Oscillation Mechanism and Setting Guideline for Inverter Volt-Var Control
Abstract
While volt-var function of PV inverters can help to mitigate voltage violations caused by PV integration, it has been shown that improper volt-var settings can lead to voltage and power oscillations. Different types of models have been utilized in the literature to analyze the inverter volt-var induced oscillations but very few are validated through lab testing of commercial inverters. This paper extends the previous research in this area by developing simulation models that match closely with the lab testing results of commercial inverters. Based on the validated models, it further investigates the mechanism of volt-var control induced oscillations and illustrate the root cause in a graphical way. Moreover, stability criteria and guidelines for proper inverter control settings to avoid the instability are developed, considering volt-var curve slope, inverter response time, plant location and inverter operating condition. The developed stability criteria are verified via time domain simulations and the setting guidelines are demonstrated on a realistic feeder.
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With continuous regulation, a greater steepness of the Volt/Var characteristic is allowed.
“With continuous regulation, a greater steepness of the Volt/Var characteristic is allowed [32].”
From Determining Volt/Var Characteristics of Electric Vehicle Charging Station Inverters for Voltage Regulation in Distribution Networks (2024) · cites this paper as [32]
This stability criterion is valid for voltage regulation with a delay, when the change in reactive power of the inverter occurs periodically.
“This criterion is valid for voltage regulation with a delay, when the change in the reactive power of the inverter occurs periodically.”
From Determining Volt/Var Characteristics of Electric Vehicle Charging Station Inverters for Voltage Regulation in Distribution Networks (2024) · cites this paper as [32]
As a condition for stability of inverter operation in Volt/Var regulation mode, the slope m must be less than 1/(∂U/∂Q).
“As a condition for the stability of the inverter operation in the Volt/Var regulation mode, the following criterion is formulated: m < 1 ∂U/∂Q .”
From Determining Volt/Var Characteristics of Electric Vehicle Charging Station Inverters for Voltage Regulation in Distribution Networks (2024) · cites this paper as [32]
There is a possibility of undamped oscillations in the reactive power of inverters with a large slope of the Volt/Var characteristic.
“As shown in [26,32,33], there is a possibility of undamped oscillations in the reactive power of inverters with a large slope of the Volt/Var characteristic.”
From Determining Volt/Var Characteristics of Electric Vehicle Charging Station Inverters for Voltage Regulation in Distribution Networks (2024) · cites this paper as [32]
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Voronin, V., Nepsha, F., & Ilyushin, P. (2024) · World Electric Vehicle Journal · doi:10.3390/wevj15120553 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“As shown in [26,32,33], there is a possibility of undamped oscillations in the reactive power of inverters with a large slope of the Volt/Var characteristic.”
- Authors
- Wang, W., Shi, X., Brewster, C., & Huque, A.
- Affiliations
- Electric Power Research Institute (US)
- Venue
- 2020 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)
- Publisher
- IEEE
- Published
- 2020-06-14
- Pages
- 2032-2039
- ISSN
- 0160-8371 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3120951856
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 2.62
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Conference record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Control and Systems Engineering › Microgrid Control and Optimization
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Optimal Power Flow Distribution
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Power System Optimization and Stability
- Keywords
- photovoltaic inverter, voltage oscillations, power system oscillations, stability criteria, photovoltaic integration, voltage regulation, grid-connected photovoltaic systems
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