High Voltage Direct Current Transmission

Gabriel Olguín, Ph.D.

Power Business Ltd. & E-Storage
Spa. Consultant

golguin@e-storage.cl www-e-storage.cl
 Contents

• The electricity standard war: AC versus DC

• Few basics concepts & definitions about power conversion
• High Voltage Direct Current Transmission - HVDC
• HVDC topologies
• Line commutated (LCC) or voltage sourced converters
• ¿Why HVDC?
• Main components of the HVDC station
• The 12-pulse converter
• Converter transformer
• Filters AC
• Reference projects

2
Un poco de historia …DC versus AC

3
 An Elephant to Die by Electricity (AC)

Topsy in Youtube

4
 Few basic conversion concepts

Converter
Vdc

t Rectification
V(t)
t

Vdc

V(t)
Inversion
t
t

5
 Natural and forced commutation

• Ac to Dc conversion and vice versa can be achieved using

– Devices with turn-on control like diodes or thyristors
– Devices with turn-on and turn-off control like transistors, IGBTs
• These devices act as (digitally) controlled electronic switches
enabling a wide variety of power converters
V, i
AC/DC converter
t
(a digitally V,I
V, i
controlled
t arrangement of
V, i electronic t
switches)
t
HVDC
Three phase HVAC system 6
 HVDC Transmission

• HVDC, High Voltage Direct Current transmission is a

technology option for power transmission; or power exchange
between two areas of an AC system, or two AC systems.
• HVDC uses semiconductor devices in order to convert AC to
DC and vice versa and transport (massive) AC power over
long distances, taking advantage of lower per-km OHTL
development and operation costs.
• The transmission or exchange of power is done using DC
current but the final use of energy keep being AC.
• Point-to-point HVDC transmission, makes it possible OHTL
costs lower than with HVAC.
• In point to point transmission, the order of power transmission
and distances are from few hundreds of MWs to few GWs and
few hundreds kms to few thousandths km per link.

golguin@e-storage.cl
 HVDC point-to-point & Back-to-Back

Point-to-point power transmission, over a distance of ~700 to 2300km

t t t
Converter Converter
AC system 1 station DC transmission station
AC system 2

Power exchange in a Back-to-Back interconnection

t t t
AC system 1 Converter station AC system 2
f1 AC transmission AC1 – DC – AC2 f2

8
 Technologies HVDC: LCC y VSC

• AC-DC-AC can be achieved by using two basic

principles
– Natural or line commutation (LCC):
• Called HVDC classic - thyristor valves are used to enable the
AC to DC conversion. When directly polarized, the thyristor turn-
on can be controlled by a gate signal. The turn-off occurs due to
zero current and reverse AC voltage. Therefore classic HVDC
cannot energize a dead grid or provide black start.
– Forced commutation or Voltage sourced converter (VSC):
• A more recent technology, uses semiconductors with turn-off
capability such as IGBTs. At least three commercial variants,
each one being proprietary of the main vendors: ABB, Siemens
and GE (Alstom)
– This seminar we will review Classic HVDC (LCC HVDC)

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 Why HVDC?

• HVDC solves a problem or real situation

– Massive transmission of electric power from remote renewables sources
– Asynchronous interconnection between power systems; or market split
power systems (Chile-Perú)
– Submarine and underground cable transmission (of-shore wind power,
city in-feed where OHTL are not acceptable)
• HVDC makes it better than alternative or existing solutions
– HVDC can control the electric power to be transmitted – power
oscillation damping and advanced control strategies
– HVDC transport capacity is independent of the transmission distance
– Lower environmental impact due to more compact OHTL and the
potential use of underground and submarine cables
• HVDC is competitive
– Lower total development cost, i.e. investment and operation cost

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 HVAC & HVDC Economics

Investment cost
Total HVAC
investment cost

Total HVDC
investment cost

Converter stations
cost

HVAC stations

Transmission distance
Critical distance

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Source: CIGRE SC B4 2018
 An example of HVDC versus HVAC

Itaipu Transmission System, 2 x 7000 MW = 14000 MW

HVAC 800kV
HVAC 7000 MW

800 kV
34m

60 Hz 60 Hz

HVDC 7000 MW
HVDC ±600kV
±600kV

±600kV 34m

50 Hz 60 Hz
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The HVDC Converter station

Source: ABB
 An example of HVDC versus HVAC

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 A more recent world record project:
Madeira

