CHAPTER 7

HIGH VOLTAGE DC (HVDC)

TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 1

HVDC

HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) transmission

systems connect two separate high voltage AC
Systems via a DC link.

The basic principle of operation of an HVDC

system is based on the conversion of AC to DC
and vice-versa by means of converter valves
comprising power thyristors, which are the heart
of a converter station.

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 2

Why HVDC They are a useful supplement or in some
cases the only alternative for traditional High
Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) systems.
Advantages
• Economically transmit electrical energy long distances
via overhead lines or cable,
• Connect asynchronous grids with different voltages or
frequencies,
• Connecting a remote generating plant to the
distribution grid,
• Reducing line cost. HVDC needs fewer conductors as
there is no need to support multiple phases. Also,
thinner conductors can be used since HVDC does not
suffer from the skin effect,

It is particularly suited to harnessing wind power generated offshore onto onshore

grids, and for connecting offshore oil platforms to mainland grids??

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 3

Symbols and Capabilities of
Power Semiconductor Devices

108

Thyristor
Power (VA)
IGCT
106
IGBT
104

Thyristor IGCT IGBT MOSFET 102 MOSFET

(a)
101 102 103 104
Switching Frequency (Hz)
(b)

Fig. 7-1 Power semiconductor devices.

http://www.energy.siemens.com/cms/us/US_Products/Portfolio/HVSystemsupto800kV/HighVolta
geDCTransmissionSystems/Pages/BasicsofHVDCTransmissions.aspx

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 4

 Power Semiconductor
Devices and Applications
104

Device current [A]

HVDC
Traction
103 FACTS
Power Motor
Supply Drive
102

Auto-
101 motive

Lighting
100
101 102 103 104
Device blocking voltage [V]

(a ) ( b)
Figure 7-2 Power semiconductor devices: (a) ratings (source: Siemens), (b) various
applications (source: ABB).

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 5

 HVDC System

HVDC Line
AC1 AC2
Fig. 7-3 HVDC system – one-line diagram.

Direction of the power flow can be reversed

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 6

HVDC Systems:
Current-Link Voltage-Link uses
System using switches such as IGBT
thyristors
+

−
AC1 AC2 AC1 AC2

(a ) (b )

Fig. 7-4 HVDC systems: (a) Current-Link, and (b) Voltage-Link.

Both systems are discussed in this chapter

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 7

 HVDC Projects in North America

2250MW

320MW
2000MW

150MW 350MW
1620MW 2138MW
312MW
370MW 200MW 690MW
500MW 1000MW
2000MW
200MW 1000MW
330MW
200MW
3100MW
100MW
200MW

1920MW
210MW

200MW 200MW

200MW 600MW

36MW

Fig. 7-5 HVDC projects, mostly current-link systems, in North America [source: ABB]

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 8

Current-Link HVDC System Mono pole or Bipolar?

Monopole: Bipolar:
One HV line for DC current transmission. Two DC lines with +/-
Return path optionally via ground or DC voltage level for
LV conductor Rating up to 1500 MW transmission
Rating up to 3000 MW

Fig. 7-6 Block diagram of a current-link HVDC system.

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 9
Thyristors
A thyristor (or SCR) is like a transistor. When a small current flows
into the GATE (G), this allows a larger current to flow from the
ANODE (A) to the CATHODE (K). Even when the current into the
gate stops the thyristor continues to allow current to flow from
anode to cathode. It latches on.

Like diodes, they conduct current

in forward direction.

But unlike diodes thyristors can

also block the flow of the current
in forward biased situation

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 http://www.technologystudent.com/elec1/thyris1.htm 10

Primitive Thyristor Circuit to convert ac into dc

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=three+phase+full+bridge+
© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 thyristor+converter&aq=f&oq=&aqi=&fp=KxYPMM6r3XA 11
Three-Phase Thyristor Converter
id

+ van ia
ia − + 1
van 1 3 5
− + 3 P
Ls
vbn 5 +
n − +
vd n Id vd
4 −
vcn
− + 6
+
2 N
4 6 2
−
−

(a) (b)
Fig. 7-9 Three-phase Full-Bridge thyristor converter.

