The objective of this paper is to enhance the control performance of voltage source converter (VSC) stations within multi-terminal high voltage direct current (M-HVdc) grids under dynamic conditions. This paper presents the application of particle swarm optimization (PSO) to tune the control parameters of VSC stations. VSCs are non-linear components of the M-HVdc grids. Conventional techniques use approximated linear models to tune the control parameters which do not produce optimal results. Thus, PSO is employed to optimally tune the control parameters of VSC stations. The algorithm of the proposed objective function applies simultaneous optimization of inner and outer control layers. Dynamic simulations of a four-terminal HVdc system are developed in PSCAD/EMTDC to extol the merits of the presented optimization technique. Results show the steady state and dynamic control performances, both for classically and PSO-based tuned parameters, during load demand change from ac grids, wind power change, and eventual permanent VSC disconnection.
