New Converter Topologies for

High-Voltage Dc Converters

Prof. Ani Gole

University of Manitoba, Canada

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Outline

• Brief History of HVDC Transmission

• Conventional HVDC and its Problems
• Capacitor Commutated Type Converters
• Voltage Sourced Converter Based HVDC
– PWM Based
– Multi-level Modular

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 HVDC: Brief History
 Originally HVDC was used for
Distribution (Edison’s Dc Dynamo) (pre
1900)
Disadvantages: Complicated machinery
(dc commutator), lack of voltage
transformability
Ac overcame these disadvantages
However:
Long distance DC transmission is not
adversly affected by Transmission Line or
Cable inductance/capacitance
IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011
 HVDC: Brief History…

• Why not generate and consume ac but

transmit dc?
• Thury (early 1900’s) in France: ~100 km
Dc tranmission
– Disadvantage: Ac/Dc Converter – motor
generator set
• Use of Power Electronic Devices
(Mercury-Arc Valves) made for more
efficient Ac/Dc Conversion

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 HVDC: Brief History…
• First Scheme Based on Modern day concepts:
– Gotland (Sweden Mainland-Island) 1954,. Used Grid
Control Mercury Arc Rectifiers. Manufacturer ASEA
100 kV (Monopolar), 20 MW under-sea transmission
spanning 96 km.
• First Canadian Scheme:
– Vancouver - Vancouver Island, 1968, +/-130 kV , 312
MW, 41 km overheadline, 32 km underwater cable.
• Last Mercury Arc Scheme:
– Nelson River Bipole 1 in Manitoba (1800 MW, +/-450
kV)

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 HVDC: Brief History…
• First Canadian Scheme:
– Vancouver - Vancouver Island, 1968, +/-130 kV , 312
MW, 41 km overheadline, 32 km underwater cable
• First Use of Solid-State Thyristors :
– Eel River (New Brunswick-Quebec, Canada) :1972,
+/-80 kV, 350MW. Back to back connection between
two utilities.
• Large HVDC Systems:
– Itaipu (Brazil, Generation: Paraguay/Brazil) +/- 600
kV, 6000 MW, over850 km. Main reason for Dc:
Paraguay is 50 Hz, Brazil is 60 Hz.
– Volvograd Dunbas: USSR, 6000 MW?
– Three Gorges, China (10,000 MW), +/- 600 kV

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 HVDC: Brief History…

• Manitoba:
– Nelson River Bipole-I (Radisson-Dorsey) +/-
450 kV, 1800 MW, over 900 km, originally
based on Mercury Arc (1972, 1993, 2004)
– Nelson River Bipole -II (Henday-Dorsey): +/-
500 kV, 2000 MW, approx. 900 km, Thyristor
(1982-88)
– Nelson River Bipole –III (Henday-Riel)
– 1400 km? 2200 MW +/- 500 kV

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Manitoba Hydro’s Nelson River HVDC Transmission System: 4 GW
over 950 km (approx. 70% of total Manitoba installed generation)

HVDC +/- 500 kV

Approx. 40% of MH revenues

come from exports
Manitoba Dams are a reservoir
that permits power cycling
Revenue generated includes
power cycling (day/night)

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Many technology
revisions

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Conventional HVDC Transmission-Advantages

• HVDC Offers many advantages over Ac

Transmission
– Lower Transmission losses
– Smaller rights of way
– Asynchronous Connection Between Ac
Networks- improved stability limit
– Possibility of Long-distance
underground/underwater cable transmission
– …..etc

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Basics of HVDC LCC Converter Operation
Dc Converter Building Block: Thyristor

IEEE Southern Alberta Secion, Sept. 12, 2011

 Conventional HVDC: LCC Operation and
Limitations:
a) ac voltages

b) dc voltages

c) ac current in phase a
- Converter Operation is significantly
impacted by ac network
- Commutation voltage drop
Vd d) Valve T1 voltage

e) Firing Pulse

Id

IEEE Southern Alberta Secion, Sept. 12, 2011

 Conventional HVDC Transmission-Limitations
• However there are some disadvantages:
– The terminating ac networks must provide the
commutation voltage
– Require reactive power at the converter which
must vary with loading (i.e. switched filter
banks)
– Difficulty in operating into weak ac systems
(Short Circuit ratios under 2)
– Generates Ad and Dc side Harmonics

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 New HVDC Converter Configurations

• New converter configurations have been

developed to address these issues:
• Capacitor Commutated Configurations
– CCC
– CSCC
• Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC ) based
Configurations
– PWM / SHPWM based Converters
– Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC)

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Capacitor Commutated Converter

 The CCC Uses the voltage across  The reactive power absorbed by
its series capacitors to assist in the the converter is minimal
commutation process
 Can be operated even with leading
 It can operate into very weak ac power factor
networks

