Multi-Stage Sequential Network Energy Control for offshore AC asymmetric fault ride-through of MMC-HVDC system integrated offshore wind farms

Modular Multilevel Converter based High Voltage Direct Current (MMC-HVDC) is the preferred solution to the problem of long-distance transmission from large-scale offshore wind farms (OWFs). When an offshore AC asymmetric fault occurs, OWFs and MMC-HVDC will face the challenge of fault ride-through with power electronic converters on both sides of the fault location. In this paper, a Multi-stage Sequential Network Energy Control (MSNEC) is proposed for offshore AC asymmetric fault ride-through (FRT). Firstly, the constraint relationship among the sequence networks under AC asymmetric faults is revealed. Secondly, the energy control potential of WFMMC is fully explored from the perspective of energy transformation and transfer. Energy control reduces the fault phase current amplitude by putting in submodules at the fault phase. Additional sub-modules are put in the non-faulted phase to realize series voltage dividing effect to actively prevent non-faulted phase fault overvoltage. The MSNEC considers the FRT requirements for multiple stages of fault occurrence, fault steady state, and fault recovery. It combines sequential network control, energy control, and voltage support of the converter station. It realizes AC asymmetric FRT from four aspects: power equivalence, negative sequence suppression, energy control, and voltage stabilization. Finally, a simulation model of OWFs connected to the onshore grid via MMC-HVDC is established in PSCAD/EMTDC. Simulation results verify MSNEC not only improves the AC asymmetric FRT capability of the OWFs and WFMMC, but also promotes the efficient consumption of renewable energy and improves the economics of the OWFs grid-connected system.