SHORT NOTES ON

harmonic currents from HVDC converters

Prepared by Dr. A Al-Arashi,

Department of Electrical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Sanaa University.
June 2001.
Review of Basic components of HVDC Link

Basic HVDC link

Basic HVDC link consists of
Controlled transformer
Filters
Converter and inverter (6 pulse old or 12 pulse new)
DC reactor

See figure (1) and (2)

Function of HVDC componants

1. Converter transformers used to couple the converter equipment to the ac network .
Normally the converter transformers are provided without load tap-changing
2. The converter it self which is used to convert AC to DC at one end and invent DC to AC at
the other end. The converter is associated with control equipment, which is part of the
converter.
3. Filters at each side of the transmission which are used to limit the harmonic
4. Dc reactor it in used to obtain smooth currents. We normally use two transformers at each
side of the HVDC which are connected and / to reduce the harmonic.
 Sources of harmonic distortion

Any load with a non-linear impedance characteristic such as :

1. Transmission
Rectifier and inverter stations in HVDC schemes, thyristor controlled static VA r
compensators .

In the supply system itself , transformers can generate harmonic at light load if the
transformer goes into saturation.

2. Industrial
Controlled and uncontrolled converters for rolling mills, etc. Arc furnaces, traction loads.

3. Domestic
Televisions, light dimmers etc.

Effects of Harmonic Distortion

Principal effects are:
1. Interference with telephone and telecommunication networks.

2. Overloading / overheating in windings of electrical machines and transformers.

3. Overloading of power factor correction capacitor banks.

4. Disturbance to:

- General and process computers

- Electronic control equipment

- Ripple control system

5. Errors in electric meters, measuring instruments and protective relays.

 A-2
Ideal harmonic currents from HVDC converters
The main components of a typical HVDC converter terminal are shown in the following figure:
-

Fig- 1

Each 6 pulse thyristor bridge supplied from its own converter transformer.
The action of the thyristor switching results in current waveforms on the AC system which
consist of blocks of current as shown below: -

Fig- 2

If a Fourier analysis is performed on these idealized waveforms the following results are
obtained: -

For
2 3 1 1 1
I I D [cos t cos 5t cos 11 t cos 13t .....]
5 7 13

For /
2 3 1 1 1
I I D [cos t cos 5t cos 11 t cos 13t .....]
5 7 13

Each 6-pulse bridge generates harmonic orders 6n 1, n= 1,2,3

o
By combining two 6 pulse bridges with a 30 phase shift between them, ie by using and
/ transformers as show above, a12-pulse bridge is obtained which has the following current
waveform: -
 Fig - 3

If a Fourier analysis is performed on this idealized waveform the following results is obtained:

4 3 1 1 1 1
I I D [cos t cos 11t cos 13t cos 23t cos 25t ....]
11 13 23 25

Thus in a 12- pulse bridge, the harmonic order is 6n 1, n=1,3,5 are theoretically cancelled
leaving only characteristics 12-pulse harmonics, ie, 12n1, n=1, 2, 3 ..

The idealized wave form shown above will be modified by the reactance of the system ( mainly
the transformer reactance) to produce wave form as shown below.
Practical harmonic currents from HVDC converters

The harmonic current which occur in practice can be considered in three groups:
(a) Characteristic harmonic.
(b) Theoretically cancelled harmonic.
(c) Non-characteristic harmonic.

(a) Characteristic harmonic

A 12 pulse bridge will generate harmonics of order 12n1, n=1, 2, 3 . The magnitude of the
harmonic current will depend on the overlap angle ( the delay between the end of conduction in
one thyristor and the beginning of conduction in the next one).

(b) Theoretically cancelled harmonic

In practice the theoretically cancelled harmonic orders are 6n 1, n=1,3,5 Which will be
produced as a result of :
1- Unbalance in reactance between the two converter transformers.
2- Variations on the transformer ratio load range.
The magnitude of the harmonic current will depend on:
1- The degree of unbalance
2- Transmission power level.

(c) Non-characteristic harmonic

Harmonics current s at all harmonic orders n= 1, 2, 3, 4, will be produced as a result of the
following :
1- Firing angle noise in the control circuits.
2- Unbalance in the AC system.
3- Unbalance between phases of the transformer.
4- Pre-existing harmonics.
 Harmonics filter

The bases of the harmonic filter can be explained with reference to the figure below

Where,
In is harmonic current from the disturbing loads.
Ifn is harmonic current in the filter.
Ifn is harmonic current in the supply system.
Zfn is harmonic impedance of the filter.
Zsn is harmonic impedance of the supply.

The current and voltage distortion can be calculated:

Z fn
I SN In
Z fn Z sn

Z fn Z sn
VSN In
Z fn Z sn

In order to calculate the harmonic performance and design the filters i.e. to find the value of Zfn
it is essential that the all detailed on the harmonic currents generated by the disturbing load (In),
and the harmonic impedance of the supply system (Zsn)