Voltage Source Converter Based High Voltage Direct Current Research Articles

Review paper on multilevel converters topology for VSC-based HVDC transmission system connected offshore wind power plant

This review paper offers a comprehensive analysis of multilevel converters (MLCs) within Voltage Source Converter (VSC)-based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission systems, focusing on their integration with offshore wind power plants. Through an exhaustive exploration, the paper investigates various MLC configurations and control strategies, assessing their potential to enhance the performance, efficiency, and reliability of offshore wind energy integration into the power grid. By examining the intricate interplay between MLCs, VSC-based HVDC systems, and offshore wind power plants, this review aims to provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of renewable energy integration technologies. Key topics covered include an overview of offshore wind power generation, the significance of HVDC transmission for offshore wind farms, and the role of MLCs in overcoming integration barriers. Furthermore, the paper delves into control strategies, performance evaluation metrics, and future perspectives and challenges. Through its in-depth analysis, this review contributes to a deeper understanding of the potential of MLCs in advancing the efficiency and reliability of VSC-based HVDC systems, ultimately facilitating the seamless integration of offshore wind energy into the broader power grid.

Stability and control of VSC-based HVDC systems: A systematic review

The technological development in the area of power electronics has paved the way for the construction of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) systems. The utilization of HVDC grids alongside conventional High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) grids poses several challenges, especially, from stability and control points of view. Indeed, moving towards such systems in the context of conventional Alternating Current (AC) power systems cannot be possible without ensuring the overall stability of hybrid HVAC/HVDC grids. This paper analyzes different aspects of the stability of Voltage Source Converter (VSC)-based HVDC grids and presents various methods of improving stability based on a systematic and comprehensive review. In addition, this paper provides a concise classification of various control methods to improve the operation of such grids and the advantages of each method.

Robust Constrained Model Predictive Voltage Control Scheme and its Classification

In this study, a prospective power system is suggested (PPS), predictive current control (PCC), enhanced voltage control (EVC), model predictive control (MPC), induction motor (IM) circuit. Instead of monitoring the torque and speed as in conventional MP DTC, the stator voltage is directly regulated in the suggested PVC model thanks to the predictive control theory. A voltage source inverter's use of a model predictive control approach. For all potential voltage vectors produced by the inverter, this method forecasting value of the load using a discrete model of the system. "Voltage-source converter based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC)" connected offshore wind farms using a "model predictive control (MPC)" based Enhanced Voltage Control Strategy (EVCS) (OWFs). All wind farm generator (WTGs) and wind farm side VSCs are effectively synchronized in the proposed Midi controller EVCS to maintain voltages within a practical range and reduce system power loss. Review of induction motor defects, including mechanical and insulating issues. The summary of static current signature of machine failures. Numerous useful feature extraction techniques have been introduced for induction motor problem detection.

Coordinated frequency support strategy for VSC-HVDC integrated offshore wind farm system

The large-scale offshore wind power integrated into the onshore power grid through voltage source converter-based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) system is unable to provide inertia response and frequency support to the onshore power grid. To improve the frequency characteristics of the receiving-end power grid, a coordinated frequency control strategy combining VSC-HVDC and offshore wind power is proposed. The onshore converter adopts virtual inertia control, which uses DC capacitors to absorb or release energy for inertia support after the receiving-end grid is disturbed. Wind-farm-side VSC (WFVSC) obtains the frequency signal of the receiving-end power grid by detecting the local DC voltage. The offshore wind farm (OWF) transfers the frequency deviation into an additional power signal and sends it to the power controller to adjust the output, thereby performing inertia and primary frequency response. In addition, a secondary frequency regulation strategy for wind farms has been designed to achieve non-difference frequency regulation of the receiving-end power grid. Finally, a simulation model of VSC-HVDC integrated OWF system is constructed to demonstrate the proposed coordinated frequency control strategy for VSC-HVDC and OWF. The results indicate that the proposed control strategy can effectively enhance the frequency support capability of the receiving-end power grid.