• Current flows through one diode from the top group and one from the bottom
• Diode with highest anode potential from the top and diode with lowest cathode
potential from the bottom will conduct

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 12

Three-Phase Diode Rectifier Waveforms (Ls=0, α=0)
Each waveform is on for 120º, off for 60, and on again (on the
negative cycle) for 120º
vd = vPn − vNn is the line to line voltage within each 60° interval as shown in (b)
va vb vc ia
120 o
vP 0 60 o
0 t ωt
ib
vN
0
(a) ωt
vd 2VLL ic

Vdo 0
0 t ωt
(b) (c)

Fig. 7-10 Waveforms in a three-phase rectifier with Ls = 0 and α = 0 .

π
6
1 3 2
Vd 0 =
π −
∫π 2V LL cos( ω t ).d (ω t ) =
π
V LL
© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006
3 6
13
Three-Phase Thyristor Converter Waveforms with zero AC-Side Inductance (Ls=0, α≠0º)
In some applications (battery
charger, some ac/dc drives), the dc
voltage has to be controllable
Thyristor converters provide
controlled conversion of ac into dc
Primarily used in three-phase,
high power application

The drop in the dc voltage is:

α
∆Vα = 1 ∫ 2VLL sin ωt.d (ωt )
π 0 






3 Aα

= 3 2 VLL (1− cos α )

π
3 2
Vdα = Vd 0 − ∆Vα = VLL cosα for 0 ≤ α ≤ 90 Vda is positive - rectifier
π
© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 for α ≥ 90 Vda is positive - inverter 14
 Three-Phase Inverter Waveforms (α=150º)
This example shows the inverter
mode of operation
On the dc side, vNn is positive and
vPn is negative

∴ v Pn ( = v Pn − v Np ) is negative

Therefore the dc-side average

voltage will be negative

Therefore the flow of the power is

from ac side to dc side

On the ac-side, the phase-current

waveforms are shifted (lagging)
by α=150º

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 15

 DC-Side Voltage as a
Function of Delay Angle
Vd Vd Rectifier
P = Vd I d = +
1800
0 0
90 0 0 α Id
160
Inverter
P = Vd I d = −
(a ) ( b)
Fig. 7-13 Average dc-side voltage as a function of α .

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 16

Thyristor Converter Waveforms in the Presence
of AC-Side Inductance Ls≠0, α≠0º
Ls=0 meant that ac-side currents For Ls≠0, it takes an interval u for current to
commutates instantly from one commutate from one thyristors to another
thyristor to another

The average dc
voltage will be
reduced by an
additional area Au
for every π/3
radians.

On the ac-side, the

phase-current
waveforms are
shifted by α=150º

The current on the ac-side of the converter follows a trapezoid shape

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 17
 Area by which t he dc voltage is reduced is :
α +u Id

Au = ∫v
α
L d ( ω t ) = ω Ls ∫ di s = ω Ls I d
0

Au 3
The additional voltage drop due to L s is then ∆Vu = = ωLs I d
π π
3

The dc -side voltage is: Vd =Vdα − ∆Vu = 3 2 VLL cosα − 3 ωLs I d

π π

Vd = 3 2 VLL cos(α + u ) + 3 ωLs I d ??? (7 − 9)

π π
© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 18
Power Factor Angle in Rectifier and Inverter Modes

In the rectifier mode, the fundamental component ia1 lags the phase
voltage by Φ1=α+u/2

In the inverter mode, Φ1=α+u/2+180º

The power factor (PF) = cos(α+ u/ 2 ) lagging

the 3 - phase reactive power consumed by the converter is :
Q 3 φ = 3V a I a sin( α + u / 2 )

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 19

 HVDC CU project - One-line Diagram

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 20

12-Pulse Waveforms

ia (Y − Y )

ia (Y − ∆ )

(a ) ( b)

Fig. 7-17 Six-pulse and 12-pulse current and voltage waveforms [2].

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 21

 HVDC System Representation for Control
One of the two poles (the
positive pole) is shown

Since each terminal consists of

two six-pulse thysistors, then:

 
V d 1 = 2 ×  3 2 V LL 1 cos α 1 − 3 ω L s 1 I d 
 π π 
3 2 3 
Vd 2 = 2×  V LL 2 cos α 2 − ω Ls2 Id 
 π π 

By controlling the delay angles α1 α2 , vav and iav and pav can be controlled

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 22

 HVDC System Representation for Control
Vd 1 +Vd 2
current th rough the dc link is : I d =
Rd
For power to flow from system 1 to system 2, Vd2 has
to be made negative

Which is done by choosing α2 to make it operate as inverter

and set the voltage of the dc link

α1 is chosen such that it controls the flow of he current in the dc-link

© Copyright Ned Mohan 2006 23