Modern HVDC

State of the Art

Driving Forces for Modernization
 Valves
 Converter Transformers
 Filters
 AC-DC Measurements
 Digital Signal Controllers
 Compact Substation Design
1. Thyristor Valves
 Rating 8-9 kV on silicon wafers of 150
mm diameters.
 Less number of units for series
connection.
 Light Triggered Thyristors (LTT) are
used eliminating high components on
firing circuits.
 Valves are air-insulated & housed
outdoor.
2. Self Commutated Valves
 Voltage Source Converters are now
widely used with increased power
rating.

 They produce almost sinusoidal

output
Comparison Of Semi-conductor Devices

Thyri GTO IGBT SI MCT MOSFET

stor
Max.V 9000 6000 1700 2500 3000 1000
Max. I 4000 6000 800 800 400 100
Gating pulse current voltage current voltage current
V. Drop 1.2 2.5 3 4 1.2 resistive
Sw. 1 5 20 20 20 100
Freq(kHz)
Target V 10000 10000 3500 5000 5000 2000
Target I 8000 8000 2000 2000 2000 200
IGBT : Review

 Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors

Combine high impedance and speed
of the MOSFETS with the high
conductivity of Bipolar Transistors

 IGBT then handle High Power and High

Speed.
POWER DEVICE HISTORY
GTO:GATE TURN OFF THYRISTOR
BPT:BIPOLAR POWER TRANSISTOR

THYRISTOR

GTO BPT

IGBT:INSULATED GATE
IGBT BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR
IGBT: Review
Basic Configuration FET and Bipolar
Review: IGBT

 IGBTs of higher power and

speed are being developed by
optimizing the physical structure
and designs (design rules,
parallel packing)
Review: IGBT

 The IGBTs of the future will

continue to give high power and
speed, at higher and higher
voltages (>3000 V),
smaller packages and greater
temperature capacity (>400 C)
 Technical Trend of IGBT

Generation Gate Structure & Image Cell size VCE(sat) tf

(1'st：1.0) (VCES=600V)

1'st Gen. 1.00 3.0V TYP. 0.5μ s TYP.

EMITTE GATE
R
N+
P+
2'nd Gen. 0.60 3.0V TYP. 0.2μ s　TYP.
N-
N+
P+

3'rd Gen. COLLECTOR 0.25 2.1X TYP. 0.15μ s　TYP.

Trench Photo
EMITTER GATE
4'th Gen.
N
+
P+ 0.06 1.6V TYP. 0.15μ s　TYP.
N
-
(Trench) N+ (PhaseⅡ )
P+

COLLECTOR

12
WAVEFORM EXAMPLES
THREE PHASE PWM CONVERTER CIRCUIT
P

C AC Input
Current
AC Input
Voltage

N Sign Wave form ・ pf=1.0

図３ .18 　 PWM 制御三相ブリッジコンバータ

 WAVEFORM EXAMPLES
12 PULSES RECTIFIER CIRCUIT AND INPUT
CURRENT WAVEFORM

Ic
Id

図３ . ７（５）　１２相サイリスタ整流回路と交流入力電流波形
 WAVEFORM EXAMPLES
6 PULSES RECTIFIER CIRCUIT AND INPUT
CURRENT WAVEFORM

Ic
INPUT CURRENT
HARMONIC CONTENTS
% 18 6-PULS THYRISTOR RECTIFIER
16
12-PULS THYRISTOR RECTIFIER
14
12 PWM IGBT CONVERTER
10
8
6
4
2
0

5f 7f 11f 13f 17f 19f

3. Tunable AC Filters
 Conventional filters can be detuned
due frequency deviation, capacitance
& inductance changes.
 Tunable filters can be achieved by:
1. Mechanical or electronic inductor
taps.
2. Orthogonal Magnetization of Iron
core.
3. Tunable AC Filters
Orthogonal Magnetization of Iron core.
 Core Magnetization does not require

moving parts.
 It can be controlled by direct current
3. Tunable AC Filters
4. AC-DC Measurements
 Optical Current Transducers are used.
 A/D converter is powered by laser
(light) source via fiber optic link.
 Current is transmitted in digital form.
 Fiber links up to 300 m are used.
 Better reliability and lower costs.
4. AC-DC Measurements
5. Digital Signal Controller
 DSP algorithms have grown
exponentially
 The Million Instructions per second
(MIPS) exceed 3000.
 Converter firing control circuits are
fully digital
 Size of cubicles decreased- lower
costs.
 Faults diagnosis features
 Online monitoring
6. Substation Design
 Modern substation are compact and
occupy less area.

 Example 2000 MW in 1980’s is

300x300 m

 Today 2000 MW is 100x200 m.

7. Deep Electrode
 Electrode needs to be located where
resistivity is low and may require a
large area.

 Deep hole Electrode can be placed

with low resistivity.
7. Deep Electrode
7. Deep Electrode
 Advantages:
1. Electrodes are closer to converter.
2. Use of shorter lines . Low power loss.
3. Reduced Interference
4. Less risk of lightning strikes.
5. Sites are easy to find.
6. Possibility of homopolar operation, if
needed.
7. Deep Electrode
 Advantages:
1. Electrodes are closer to converter.
2. Use of shorter lines . Low power loss.
3. Reduced Interference
4. Less risk of lightning strikes.
5. Sites are easy to find.
6. Possibility of homopolar operation, if needed.

 Figure 15.15.
HVDC fault performance
 DC overhead line faults

1.The fault is detected by the DC line fault protection.

2.This protection orders the rectifier into inverter
mode and this discharges the line effectively.
3. After some 80 - 100 ms the line is charged again by
the rectifier.
4. If the fault was intermittent, due to e.g. a
lightning strike, then normally the line can support
the voltage and the power transmission continues.
5. Full power is then resorted in about 200 ms after
the fault.
HVDC fault performance
 DC overhead line faults

1. The DC line fault clearing does not

involve any mechanical action.
2. It is faster than for an AC line.
3. It should also be pointed out that DC line
faults on a bipolar line affect only one
pole (if fallen line towers is disregarded).
4. The bipolar DC line is equivalent to a
double circuit AC line!
HVDC fault performance
 AC network faults
 When a temporary fault occurs in the AC
system connected to the rectifier, the HVDC
transmission may suffer a power loss. Even
in the case of close single-phase faults, the
link may transmit up to 30 % of the pre-
fault power. As soon as the fault is cleared,
power is restored to the pre-fault value.
HVDC fault performance
 AC network faults

When a fault occurs in the AC system
connected to the inverter, a commutation
failure can occur interrupting power flow. A
commutation failure is an unwanted, but
natural process in a classic HVDC inverter
that the system can handle. If the AC-fault
is temporary the power is restored as soon
as the fault is cleared.
HVDC fault performance
 AC network faults

A distant fault with little effect on the

converter station voltage (< 10 percent)
does not normally lead to a commutation
failure. A CCC (Capacitor Commutated
Converter) HVDC converter can tolerate
about twice this voltage drop before there
is a risk of commutation failure.
DC Breakers

A: Surge arrestor
C: Commutating Capacitor
R: Discharge Resistor
CS: Main Switch
IS : Isolating Switch
Gc: Spark Gap
DC Breakers
CS operates .1 .1
2. Arc voltage causes A
Gc to spark over.
3. : Commutating
Capacitor charges
4. A limits capacitor
voltage & takes over
full current
5. Current through
breaker reduces to
zero.
6. Breaker CS then
completes its opening.