Enhancement of fault ride-through capability of three-level NPC converter-based HVDC system through robust nonlinear control strategy

Voltage source converter-based high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) transmission systems are becoming increasingly popular for long-distance power transmission due to their numerous advantages. However, the fault ride-through (FRT) capabil-ity of VSC-HVDC systems during AC faults remains a key challenge that needs to be addressed to ensure their uninterrupted operation under challenging grid conditions. This paper presents and analyzes a novel nonlinear control scheme based on a robust sliding mode control approach to improve the FRT capability of VSC-HVDC systems. The proposed control scheme based on the modification of the converter’s active power to make it more sensitive to any changes in voltage magnitude at the points of common coupling (PCCs) on the AC side. This helps to maintain the DC voltage sta-bility and prevent the converter from tripping during AC faults. The performance of the proposed control scheme is evaluated using a series of ex-perimental investigations using a digital signal processor (DSP) within Processor-in-the-Loop (PIL) quasi-real-time simulation. The PIL simulations closely examine the system’s response to AC faults with varying remaining voltages and durations. The results demonstrate that the proposed control scheme can effectively improve the FRT capability of VSC-HVDC systems and ensure their stable operation during AC faults.

Supercapacitor‐based coordinated synthetic inertia scheme for voltage source converter‐based HVDC integrated offshore wind farm

AbstractA supercapacitor‐based coordinated synthetic inertia (SCSI) scheme for a voltage source converter‐based HVDC (VSC‐HVDC)‐integrated offshore wind farm (OWF) is proposed. The proposed SCSI allows the OWF to provide a designated inertial response to an onshore grid. Under the SCSI scheme, a supercapacitor is added to the DC side of each wind turbine generator via a bidirectional DC/DC converter, varying its voltage along with the offshore frequency to synthesise the desired inertial response. The HVDC grid side VSC employs a DC voltage/frequency droop control to convey the onshore frequency information to DC voltage without communication. Meanwhile, the wind farm side VSC regulates the offshore frequency to couple with the conveyed onshore frequency, considering voltage drop across the DC cables. An offshore frequency switching algorithm is incorporated to avoid undesired SCSI maloperation under offshore faults. The key parameters of the proposed SCSI are optimised through a small signal stability analysis. The effectiveness of the SCSI scheme is evaluated using a modified IEEE 39‐bus test system. The results show that the proposed SCSI scheme can provide required inertial support from WTG‐installed supercapacitors to the onshore grid through the VSC‐HVDC link, significantly improving the onshore frequency stability.

Optimal Estimation of Under-Frequency Load Shedding Scheme Parameters by Considering Virtual Inertia Injection

Under-frequency load shedding (UFLS) schemes are the latest safety measures applied for safeguarding the integrity of the grid against abrupt frequency imbalances. The overall inertia of electrical power systems is expected to decrease with an increased penetration of renewable energy as well as elements connected through power electronic interfaces. However, voltage source converter-based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) links can provide virtual inertia through a control loop that allows for a reaction to occur at certain frequency fluctuations. This paper evaluates a UFLS scheme that considers the injection of virtual inertia through a VSC-HVDC link. A genetic algorithm (GA) is used to determine the location of the UFLS relays, the activation threshold of each stage, the delay time and the percentage of load shedding at each stage. It was found that the virtual inertia causes the nadir to delay and sometimes reach a greater depth. Furthermore, the implemented GA approximates the frequency response to the limits set with the constraints, reducing the load shedding but achieving a steeper nadir and a lower steady-state frequency level than traditional UFLS. The simulations were performed using the IEEE 39-bus test system.

