to Qref = 3000[V Ar]. These references
values ensure that the restriction in (15) is valid for the voltage
sag of 40%.
Again, during the fault, the control strategy injects harmonic currents in order to track the references powers, as
shown in Fig. 8.

400

200

200

Vpcc [V]

Vpcc [V]

400

0
200
400

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

400

0.3

Iabc [A]

10

Iabc [A]

10

0
5
10

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

P[W],|Q|[VAr]

|Q|

1000
0

0.05

0.1

0.15
time[s]

0.2

0.25

Magnitud [%]

Magnitud [%]
100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

50

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

Magnitud [%]
300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

0.05

0.1

0.15
time[s]

0.2

0.25

0.3

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

Ib
50

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

100

50

200

|Q|

50

800

Ic

100

100

Ib
Magnitud [%]

Magnitud [%]

0.05

Ia

800

100
Magnitud [%]

100

100

0.3

Fig. 7: Sag 40% with P=0[W] and Q=3000[VAr]

50

0.25

1000
0

Ia

0.2

2000

0.3

100

0.15

3000

Fig. 5: Sag 40% with P=3000[W] and Q=800[VAr]

0.1

4000

2000

0.05

10

0.3

3000

4000
P[W],|Q|[VAr]

0
200

800

Fig. 6: FFT during Sag 40% with P=3000[W] and

Q=800[VAr]

C. Simulation result for a Swell=0.4[pu] in one phase

As it was mentioned before, the grid voltage was set to
220[V ] in this case, in order to have enough DC link voltage (
Vdc = 540[V ] ) to impose the reference currents. Fig. 9 shows
a simultation results when a swell=0.4[pu] is applied. At the
beginning the reference power is set to Pref = 0[W ] and
Qref = 800[V Ar]. Then at t = 0.05 a step change in Qref
of 3000[V Ar] is applied. The swell fault is generated during
t = 0.1[s] and t = 0.2[s]. As it can be seen in Fig. 10 during
the swell there are current harmonics. The third harmonic has
the highest value.
Fig. 11 shows simultation result when a swell=0.4[pu] is
applied. Initially reference powers are set to Pref = 0[W ]
and Qref = 0[V Ar]. A step change in Qref = 3000[V Ar] is
applied at t = 0.05[s] . These power references again ensure
real reference currents for this fault condition. As it can be seen

Ic
50

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

Fig. 8: FFT during Sag 40% with P=0[W] and Q=3000[W]

in Fig. 10, during the swell there are also currents harmonics.
The third harmonic is the dominant.

D. Simulation result for a two levels of sag in one phase

The simulation results shown before are obtained with
reference powers that ensure that restriccion in (15) is satisfied.
The following results show that the system cannot regulated the
current when this restriction is not fulfilled. In Fig. 13 the initial reference powers are set to P = 0[W ] and Q = 800[V Ar].
These reference powers ensure that real reference currents for
a sag of 0.4[pu] are obtain. During t = 0.1[s] and t = 0.15[s]
the voltage sag is 0.4[pu] and during t = 0.15[s] and t = 0.2[s]
the voltage sag is 0.5[pu]. For the second sag the restriction
in (15) is not obeyed and the reference currents obtained from
(11) -(14) are not real.

400

200

200

Vpcc [V]

Vpcc [V]

400

0
200
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

400

0.3

20

20

10

10

Iabc [A]

Iabc [A]

400

0
10
20

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

P[W],|Q|[VAr]

|Q|

1000
0

0.05

0.1

0.15
time[s]

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

|Q|

0.05

0.1

0.15
time[s]

0.2

0.25

0.3

Fig. 11: Swell 40% with P=0[W] and Q=3000[VAr]

100
Ia

Magnitud [%]

Magnitud [%]

50

Ia
50

0
0

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

100
Ib

Magnitud [%]

Magnitud [%]

0.25

1000
0

100

50

Ib
50

0
0

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

100

100
Ic

Magnitud [%]

Magnitud [%]

0.2

2000

0.3

100

50

0.15

3000

Fig. 9: Swell 40% with P=3000[W] and Q=600[VAr]

0.1

4000

2000

0.05

20

0.3

3000

10

4000
P[W],|Q|[VAr]

0
200

Ic
50

0
0

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

D ISCUSSION A ND C ONCLUSION

This paper has shown a theoretical analysis on the requiered reference currents to supply a given active and reactive
power to the grid during unbalance faults. It has been shown
that active and reactive power to be injected must satisfied a
certain restriction depend on the magnitude of the grid zero
sequence voltage. Several results are been obtained for grid
voltage sags and swells showing a good performance of the
strategy when the restriction in (15) is satisfied. The analysis
has been shown that is not posible inject constant active power
for f p = 1 during a sag or swell.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was funded by Fondecyt Chile
under Contract 1121104. The financial support of
CONICYT/FONDAP/15110019 is also acknowledged

100

200

300

400
Frequency [Hz]

500

600

700

800

Fig. 12: FFT during Swell 40% with P=0[W] and

Q=3000[VAr]

Fig. 10: FFT during Swell 40% with P=3000[W] and

Q=600[VAr]

VI.

and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology funds

under Grant DPI2010-16714.
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Vpcc [V]

400
200
0
200
400

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.1

0.15
time[s]

0.2

0.25

0.3

Iabc [A]

50

50
0
4

P[W],|Q|[VAr]

x 10

|Q|

2
1
0

0.05

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