Unified Virtual Oscillator Control for Grid-Forming and Grid-Following Converters

Abstract: A unified virtual oscillator controller (uVOC) is proposed, which enables a unified analysis, design, and implementation framework for both grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) voltage source converters (VSCs). Oscillator based GFM controllers, such as dispatchable virtual oscillator control (dVOC), offer rigorous analytical framework with enhanced synchronization, but lack effective fault handling capability which severely limits practical application. The proposed uVOC facilitates synchronization with an arbitrarily low grid voltage and fast over-current limiting; this enables effective fault ride-through unlike existing GFM controllers which typically switch to a back-up controller during fault. GFM operation with uVOC is achieved in both grid connected and islanded modes with seamless transition between the two. In GFL converters, bidirectional power flow control and DC bus voltage regulation is achieved with uVOC. No phase-locked-loop (PLL) is required for either GFL or GFM operation circumventing the synchronization issues associated with PLLs in weak grid applications. Detail small signal models for GFM and GFL operation have been developed and systematic design guidelines for controller parameters are provided. The proposed controller is validated through hardware experiments in a hybrid AC-DC microgrid.