Experimental study on fault ride-through capability of VSC-based HVDC transmission system

Experimental study on fault ride-through capability of VSC-based HVDC transmission system

Surge arrester allocation for lightning protection of VSC based HVDC prototype

High-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, based on voltage source converters (VSC), enable asynchronous interconnection of grids with different frequencies and contribute to grid stability by controlling power quickly and precisely. Effective protection of these expensive systems, which must be in continuous operation, increases their lifetime. An overvoltage protection study is needed to ensure the proper protection of HVDC systems that contain multiple devices with varying insulation levels. In this study, lightning protection studies on a prototype VSC-based HVDC (VSC-HVDC) system are explained. In line with this, lightning impulses were modeled and applied to various points in the PSCAD model of the prototype VSC-HVDC, and the response of the system combined with the protection equipment was examined. All stages of protective equipment selection were explained step by step. The suitability of the selected protective equipment was verified based on the simulation results. After running dozens of scenarios, the protection coordination was optimized, and the critical points were determined instead of installing surge arresters at each connection point. In this way, a significant cost benefit was obtained for the investment in protective equipment. Finally, the results of the lightning impulse tests performed to verify the insulation of the VSC-HVDC prototype are reported.

VSC-HVDC traveling wave protection based on single-ended boundary fault information supplement strategies

Traveling wave protection for the voltage source converter-based high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) system, relying on single-ended information, has a limited ability to distinguish boundary faults. Many novel protection schemes have been proposed to enrich the single-ended fault information, with the aim of improving this ability. Nevertheless, they still face issues such as reduced protection speed or demanding protection measuring devices. To enrich the fault information within existing measurement conditions while guaranteeing the protection speed, two single-ended boundary fault information supplement strategies are proposed. According to the bipolar symmetry of the fault traveling wave, the measurement of one pole is supplemented with that of the other pole. According to the reactor characteristics, i.e., the proportional relationship between the voltage and the current change rate of the DC reactor, the voltage measurement is further supplemented. The VSC-HVDC traveling wave protection based on the single-ended boundary fault information supplement strategies is proposed. This results in a significant improvement in distinguishing high-resistance boundary faults. The protection performance and applicability have been validated on a four-terminal VSC-HVDC simulation model based on PSCAD/EMTDC.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Research on circuit breaker failure protection and the secondary accelerated fault isolation scheme of VSC-HVDC grids

When the direct current circuit breaker (DCCB) fails to operate, the fault range will further expand, endangering the safe operation of the power gird. Therefore, this study proposes a DCCB failure protection method and a secondary accelerated fault isolation scheme of voltage source converter-based high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) grids. On the basis of considering the influence of DCCB disconnection, characteristics of fault current after the failure of the DCCB are analyzed, and a circuit breaker failure protection method based on “increase current” discrimination is proposed. By analyzing the logical relationship among failed breaker re-tripping, adjacent DCCB action, blocking of the converter station, and AC circuit breaker action, a secondary accelerated fault isolation scheme is proposed to minimize the fault isolation area. The scheme achieves the accelerated isolation of DC faults after the failure of the DCCB and avoids the trip of the AC circuit breaker effectively. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Robust control strategy of VSC-HVDC systems based on feedback linearization and disturbance compensation method

The Voltage Source Converter based High Voltage Direct Current (VSC-HVDC) technology has become the development direction of new energy grid-connected, DC power transmission and island power supply technology in the future due to its superior characteristics. The effective and reliable control method is important to realize the stable operation of VSC-HVDC system during disturbances. However, the common adopted control scheme for VSC-HVDC system lacks of superior dynamic response when system suffers external disturbances. Although some relatively new control methods have been continuously proposed and applied to the VSC-HVDC system, such as no-beat control, fuzzy control, sliding mode control and repetitive control, etc., they usually depend on detailed and exact system model. This paper focuses on the feedback linearization and disturbance compensation methods in VSC-HVDC system. Firstly, the mathematical model of VSC-HVDC system in dq coordinate system with modeling errors and external disturbances is derived. Secondly, in order to improve the dynamic response and robustness of the control, the feedback linearization and disturbance compensation method is used and designed to realize the decoupling control of the VSC-HVDC system. Finally, the VSC-HVDC system with conventional control and the proposed control is compared and analyzed on the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation platform. The results show that the proposed controller based on feedback linearization and disturbance compensation principle has better dynamic performance and higher robustness of regulation performance.

