The Thyristor-Augmented Modular Bridge Converter: A Highly Efficient VSC-HVDC Converter With Reduced Energy Storage Requirement

Abstract

Recently, the idea of combining both thyristors and IGBTs in a voltage-source converter (VSC) structure has gained significant research interests for HVDC applications. The main objectives of deriving these topologies are to achieve forced-commutation of thyristors, increased efficiency, reduced energy-storage requirement and dc-fault tolerance besides retaining the VSC control flexibility. A novel topology named `thyristor-augmented modular bridge converter' (TAMBC) is proposed in this paper. Each TAMBC phase contains four chain-links comprising of series-connected stacks. Each stack contains a parallel connection of an IGBT-based submodule-branch and a thyrsitor-branch. A control technique is developed that allows the main current to flow primarily through the thyrsitor-branch to achieve higher efficiency. In each phase of TAMBC, two chain-links generate the required ac voltage in the first half-cycle and are bypassed through thyrsitor-branch during the next half-cycle. Consequently, it enables current distribution among the chain-links resulting in reduced capacitors size and enhanced efficiency. The ability of TAMBC-HVDC systems to function over a wide operating range, to ride-through ac faults and to provide independent active and reactive power control are verified using PSCAD. Capacitors design, loss analysis and comparative evaluations are carried out to highlight the key features of the TAMBC over the existing ones.