IP Library › Granted Patent US 12683394
Granted Patent B2
US 12683394 · App. 18/330,251 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Nonlinear droop grid-forming inverter control

Inventors: Richard Wallace Kenyon (Boulder, CO); Amirhossein Sajadi (Madison, WI); Bri-Mathias S. Hodge (Golden, CO)
Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
H02J3/0014
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683394
App. No.
18/330,251
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer system for grid-forming control detects a change of a first magnitude in power delivered at a point of interconnection with an alternating current electric grid. The computer system then generates a non-linear change in frequency at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid. Generating the non-linear change in frequency causes a grid interfacing device to compensate in a non-linear manner for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid.

Claims (46)

1 . A grid-forming control method comprising:

detecting a change of a first magnitude in power delivered at a point of interconnection with an alternating current electric grid; and

generating a non-linear change in frequency at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid,

wherein generating the non-linear change in frequency causes a grid-forming inverter to compensate in a non-linear manner for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid,

wherein generating the non-linear change in frequency causes the grid-forming inverter to compensate for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid more than a power imbalance on at least one synchronous generator connected to the alternating current electric grid.

2 . The grid-forming control method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the grid-forming control method is performed at an inverter.

3 . The grid-forming control method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power comprises active power.

4 . The grid-forming control method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power comprises reactive power.

5 . The grid-forming control method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the grid-forming inverter comprises an inverter.

6 . The grid-forming control method as recited in claim 1 , wherein generating the non-linear change in frequency causes an increase in power delivered at the point of interconnection within the alternating current electric grid.

7 . The grid-forming control method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the grid-forming inverter performs an AC-to-AC conversion.

8 . A grid-forming control method, comprising:

detecting a change of a first magnitude in power delivered at a point of interconnection with an alternating current electric grid;

generating a non-linear change in frequency at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid;

detecting a change of a second magnitude in power delivered at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid;

determining that oscillations in the power delivered at the point of interconnection have arrived at a quasi-steady state; and

generating a non-linear change in frequency at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid,

wherein generating the non-linear change in frequency causes a grid-forming inverter to compensate in a non-linear manner for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid, and

wherein generating the non-linear change in frequency causes another grid-forming inverter to change a magnitude of compensation for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid.

9 . The grid-forming control method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the second magnitude is different than the first magnitude.

10 . The grid-forming control method as recited in claim 8 , wherein generating the non-linear change in frequency causes the grid-forming inverter to compensate for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid more than a power imbalance on at least one synchronous generator connected to the alternating current electric grid.

11 . A computer system for grid-forming control comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors configure the computer system to perform:

detect a change of a first magnitude in power delivered at a point of interconnection with an alternating current electric grid; and

generate a non-linear change in frequency at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid,

wherein generation of the non-linear change in frequency causes a grid-forming inverter to compensate in a non-linear manner for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid,

wherein generation of the non-linear change in frequency causes the grid-forming inverter to compensate for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid more than a power imbalance on at least one synchronous generator connected to the alternating current electric grid.

12 . The computer system as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more processors are integrated into an inverter.

13 . The computer system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the power comprises active power.

14 . The computer system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the power comprises reactive power.

15 . The computer system as recited in claim 11 , wherein generating the non-linear change in frequency causes an increase in power delivered at the point of interconnection within the alternating current electric grid.

16 . The computer system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the grid-forming inverter comprises an inverter.

17 . The computer system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the grid-forming inverter performs an AC-to-AC conversion.

18 . A computer system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the computer system to perform:

detect a change of a first magnitude in power delivered at a point of interconnection with an alternating current electric grid;

generate a non-linear change in frequency at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid;

detect a change of a second magnitude in power delivered at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid;

determine that oscillations in the power delivered at the point of interconnection have arrived at a quasi-steady state; and

generate a non-linear change in frequency at the point of interconnection with the alternating current electric grid,

wherein generation of the non-linear change in frequency causes a grid-forming inverter to compensate in a non-linear manner for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid, and

wherein generation of the non-linear change in frequency causes another grid-forming inverter to change a magnitude of compensation for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid.

19 . The computer system as recited in claim 18 , wherein the second magnitude is different than the first magnitude.

20 . The computer system as recited in claim 18 , wherein generation of the non-linear change in frequency causes the grid-forming inverter to compensate for a power imbalance on the alternating current electric grid more than a power imbalance on at least one synchronous generator connected to the alternating current electric grid.