• Commissioning year: 2012

• Power rating: 3 150 MW & 2 x 400
MW (back-to-back)
• AC voltage: Transmission link: 500
kV
• Back-to-back: 500 kV and 230 kV
• DC voltage: ± 600 kV, single 12-
pulse bridge
• Length of DC overhead line:
2,500 km
• Type of link: Long distance
overhead line and Back-to-back
station
• Main reason for choosing HVDC:
Long distance and Back-to-back
asynchronous networks
16

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Madeira project - Porto Velho
Converter
 The six-pulse uncontrolled rectifier

Ld

1 3 5
A iA
~
E1
B iB
~ V’d Vd

C iC
~

4 6 2
Id
 The 12-pulse converter

Wave forms

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 The very basic monopole HVDC link

Rectifier Inverter
R

V1 V2
Vdc
P P

F Q Q F
Idc

i
Idc i
Iac
t Iac
t
t

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 Main Components of a HVDC link

AC system 1 AC system 2

Enlace HVdc bipolar

 HVDC Topologies/Transmission mode

Monopole, earth return Back – to -Back

12 pulses

Bipole

Monopole, earth return

12 pulses

12 pulses

12 pulses
 HVDC Multiterminal

Bipolar Multiterminal

12-pulse groups

• Each converter station can operate as inverter or rectifier

 Multi-groups solutions

• 12-pulse groups can be

connected in series to reach
higher voltages or to +V/2
provide partial availability in
case of a group failure
+V/2
• This kind of arrangement
allows reaching Groups 12-p
transmission voltages of
800kV and above
• It can also allows a long
term planning in which
converter capacity is
increased as needed; Ex.
HVDC Kii Channel, Japón.
Converter station - vista isometric

Source: AREVA/Alstom
 HVDC back-to-back – isometric view

source: AREVA/Alstom
 A 600MW monopolar station

Aprox: 80 x 180 mt

Source: ABB
HVDC Baltic Cable 600 MW (Sweden
Germany)

Fuente: ABB
HVDC transmission line - monopole
& bipole
 Converter transformer system

• A system of transformer units connected in such a

way that a12-pulse valve-group can be enabled.
• It introduces a 30º phase shift between two Ac
voltages that feed two series connected full-bridge
converters.
• The converter transformer system can be
implemented in different configurations subjected to
transport constrains and reliability requirements:
–
Transformer weight,

One three-phase, three-winding transformer

ton
400
1. Three phase three winding

–
1

Two three-phase, two-winding transformers 300

2
3 2. Three phase two winding

–
4

Three single-phase, three-winding transformers

200

3. Single phase three winding

–
100

Six single-phase, two-winding transformers 0

0 500 1000 1500 4. Single phase two winding
P, MW

30

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Converter transformer system

Source: Siemens
 One three-phase, three-winding transformer

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32
 Two three-phase, two-winding transformers

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33
 Three single-phase, three-winding transformers

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34
 Six single-phase, two-winding transformers

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35
 Converter transformer, configurations

Transformer weight,
ton
1. Three phase three winding
400
1
2
300
3 2. Three phase two winding

4
200

3. Single phase three winding

100

0
0 500 1000 1500 4. Single phase two winding
P, MW
Source: ABB
 Harmonic currents and filtering

• The LCC AC-DC conversion process creates no

sinusoidal current -sort of step-wise AC current
• This no sinusoidal current must be filtered out in
order to eliminate non fundamental frequency
currents which would distort the AC voltage in the
AC grid
• A filters is an arrangement of capacitors, reactors
and resistors adjusted or tuned to provide a low
impedance path to currents of specific frequencies

37
 Harmonic currents and filtering

T/4 T/2 3 T/4

i1
Phase
current
i2 I1
Y Y
i1 + i2

I1+I2
[%]
In Y D
I1 10 I2
5
5 7 11 13 17 19 23 25
n

[%]
 In
i1 + i2 5
11 13 23 25
n

38
 AC Filters

Single tone filter – series High-pass filter Double tone filter

• Characteristic harmonics: 11,13, 23,25

…2x12+/-1
39
AC Filters: Longqua, China

40
 Reactive power

• LCCs consume reactive power. Lagging power factor, due to the

phase difference between the applied voltage and the current,
caused by both the control angle delay and the commutation
(overlap) effect.
• Shunt capacitive compensation is installed to satisfy reactive power
exchange requirements. LCC-HVDC may require the installation of
reactive power compensation of 40-50% of rated active power.
• Shunt compensation is implemented as a number of separate banks
and sub-banks, switched in steps determined by the reactive power
consumption of the converter and the net reactive power
interchange goal established by the system operator.
• Normally, most of this shunt compensation is tuned at various
frequencies to form harmonic filters.
 HVDC control

