A Deterministic Approach to Derive the Optimal Synchronous Condenser Synchronization Condition

This paper presents an original deterministic approach to improve the success rate of synchronous condenser grid integration. The start-up process of a synchronous condenser cannot rely on the presence of a supply system to regulate its speed during the synchronization process, as it happens with traditional synchronous generators. In fact, the employment of static frequency converters to boot the machine makes unfeasible its simultaneous presence during the grid integration, making the process uncontrollable. The proposed method determines the optimal frequency and voltage angle to drop the converter to ensure synchronization with the grid within proper thresholds. In particular, this procedure enables to significantly reduce the frequency threshold for the synchronization so to limit the thermal and mechanical stresses of the machine and to increase its lifecycle.