High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Technology
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High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Technology Three (3) Continuing Education Hours Course #EE1111 Approved Continuing Education for Licensed Professional Engineers EZ-pdh.com Ezekiel Enterprises, LLC 301 Mission Dr. Unit 571 New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170 800-433-1487 [email protected] HVDC Technology Ezekiel Enterprises, LLC Course Description: The HVDC Technology course satisfies three (3) hours of professional development. The course is designed as a distance learning course that overviews high voltage direct current technology in the modern age. Objectives: The primary objective of this course is to enable the student to understand high voltage direct current systems, theory, benefits, and components as well as a review of current applications used today. Grading: Students must achieve a minimum score of 70% on the online quiz to pass this course. The quiz may be taken as many times as necessary to successful pass and complete the course. A copy of the quiz questions are attached to last pages of this document. ii HVDC Technology Ezekiel Enterprises, LLC Table of Contents HVDC Technology Why HVDC? ........................................................... 1 Main Types of HVDC Schemes ................................ 3 Converter Theory .................................................. 5 Principle Arrangement of an HVDC Transmission Project .................................................................. 8 Main Components ............................................... 11 Thyristor Valves .................................................... 12 Converter Transformer .......................................... 15 Smoothing Reactor ............................................... 18 Harmonic Filters ................................................... 19 Surge Arrester ...................................................... 25 DC Transmission Circuit ......................................... 28 Control & Protection ............................................. 35 System Studies .................................................... 42 Project Management ........................................... 43 Quiz Questions ...................................... 44 iii 1 Why High Voltage Direct Current ? 1.1 Highlights from the High Line-Commutated Current Sourced Self-Commutated Voltage Sourced Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) History Converters Converters The transmission and distribution of The invention of mercury arc rectifiers in Voltage sourced converters require electrical energy started with direct the nineteen-thirties made the design of semiconductor devices with turn-off current. In 1882, a 50-km-long 2-kV DC line-commutated current sourced capability. The development of Insulated transmission line was built between converters possible. Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT) with high Miesbach and Munich in Germany. voltage ratings have accelerated the In 1941, the first contract for a commer- At that time, conversion between development of voltage sourced cial HVDC system was signed in reasonable consumer voltages and converters for HVDC applications in the higher DC transmission voltages could Germany: 60 MW were to be supplied lower power range. only be realized by means of rotating to the city of Berlin via an underground The main characteristics of the voltage DC machines. cable of 115 km length. The system with ±200 kV and 150 A was ready for sourced converters are a compact design, In an AC system, voltage conversion is energizing in 1945. It was never put four-quadrant operation capability and simple. An AC transformer allows high into operation. high losses. power levels and high insulation levels Since then, several large HVDC systems This course focuses upon HVDC trans- within one unit, and has low losses. It is mission systems with high ratings, i.e. a relatively simple device, which requires have been realized with mercury arc valves. with line-commutated current sourced little maintenance. Further, a three-phase converters. synchronous generator is superior to a The replacement of mercury arc valves DC generator in every respect. For these by thyristor valves was the next major reasons, AC technology was introduced development. The first thyristor valves at a very early stage in the development were put into operation in the late of electrical power systems. It was soon nineteen-seventies. accepted as the only feasible technology for generation, transmission and distri- The outdoor valves for Cahora Bassa bution of electrical energy. were designed with oil-immersed thyristors with parallel/series connection However, high-voltage AC transmission of thyristors and an electromagnetic firing links have disadvantages, which may system. compel a change to DC technology: Further development went via air- • Inductive and capacitive elements of insulated air-cooled valves to the air- overhead lines and cables put limits insulated water-cooled design, which is to the transmission capacity and the still state of the art in HVDC valve design. transmission distance of AC trans- mission links. The development of thyristors with higher •This limitation is of particular signi- current and voltage ratings has eliminated ficance for cables. Depending on the the need for parallel connection and required transmission capacity, the reduced the number of series-connected system frequency and the loss eva- thyristors per valve. The development of luation, the achievable transmission light-triggered thyristors has further distance for an AC cable will be in the reduced the overall number of range of 40 to 100 km. It will mainly components and thus contributed to be limited by the charging current. increased reliability. • Direct connection between two AC Innovations in almost every other area systems with different frequencies is of HVDC have been constantly adding not possible. to the reliability of this technology with • Direct connection between two AC economic benefits for users throughout systems with the same frequency or the world. a new connection within a meshed grid may be impossible because of system instability, too high short-circuit levels or undesirable power flow scenarios. HVDC = high voltage direct current DC = direct current Engineers were therefore engaged over AC = alternating current generations in the development of a IGBT = insulated gate bipolar technology for DC transmissions as a transistor supplement to the AC transmissions. 1 1.2 Te chnical Merits of HVDC 1.3 Economic Considerations 1.4 Environmental Issues The advantages of a DC link over an AC For a given transmission task, feasibility An HVDC transmission system is basi- link are: studies are carried out before the final cally environment-friendly because decision on implementation of an HVAC improved energy transmission possi- •A DC link allows power transmission or HVDC system can be taken. Fig.1-1 bilities contribute to a more efficient between AC networks with different shows a typical cost comparison curve utilization of existing power plants. frequencies or networks, which can between AC and DC transmission not be synchronized, for other reasons. considering: The land coverage and the associated • Inductive and capacitive parameters right-of-way cost for an HVDC overhead do not limit the transmission capacity •AC vs. DC station terminal costs transmission line is not as high as that or the maximum length of a DC •AC vs. DC line costs of an AC line. This reduces the visual overhead line or cable. The conductor •AC vs. DC capitalised value of losses impact and saves land compensation for cross section is fully utilized because new projects. It is also possible to in- there is no skin effect. The DC curve is not as steep as the AC crease the power transmission capacity curve because of considerably lower line for existing rights of way. A comparison For a long cable connection, e.g. beyond costs per kilometre. For long AC lines between a DC and an AC overhead line 40 km, HVDC will in most cases offer the cost of intermediate reactive power is shown in Fig. 1-2. the only technical solution because of compensation has to be taken into the high charging current of an AC cable. account. This is of particular interest for trans- mission across open sea or into large The break-even distance is in the range cities where a DC cable may provide the of 500 to 800 km depending on a number only possible solution. of other factors, like country-specific cost elements, interest rates for project •A digital control system provides financing, loss evaluation, cost of right accurate and fast control of the active of way etc. power flow. •Fast modulation of DC transmission AC- DC- power can be used to damp power tower tower oscillations in an AC grid and thus improve the system stability. Fig. 1-2: Typical transmission line structures for approx. 1000 MW There are, however, some environmental issues which must be considered for the Costs Total AC Cost converter stations. The most important ones are: •Audible noise Total •Visual impact DC Cost • Electromagnetic compatibility • Use of ground or sea return path in monopolar operation AC Losses DC Losses In general, it can be said that an HVDC system is highly compatible with any environment and can be integrated into it without the need to compromise on DC Line any environmentally important issues of today. AC Line DC Terminals AC Terminals Break-Even Transmission Fig. 1-1: Distance Distance Total cost/distance 2 2 Main Types of HVDC Schemes 2.1 DC Circuit 2.2 Back-to-Back Converters 2.3 Monopolar Long-Distance Tr ansmissions