IEEE Southern Alberta Secion, Sept. 12, 2011

 CCC Operation

IEEE Southern Alberta Secion, Sept. 12, 2011

 Reactive Power Requirement

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Ac Filter Issues
•A low Mvar filter is also sharply tuned and hence
subject to detuning with component variations
•Solution:
–Contune Filter (inductor can be tuned via bias dc
current)
–Active Ac Filter

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

CCC Steady State Operating Charecteristics
a) Dc-voltage [kV] c) Maximum Power Curve [MW]
1000 1000
Conventional
800 800 Conventional

600 600
CCC
CCC
400 400

200 200

0 0

b) Inverter ac-voltage [kV] d) Real extinction angle [degrees]

500 50
Conventional CCC
400 40

300 30
CCC
200 20
Conventional
Basecase
100 10
Basecase
0 0
0,0 0,4 0,8 1,2 1,6 2,0 2,4 2,8 0,0 0,4 0,8 1,2 1,6 2,0 2,4 2,8
Id [kA] Id [kA]

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 CCC Configuration: Advantages

• The risk of commutation failure is minimized-

can operate into very weak ac networks
• The apparent extinction angle (measured w.r.t.
converter bus) is small, even negative- hence
power factor is near 1.0
• Filter switching can be avoided
• Although valves are more expensive, the
converter transformer is cheaper and the valve
short circuit current is smaller than for the LCC
• The Series Capacitors do not cause
ferroresonance, as they are out of the circuit
when converter is blocked

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 CCC Configuration: Disdvantages

• The converter cost is slightly larger

• The series capacitors must be protected
against overvoltages resulting from
overcharging
• The energy storage on the series
capacitors negatively impacts the dynamic
response in unbalanced conditons (i.e.
recovery from l-g faults)

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 CCC Installations worldwide:
• Garabi Converter Station, Brazil/Argentina

• 2200 MW, +/- 70 kV

back to back system
connecting 50 Hz and
60 Hz networks
• CCC used because
SCMVA can be as low
as 2000
• CCC Avoids
installation of Synch.
Compensator
Courtesy: ABB
IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011
 Garabi CCC HVDC Station Layout

Courtesy: ABB

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Garabi CCC HVDC: Major Components

“Contune” Filters

Outdoor Valves

All Pictures: Courtesy ABB Series Capacitors

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011
 Rapid City, USA, Interconnect

•Sixth in sequence of • 200 MW, +/- 12.85 kV

Back to Back HVDC
• CCC selected to lower comm.
Stations connecting the
Fail risk due to extremely
Eastern and Western
weak ac networks.
North American Systems
IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011
IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011
 Alternate Topology: CSCC

•Requires only LCC • Simplifies capacitor

•Behaviour very similar to CCC arrangement in 12-pulse
configurations
•Series capacitors must be
switched to avoid • For radial ac feeds,
ferroresonance capacitors can be placed
in each ac line for
•Capacitance level can be accurate control of power
adjusted as per system
in each ac feeder
conditions
IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011
 New Approaches to LCC: The GPFC

Filters are between transformer and converter

Uses a Conventional Transformer
Transformer at remote end can be eliminated
Results in reduced cost
IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011
 Cost Distribution for Converter Station

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 GPFC-HVDC 12-pulse arrangement

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12, 2011

 Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC)
Based HVDC
• Thyristor Based Converters generally
require an ac network to provide
commutation voltage
• Hence they are significantly affected by ac
system conditions, etc.
• The VSC uses switches that can be turned
on as well as turned-off using externally
generated commands
• Hence the impact of ac system conditions
on performance can be minimized
IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011
 VSC: Basic Operating Principle

VSC Switches are turned on and off on command.

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Three Phase Arrangement

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 VSC Voltage Magnitude and Phase Control

Pulse Width Modulation

Fundamental freq.
component of output follows
the desired ‘signal’
reference waveform
Harmonics are pushed to
the high (easily filtered)
range
Disadvantage:
–Difficult to extend single
bridge to High Voltages
–High Switching Losses

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12., 2011

 VSC: Real and Reactive Power Control

Id* controls the real power

Iq* controls the reactive power

Id* is the output of a dc bus capacitor

voltage controller

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12., 2011

 VSC: Decoupled Control

Decoupled Control ensures that an order change of id* does not cause
a transient in iq (and vice versa)

See: . Papič, P. Žunko, D. Povh and M. Weinhold, “Basic Control of Unified

Power Flow Controller,” IEEE Trans. Power Systems, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 1734-
1739, Nov. 1997.

