Reactive Power Based Fault Ride Through Control of IBR-Dominated Distribution Networks Under Low WSCR

This study investigated the fault ride through capability of inverter-based resources in weak distribution networks and proposes a fault-oriented reactive power compensation strategy using only point of common coupling voltage measurements. The proposed strategy determines the reactive power command based on the minimum phase voltage, which represents the most severely depressed phase during unbalanced faults, without fault type detection or sequence component analysis. As a result, the same control framework can be applied to single-line-to-ground, double-line-to-ground, and three-phase faults. A detailed MATLAB/Simulink model of a Korean distribution feeder was developed using actual system parameters. The proposed strategy was compared with a no control case and a conservative fixed capacity reactive power injection scheme derived from commonly adopted power factor limits. Simulation results show that the no control case provides no voltage support, while the fixed capacity approach yields limited improvement in weak grids. In contrast, the proposed strategy maintains stable inverter operation and improves voltage recovery. At locations with an extremely low weighted short circuit ratio of 0.303, the proposed strategy prevents inverter tripping during temporary faults and satisfies low voltage ride through requirements, demonstrating its practical effectiveness.