A study of novel real-time power balance strategy with virtual asynchronous machine control for regional integrated electric-thermal energy systems

The development of regional integrated electric-thermal energy systems (RIETES) is considered a promising direction for modern energy supply systems. These systems provide a significant potential to enhance the comprehensive utilization and efficient management of energy resources. Therein, the real-time power balance between supply and demand has emerged as one pressing concern for system stability operation. However, current methods focus more on minute-level and hour-level power optimal scheduling methods applied in RIETES. To achieve real-time power balance, this paper proposes one virtual asynchronous machine (VAM) control using heat with large inertia and electricity with fast response speed. First, the coupling time-scale model is developed that considers the dynamic response time scales of both electric and thermal energy systems. Second, a real-time power balance strategy based on VAM control can be adopted to the load power variation and enhance the dynamic frequency response. Then, an adaptive inertia control method based on temperature variation is proposed, and the unified expression is further established. In addition, the small-signal stability of the proposed control strategy is validated. Finally, the effectiveness of this control strategy is confirmed through MATLAB/Simulink and HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) experiments.