Power converter and methods of controlling the same

A method for controlling at least one power converter configured to provide power to an electrical grid through a transmission line, said method comprising:

• monitoring a voltage output of the at least one power converter;
• recording a voltage output data associated with the voltage output;
• receiving a time reference signal and assigning a time-stamp to the voltage output data;
• measuring a voltage phasor at a first location located at an opposite end of the transmission line from the at least one power converter;
• receiving the time reference signal and associating the time reference signal with the voltage phasor to generate phasor data;
• transmitting the phasor data to a power converter controller;
• controlling, using the power converter controller, the at least one power converter based at least partially on the phasor data and the voltage output data;
• determining a power output of the at least one power converter;
• determining an impedance of the transmission line based at least partially on the power output and the phasor data;
• and
• determining a maximum power the electrical grid is able to accept based at least partially on the impedance of the transmission line.

A controller configured to control a power converter coupled to a transmission line having a first end and a second end, said controller comprising:

• a global positioning device (GPS) receiver configured to receive a time reference signal;
• a memory device configured to store voltage output data associated with a voltage output of the power converter, wherein the voltage output data includes voltage output data measured at the first end of the transmission line at a first time;
• and
• a processing device configured to:
• assign a time reference to the voltage output data stored in said memory device;
• receive phasor data from a phasor measurement unit (PMU) positioned at the second end of the transmission line, wherein the phasor data includes a time reference tying the phasor data to the first time;
• compare the phasor data from the first time to the voltage output data from the first time;
• control operation of the power converter based at least partially on the phasor data and the voltage output data;
• determine a power output of the power converter;
• determine an impedance of the transmission line based at least partially on the power output of the power converter and the phasor data;
• and
• determine a maximum power that said electrical grid is able to accept based at least partially on the impedance of the transmission line.