Robust co-planning of AC/DC transmission network and energy storage considering uncertainty of renewable energy

This paper proposes a robust co-planning model of hybrid AC/DC transmission network and energy storage with the penetration of renewable energy to promote the accommodation of renewable energy and to avoid investment redundancy. The energy storage configured in the power grid can improve the power flow distribution and alleviate transmission congestion, postponing the investment of new devices. A deterministic co-planning model is firstly developed considering voltage fluctuation, reactive power flow and the flexibility of voltage source converter based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC). To address the solving complexity caused by the non-convexity of the model, second-order cone programming (SOCP) is applied to transform the proposed model into a convex problem. To cope with the uncertainty of renewable energy, the robust co-planning formulation is established, where the data-adaptive uncertainty set with the extreme scenario method is introduced to describe renewable generation uncertainty. The column-and-constraint generation (C&CG) algorithm is adopted to decompose the robust co-planning problem into a master problem and several slave problems, which reduces the calculation scale and accelerates the solving process. Two case studies on a modified Garver’s 6-bus system and a practical Jiangxi province power system in China are carried out to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed robust co-planning model.

Aggregated SFR model for VSC HVDC interconnected power systems with high penetration of wind power

This letter proposes a novel aggregated system frequency response (ASFR) model, which can fully capture the frequency characteristics of the voltage source converter-based high voltage direct current (VSCHVDC) interconnected power system with high penetration of wind power. First, a multi-machine SFR model is presented, considering the inertia and frequency control processes of VSCHVDC and wind turbines (WTs). Then, a novel aggregation approach is proposed to transform the multi-machine SFR model into a single-machine SFR model on the basis of different control modes of the VSCHVDCs and WTs. Finally, simulation studies are conducted to validate the performance of the proposed ASFR model and its application in frequency response analysis.

Data-Mining Techniques Based Relaying Support for Symmetric-Monopolar-Multi-Terminal VSC-HVDC System

Considering the advantage of the ability of data-mining techniques (DMTs) to detect and classify patterns, this paper explores their applicability for the protection of voltage source converter-based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) transmission systems. In spite of the location of fault occurring points such as external/internal, rectifier-substation/inverter-substation, and positive/negative pole of the DC line, the stated approach is capable of accurate fault detection, classification, and location. Initially, the local voltage and current measurements at one end of the HVDC system are used in this work to extract the feature vector. Once the feature vector is retrieved, the DMTs are trained and tested to identify the fault types (internal DC faults, external AC faults, and external DC faults) and fault location in the particular feeder. In the data-mining framework, several state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) models along with one advanced deep learning (DL) model are used for training and testing. The proposed VSC-HVDC relaying system is comprehensively tested on a symmetric-monopolar-multi-terminal VSC-HVDC system and presents heartening results in diverse operating conditions. The results show that the studied deep belief network (DBN) based DL model performs better compared with other ML models in both fault classification and location. The accuracy of fault classification of the DBN is found to be 98.9% in the noiseless condition and 91.8% in the 20 dB noisy condition. Similarly, the DBN-based DMT is found to be effective in fault locations in the HVDC system with a smaller percentage of errors as MSE: 2.116, RMSE: 1.4531, and MAPE: 2.7047. This approach can be used as an effective low-cost relaying support tool for the VSC-HVDC system, as it does not necessitate a communication channel.

Small-signal Stability Analysis and Improvement with Phase-shift Phase-locked Loop Based on Back Electromotive Force Observer for VSC-HVDC in Weak Grids

