Optimal Control for Speed Governing System of On-Grid Adjustable-Speed Pumped Storage Unit Aimed at Transient Performance Improvement

Having great performance on active power regulation, grid-connected adjustable-speed pumped storage unit (ASPSU) has attracted world-wide concern. This superior transient response is achieved by both its excitation system and speed governing system, but dynamic characteristics study of ASPSU taking into account the optimal control of speed governor has seldom been explored. This paper first presents small-signal-stability model of on-grid ASPSU. Furthermore, instead of the dynamic-performance-indexes rule, a stability-degree criteria is proposed to optimize parameters for the speed regulator of ASPSU, which aims at improving the dynamic behavior of rotational speed and guide vane opening. Firstly, a mathematical model of on-grid ASPSU with power priority control is derived and it is validated by comparing simulated performance with on-site measurements of a Japanese commissioned ASPSU. Secondly, the small-signal-stability model is showcased, and the influence of control parameters on the stability degree which builds the bridge between eigenvalues and transient performance is investigated in details. Thirdly, instead of improved integral of time-weighted-absolute-error criteria, a novel stability-degree criteria is utilised in particle swarm optimization algorithm to optimise the regulator’s parameters of ASPSU. Finally, with the optimised parameters, the indicial response of a 400MW on-grid ASPSU built with PSCAD/EMTDC is significantly enhanced.