On the Tuning of Fractional Order Resonant Controllers for a Voltage Source Converter in a Weak AC Grid Context

This paper proposes a method for tuning the fractional exponent of different types of fractional order resonant controllers for a voltage source converter in a weak AC grid context. The main objective is to ensure the stability of the controlled system in a weak AC grid environment and to achieve an adequate dynamic response under disturbances. Therefore, six commonly used integer order proportional resonant (PR) control structures are selected from the literature and compared with each other according to their frequency behaviour. Afterwards, a rational approximation for the fractional order term is selected based on continuous fraction expansion technique. The inclusion of a fractional exponent in each integer order PR structure generates the fractional order proportional resonant (FPR) control transfer functions. Once the FPR controllers have been obtained, their closed-loop responses are tested via eigenvalue trajectory analysis. For each FPR control structure, a range of the fractional exponent that ensures stability is obtained. The conclusions of eigenvalue trajectory analysis are tested by implementing the FPR control structures in an specific application consisting in a modular multi-level converter (MMC) connected to a weak AC grid with adjustable short-circuit ratio. By means of time-domain simulations, not only the previous eigenvalue analyses are validated, but also new tuning criteria are given for the fractional exponent in combination with other control parameters, such as the damping frequency and the inductance of the complementary feedback branch. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis of the tuning criteria is carried out for other sizes of the AC filter inductance.