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12., 2011

 VSC versus LCC HVDC
LCC HVDC VSC HVDC
Line-commutated Gate-turnoff
Current Source Voltage Sourced
Poorer performance with weak ac systems Less affected by system strength

Cheaper for High Power More expensive, but may be comparable

when all aspects are considered
Lower Losses Higher losses (improved by new topologies)

Power direction reversed by voltage Power direction changed by current

reversal reversal
Difficult to use in a dc grid Well suited for dc grid
Ideal for dc transmission with overhead Ideal for weak ac systems, cable
lines transmission or dc grids
Idc →
+V

-V

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12., 2011

 Example of VSC HVDC: Troll Link
• Purpose: To Run Compressor Motors for
Offshore Gas Extraction
• Gas Pressure from Wells decreases as
gas is extracted, hence a compressor is
needed to force gas through pipeline
• A conventional precompression project,
with gas turbines, would have resulted in
annual emissions of some 230,000 tons of
CO2 and 230 tons of NOx.

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 • Location: Offshore Norway

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 One Half of Troll HVDC System

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Troll VSC HVDC: Ratings

Main data
Rated power 2x40 MW
DC voltage ±60 kV
AC system voltage 132 kV
AC motor voltage 56 kV
AC filters
Kollsnes: 39’th and 78’th harmonic
Troll A: 33’th and 66’th harmonic
IGBT valves
Valve type Two level
Cooling system Water
IGBT type 2,5 kV/500 A
Cable
Type Triple extruded polymer
Cross section 300 mm2
Length 4 x 70 km
Transformers (Kollsnes only)
Type Three-phase, two winding
Rated power 52 MVA

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Multilevel Modular Converter (MMC)

• PWM converters produce a waveform with high

level of higher order harmonics
• Result: High Switching Losses, EMI, Stresses etc.
• With High Voltages, Device ratings become an
issue

T1 D1
E/2 R L
IL
VL
E/2
T2 D2

Simple Voltage Sourced Inverter

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Basic unit of MMC scheme – Submodule
Tx – IGBT
Dx – Diode
C – Storage Capacitor
x = 1,2
T1 D1

T1/D1
C conducting
T2 D2

Submodule
T2/D2
conducting

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 MMC Submodule
Each submodule acts as a controllable voltage
source.
Ic Device
V0
ON
SW1
+ I0
Vc
-
SW1 Vc
SW2 V0
SW2 0

Submodule Control States of a Sub-module

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 MMC Topology
MMC basic scheme
+Vd
SM1
T1 D1
SM2

C
T2 D2
SMn

B C

SM1

SM2

SMi

SMn
-Vd

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Introduction – MMC Topology
MMC basic scheme
+Vd
SM1
VA
SM2

Vd

SMn

t VA B C

SM1
-Vd
SM2
Phase Voltage
(n = 10)

SMn
-Vd

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 MMC Controls
• Reference Waveform is
quantized to determine
switching instants
• Special algorithms for
Capacitor voltage
balancing and ensuring
sharing of module duty
• Higher level controls
identical to other VSC
topologies (i.e.
decoupled id/iq control
etc.)

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12., 2011

 Trans-Bay HVDC Project

• Purpose:
– Congestion Relief
– Improvement of security of supply
– Retirement of Generation in San Francisco Area
• Customer Trans Bay Cable, LLC
• Location Pittsburg, California, and San Francisco,
California
• Power Rating 400 MW
• Voltage levels ± 200 kV DC,
230 kV /138 kV, 60 Hz
• Type of plant 85 km HVDC PLUS
submarine cable
• Type of Thyristor IGBT

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Transbay Cable (San Francisco-Oakland)

Courtesy: Siemens

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Transbay Cable (San Francisco-Oakland)

Courtesy: Siemens

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Courtesy: Siemens
IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011
 Courtesy: Siemens
IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011
 HVDC Supergrids?
• VSC Converters enable construction of HVDC Grids
• Reduced Losses
• Increased power capacity per line/cable vs. AC
• Underground/Underwater or reduced rights of ways
imply:
– lesser right of way limitations,
– lower visual impact and lower EM fields
• Stabilized AC & DC grid operation – AC networks
can be asynchronous
• Applicable for Harnessing Multiple off-shore
windfarms

IEEE Southern Alberta Section Sept. 12 2011

 Concluding Remarks
 HVDC Transmission Technology is evolving to adapt
to the change in attitudes about energy
 The barriers on conventional LCC HVDC imposed
by the ac system conditions are being overcome
 CCC Technology extends the range of thyristor
based converters
 VSC technology is promising - less influenced by the
ac network
 Recent innovations such as the MMC are reducing
losses and making VSC technology very attractive
 The future is bright - radical changes in the power
network, such as dc grids are on the horizon

IEEE Southern Alberta Section, Sept. 12., 2011