To and from the other end

Telecomunicación Control de Switch

UAC/Qmeasured order
potencia
U-/Q-orders reactiva
(RPC)
Ud
a0 Control de
cambio de Step
Udref order
Block / aref taps (TCC)
Deblock

Orden de Po Po Io Control pulses

Control de disparo de convertidor (CFC)
Ud
Id
Ud

42
 Application in Chile: Aysén project

Cable submarino
1912 km

Santiago STN STS Cochrane

o
ag

tt
on
nti

oM

e
Sa

ran
én
e rt

ait

ch
Pu

Ch

Co
Líneas HA
Centrales otros
SIC
proyectos
SCN Tramo aéreo norte Tramo aéreo sur SCS
STN Tramo submarino STS

Línea de conexión sur

Línea de conexión norte
Electrodo de puesta a tierra norte Electrodo de puesta a tierra sur

source: Hidroaysen
 Cuervo power plant project

• Cuervo hydropower
plant – 640 MW
Cuervo river in Aysén
• Subsea HVDC cable
– Aprox 450 km

Ref.: El Mercurio 20 de Agosto 2015

44
 NSN Link – National Grid UK –
Statnett Noruega

• HVDC bipolar
• 1400 MW UK and Norway to build
world's longest undersea
• 730 km of subsea route energy interconnector
• 10 km underground route
• Contracts for up to 1500
MM Euros
– Prysmian: 950 km cable
– Nexans: 500km of cable,
tunnels
– ABB: converters HVDC
• Expected DOC: 2021
• http://northsealink.com/

45
 2018 Transmission Expansion Plant
by Chilean ISO (CEN) 25-01-18

• 48 transmission projects
totalizing 1678 MMUSD.
• A +/-600kV, 3000MW HVDC
transmission system at
interconnecting Kimal in the
north with Lo Aguirre in the
central part of Chile, about
1500 km.
• The project would be
developed in two phases :
transmission line and
converter stations once more
information about the actual
load and generation is known
HVDC North - Center CEN 2018

1500 km
Source.: Propuesta de Expansión de la
Transmisión 2018; Coordinador
Eléctrico Nacional, Enero 2018

Date of commercial operation: April 2028

 TEP by Chilean Energy Commission
2017 - February 2018

• 13 transmission expansion
projects totalizing 2500 MMUSD
• A +/-600 kV HVDC project
interconnecting Lo Aguirre in
central Chile with Kimal in the
north. Transmission system rated
at 3000 MW with 1500 MW
converter stations.
• The technical characteristics of
converter stations, control
systems, and communication
systems shall be such that allows
an eventual third terminal between
Kimal and Lo Aguirre.
• Commercial Operation 84 months
from awarding
 Observations and lessons learned

• Both, the CNE and CEN, recognize the need for a

second link North Center that makes it possible to
exchange cheap renewable energy between Chilean
regions
• Both indentify HVDC and the suitable technology
• Both identify an eventual third terminal and suggest to
decide on such terminal once more information about
market become available
• The fact the project was postponed by the Expert
Panel shows the need of more coordination between
CNE and CEN to define the right HVDC project
 Closing remarks

• HVDC technology is a mature technology with more than 60

years of continuous development. It is specially attractive to
transportation of massive amount of power over long
distances using OHTL, marine or underground cables
• HVDC power transmission requires AC/DC conversion which
it is performed at converter stations; rectifier and inverter
• Main components of HVDC stations are valve-hall, converter
transformer system, HVAC filteres and reactive power
compensation
• It is likely that in the coming years HVDC takes a more active
role in LATAM power system

50
 About the speaker

• Gabriel Olguín got his BSc from University of

Santiago Chile, MSC from Federal University of
Santa Catarina, Brazil and Ph.D. from Chalmers
University of Technology
• He was with ABB Research Center in Sweden and
Transelec as Technology Manager in Chile
• He is CIGRE B4 Chilean representative and active
member of the Chilean association of engineers
• Gabriel Olguín is currently consultant at Power
Business Ltd and E-Storage Spa.