Unidirectional Protection Strategy for Multi-terminal HVDC Grids

Abstract

Protection issue is identified as the main drawback of emerging multi-terminal HVDC grids. Multi-terminal HVDC grid demands fast short circuit fault current interruption. Fast DC circuit breakers as a promising solution can be implemented as either bidirectional or unidirectional devices. In addition to less implementation cost, the unidirectional DC circuit breakers have less power losses as compared to the bidirectional devices. A protection strategy for multi-terminal HVDC grid based on unidirectional breaking devices is discussed and assessed in this paper. The performance of unidirectional protection strategy is examined under different fault scenarios in a fourterminal MMC-HVDC grid model. Furthermore, the impacts of unidirectional protection strategy on power converters and also current interruption and surge arrester ratings of the DC circuit breakers are discussed.