Coordination of a multiple link HVDC system using local communications based distributed model predictive control

As the complexity of power networks increases, the installation of devices such as High Voltage Direct Current links (HVDC) and Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), and the use of advanced control techniques, can be used to improve network stability. Model Predictive Control (MPC) is an example of such an advanced control technique. However, it is often impractical to implement this technique in a centralised manner, as often the problem can be too computationally complex or several independent controllers may be responsible for different subsystems. Distributed approaches use communication between a number of controllers to approximate control of a centralised system. In this paper it is proposed to use distributed MPC for controlling a multiple link HVDC system using local communications only.