Voltage source converter based high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) transmission technology has been extensively employed in power systems with a high penetration of renewable energy resources. However, connecting a voltage source converter (VSC) to an AC weak grid may cause the converter system to become unstable. In this paper, a phase-shift phase-locked loop (PS-PLL) is proposed wherein a back electromotive force (BEMF) observer is added to the conventional phase-locked loop (PLL). The BEMF observer is used to observe the voltage of the infinite grid in the stationary <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\alpha\beta$</tex> frame, which avoids the problem of inaccurate observations of the grid voltage in the <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$dq$</tex> frame that are caused by the output phase angle errors of the PLL. The VSC using the PS-PLL can operate as if it is facing a strong grid, thus enhancing the stability of the VSC-HVDC system. The proposed PS-PLL only needs to be properly modified on the basis of a traditional PLL, which makes it easy to implement. In addition, because it is difficult to obtain the exact impedance of the grid, the influence of short-circuit ratio (SCR) estimation errors on the performance of the PS-PLL is also studied. The effectiveness of the proposed PS-PLL is verified by the small-signal stability analysis and time-domain simulation.

Analysis of Additional Damping Control Strategy and Parameter Optimization for Improving Small Signal Stability of VSC-HVDC System

The voltage source converter based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) system is based on voltage source converter, and its control system is more complex. Also affected by the fast control of power electronics, oscillation phenomenon in wide frequency domain may occur. To address the problem of small signal stability of the VSC-HVDC system, a converter control strategy is designed to improve its small signal stability, and the risk of system oscillation is reduced by attaching a damping controller and optimizing the control parameters. Based on the modeling of the VSC-HVDC system, the general architecture of the inner and outer loop control of the VSC-HVDC converter is established; and the damping controllers for DC control and AC control are designed in the phase-locked loop and the inner and outer loop control parts respectively; the state-space state model of the control system is established to analyze its performance. And the electromagnetic transient simulation model is built on the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation platform to verify the accuracy of the small signal model. The influence of the parameters of each control part on the stability of the system is summarized. The main control parts affecting stability are optimized for the phenomenon of oscillation due to changes in operation mode occurring on the AC side due to faults and other reasons, which effectively eliminates system oscillation and improves system small signal stability, providing a certain reference for engineering design.

Nonlinear Observer-Based Controller Design for VSC-Based HVDC Transmission Systems Under Uncertainties

Nonlinear Observer-Based Controller Design for VSC-Based HVDC Transmission Systems Under Uncertainties

Comparative Analysis of XLPE and Thermoplastic Insulation-Based HVDC Power Cables

The application of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables to voltage sourced converter (VSC)-based high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems has already been technically verified and has become common, and thermoplastic (TP) is attracting attention as an insulation material for next-generation cables due to the recent development of material-related technologies. However, studies related to TP cables are mainly focused on improving material properties, and studies related to cable systems are insufficient. In this paper, XLPE and TP cables were designed for application to VSC-based HVDC systems, and major characteristics such as electric field distribution and thermal stability were compared and analyzed through overvoltage simulation. The insulation design method of HVDC cable was presented, and the design was performed using XLPE and TP insulation materials. The temperature and electric field profiles of the cables were also analyzed through a finite element method simulation. To analyze the performance of the designed cable, it was simulated with the PSCAD/EMTDC program. Based on the simulation results, the major characteristics of XLPE and TP cables were compared and analyzed. Results showed that in the case of TP cables, insulation properties were excellent, but thermal conductivity was relatively low; therefore, countermeasures are needed.

Rapid Fault Detection with Periodic Update Feature for Transmission Line Parameters in HVDC Grids

Far distant wind farms are integrated nowadays with the help of Voltage Source Converter (VSC)-based HVDC grids. Rapid fault current is very common in VSC-based HVDC grids and, therefore, quick fault detection and fast executing protection methods are critical for the existence of the HVDC grids. This paper proposes a rise time-based fault detection method using local measurement data and Travelling Wave (TW) characteristics of incoming fault TW. Dominating frequency of the primary wavefront is computed by the rise time of incoming fault TW. With the help of auto-updating transmission line parameters and the dominating frequency of incoming TW, the fault location is identified. The performance of the proposed method has been observed in PSCAD Simulation with a 4-Terminal HVDC test grid in multiple scenarios and compared with the existing fault detection methods on multiple levels. The results show that the proposed method is very fast, and accurate and can complete the whole Fault Location process within a few microseconds just after the Inception of the fault.