09.30 – 09.55
As power systems shift from spinning machines to power electronics, they are losing something vital: inertia. In his MSc thesis research at TenneT BV under the Eindhoven University of Technology, Florian Bingel tackles this instability head-on with a bold idea teaching converters to “feel” frequency more intelligently. The work introduces an adaptive virtual inertia strategy for grid-forming converters based on Virtual Oscillator Control. At its core lies the concept of Complex Frequency, which separates local and global frequency dynamics, allowing faster and more precise disturbance detection than conventional PLL-based methods. A fuzzy-logic controller continuously tunes a key control parameter, enabling the converter to respond differently to load steps, load shedding, and both symmetrical and asymmetrical faults. Tested on modified IEEE 9-bus systems, the approach consistently reduces frequency deviations and Rate-of-Change-of-Frequency beyond industry limits. The result: a smarter, faster, and more resilient converter control strategy offering a practical pathway toward stable, low-inertia grids dominated by renewable energy.
Speaker: Florian Bingel – TenneT