Convexity and Optimal Online Control of Grid-Interfacing Converters with Current Limits

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Streitmatter, Lauren, Joswig-Jones, Trager, Zhang, Baosen
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Streitmatter, Lauren
Joswig-Jones, Trager
Zhang, Baosen
author_facet Streitmatter, Lauren
Joswig-Jones, Trager
Zhang, Baosen
contents Converter-based generators and loads are growing in prevalence on power grids across the globe. The rise of these resources necessitates controllers that handle the power electronic devices' strict current limits without jeopardizing stability or overly constraining behavior. Existing controllers often employ complex, cascaded control loop architecture to saturate currents, but these controllers are challenging to tune properly and can destabilize following large disturbances. In this paper, we extend previous analysis to prove the feasible output region of a grid-connected converter is convex regardless of filter topology. We then formulate a convex optimal control problem from which we derive a projected gradient descent-based controller with convergence guarantees. This approach drives the converter toward optimality in real-time and differs from conventional control strategies that regulate converter outputs around predefined references regardless of surrounding grid conditions. Simulation results demonstrate safe and stabilizing behavior of the proposed controller, in both the single-converter-infinite-bus systems and multi-converter networks.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_17135
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Convexity and Optimal Online Control of Grid-Interfacing Converters with Current Limits
Streitmatter, Lauren
Joswig-Jones, Trager
Zhang, Baosen
Systems and Control
Converter-based generators and loads are growing in prevalence on power grids across the globe. The rise of these resources necessitates controllers that handle the power electronic devices' strict current limits without jeopardizing stability or overly constraining behavior. Existing controllers often employ complex, cascaded control loop architecture to saturate currents, but these controllers are challenging to tune properly and can destabilize following large disturbances. In this paper, we extend previous analysis to prove the feasible output region of a grid-connected converter is convex regardless of filter topology. We then formulate a convex optimal control problem from which we derive a projected gradient descent-based controller with convergence guarantees. This approach drives the converter toward optimality in real-time and differs from conventional control strategies that regulate converter outputs around predefined references regardless of surrounding grid conditions. Simulation results demonstrate safe and stabilizing behavior of the proposed controller, in both the single-converter-infinite-bus systems and multi-converter networks.
title Convexity and Optimal Online Control of Grid-Interfacing Converters with Current Limits
topic Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.17135