EDR-5000
IM02602007E
LVRT - Low Voltage Ride Through
Available Elements:
LVRT
Why LVRT? - Motivation for LVRT
The rapid development of distributed resources (DR) based on the renewable energy such as wind, solar and others
has been changing the electric power system and concepts for its control, protection, metering and communication
rapidly, too.
One of the important challenges for the interconnection between the DR and local electric power system (EPS) is the
behaviour of the DR during disturbances within the electrical power system. Most of the disturbances within the EPS
are characterized mainly by non-permanent system voltage collapses (voltage dip/sag) with different time durations.
According to traditional protection concepts a distributed energy resource should be tripped as fast as possible from the
grid in case of a significant low voltage condition. This is no longer acceptable because of the continuous rising share of
distributed energy resources within the energy market. Uncontrolled disconnecting significant parts of the power
generation during disturbances within the grid endangers the system stability of the electrical power system.
It was reported
3
that during system fault with low voltage drops, a complete 5000 MW wind park (without LVRT
capability) was decoupled from the electrical power system. The consequence was a dangerous system voltage and
frequency instability.
Based on experiences like that, lots of electric utilities and state public utilities have issued interconnection standards
which require Low-Voltage-Ride-Through (LVRT) capability during EPS disturbances.
What does LVRT mean in detail?
It is no longer allowed to decouple/disconnect a DR from the grid just because of a non-permanent voltage dip.
Protective relays and control units have to take this into account.
Instead of that, the distributed resource has to be able to ride through such disturbances according to a
LVRT profile.
The shape of this
LVRT profile is very similar according to the different guidelines within different countries or local
utilities. But they could differ in details.
By means of
LVRT the system stability is improved in situations, when the contribution of DRs is needed mostly. The
importance of
LVRT will rise with the growing share of DRs within the electrical power system.
Based on the technical requirements mentioned above, a
LVRT protection function was developed for the E-Series
which covers the
LVRT profiles (capabilities) defined by all relevant national and local grid interconnection standards.
The following drawing shows details on the different
LVRT standards in different countries. Please note, that the
standards and hence the grid codes are in some countries still under development.
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