A H Bridge PEBB for STATCOMs and other

VSC Applications
Bjame Andersen, Member IEEE

A I m I r a c ~ .The US b v ) introduced theronccpt uTPowrr 11. H Bridge PEBB for STATCOM

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WEE Powr Summer Meeting in Tonmlu 2003 derrribrs 8
231W PEBB,and disuses uhelhcr Ib PEBR roncepl b
Ihe \er) lawe converlen u r d in H\DC and
applicable also ID
FACTS applicationr.
Key Words:
HVDC, FACTS, STATCOM, PEBB
I. Introduction
Manufacturers of Power Electronic Systems for
application in Transmission and Distribution networks
have for many years recognised the benefits of using
modular building blocks for the construction of very
large converters. For example HVDC thyristor valves
consist of identical segments, and identical segments
are used on valves for different contracts, even though
the direct current and voltage for these different
contracts may be quite different.
ALSTOM pioneered the utilisation of the Chain Link
converter in the STATCOM used for the 0/+225Mvar
Relocatable SVC supplied to the National Grid
Company at East Claydon, UK. In this application
16 identical H bridges are series connected in each
phase, to provide a total converter rating of +/-
75Mvar connected to the 15kV SVC hushar. Each
phase includes 2 redundant links, making the effective
rating per link +/- 1.8Mvar. Figure 1 shows the
configuration of the STATCOM, with the 16 building
blocks for each phase.
Reactor
I
Valve
Arrester

The main driver for the introduction of standard

building blocks is cost and time. The,development of
a new power electronic switch is very costly, the
qualification testing being a significant part of this
cost. Thus, it is desirable to utilise the developed
product in as high volume as possible, to reduce the
relative development cost. Costs also reduce as
volume increases, and this is a large incentive to
utilise the same building blocks in as many different
applications as possible. Finally, the delivery of a
product, for which component stocks are held, is
quicker than for a product where the manufacturing
process needs to be restarted from scratch each time.
This contribution will briefly describe the H Bridge
Power Electronic Building Block (PEBB) used by
ALSTOM in its STATCOM. The contribution will
also address some of the challenges, which will he
faced in the application of PEBBs in the Transmission
Market.
One Link
Figure 1: Single-phase Chain Circuit Converter
Each Chain Link incorporates four 4.5kV gate tum-
off thyristors (GTOs), having 3000A turn-off
capability. Figure 2 shows the main components of
one link. Not shown in the figure are the low loss
snubber circuit components and the dddt reactor
provided for each GTO. The power for the Gate
Units and for the link control electronics is provided
via IGBT inverters fed through an auxiliary power
interface transformer, connected to a bus operating at
7.5kHz.

B R Andersen is with ALSTOM T&D Ltd Power

Electronic Activities, Stafford, ST17 4LN, UK
(e-mail: Bjarne.Andersen@tde.alstom.com)

0-7803-7989-6/03/$17.00 02003 IEEE 1356

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 Figure 2: important Components of One Link.
Key:
( I ) Ventilation ducts
(2) Earth switch
(3) DC capacitor units
(4) Stripline busbar
( 5 ) Link assembly
(6) IGBT inverter
(7) AF'IT
(8) Auxiliary power coupling
bus
(9) Coolant manifolds

Figure 4: Cross Section of Valve R w m

III. Control and Protection

The control and protection architecture for the

Figure 3: The pawer electronics for one link
The physical implementation of the power electronics
for one link is shown in Figure 3. The link dc
capacitor is located underneath the power electronics
as shown in Figure 4, which shows a cross section of
the relocatable STATCOM valve room. A strip
hushar is used to interconnect the capacitor units to
keep the stray inductance to a minimum.
STATCOM recognises that each chain link has to he
controlled according to a central strategy, to provide
the required reactive power output, maintain harmonic
performance and keep the dc capacitor voltages
balanced. Thus a high level controller at ground
potential looks after the sequencing of the links and
the timing at which each link is insertedlremoved and
the voltage contribution from the link. The
satisfactory and safe operation of the link is looked
after by the Link Control Electronics, located within
each link. Using this architecture the majority of the
high speed control and protection is handled locally in
each link, which makes communication simpler and
less critical.
IV. Link Control Electronics
The link is complete with its local control and
protection. Link Control Electronics receives control
signals from the ground level control system via a
1Mb optical receiver. The coded control signal
denote:

BlocWDehlock
BypasdConduction
Positivelnegative
Inhibit Emergency Bypass
Unsafe to turn off

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 Link Control Electronic also receives GTO status
from the gate units, gate unit power supply status, and
dc capacitor voltage measurement. It acts on these
signals, to generate the desired link state or, in the
event of an internal fault, to place the link in
emergency bypass. A high level of security is
included to prevent shoot-through events (inadvertent
short-circuiting of the dc capacitor via two series
connected GTOs).
Link Control Electronics also communicates to the
control and protection system at ground level. The
following information is communicated to ground
level every 67 microseconds:
GTO healthy/failed (for each GTO)
DC Capacitor voltage
DC Capacitor over voltage ( 2 levels)
Status of emergency bypass
Power supply status
Link Electronics also looks after the IGBT inverters,
which provide auxiliary power to the gate units and
the rapid discharge circuit (IGBT switch with series
resistor) which provides an independent means for
rapidly discharging the dc capacitor.
V. Chain Link Applications
The chain link was initially developed for use in a
STATCOM application. In this application the
exchange of real power with the ac network is
relatively small, being limited to the power necessary
to compensate for losses and to change the dc
capacitor voltages, as is required to adjust the reactive
power output of the STATCOM. In fact, whilst the
chain link structure can provide a highly efficient
structure for some applications, the distributed dc
capacitor makes it more cumbersome to use real
power transmission, e.g. dc transmission or other
applications involving the transfer of real power
between different converters.
Potential applications for the Chain Link are as
follows:
8 STATCOM
SSSC (Series Static Synchronous Compensator)
Energy Storage using batteries or super
capacitors.
VI. The Future of PEBBs in Transmission
Networks
Traditionally Network OwnerslOperators have tended
to specify and procure tailor made solutions for
network connected power clectronics. Some Owners
and Operators have had their own detailed
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requirements for the implementation, frequently
putting constraints over and above the International
Standards on the equipment to be supplied for their
installation. Addiiionally, the Transmission Market
has tended to be very conservative and cautious in the
introduction of new equipment, understandably so
when considering the impact, which the failure of
equipment connected to the Transmission network
could have on a large number of consumers.
Therefore, very stringent type test requirements are
often specified, and some Network Operators will not
recognise type test evidence from other similar
applications. For these reasons the cost of power
electronic equipment for Transmission systems has
tended to be relatively high.
The use of PEBBs for a variety of applications brings
a number of potential benefits as outlined above.
However, powei electronic converters for
transmission applications tends to he of large rating,
and manufacturers have already adopted a modular
approach in the iniplementation of these converters
thereby achieving some part of the potential benefits.
Additionally, a power electronic converter designed
specifically for a given application is likely to be
more efficient than one built from general-purpose
elements. To justify the development and use of a true
PEBB it is necessary to envisage that the market for
this can be at least a magnitude higher, than for
products using the present approach. In other words,
the cost reduction of the complete system must be
very substantial to encourage the required growth in
the market. This makes success more likely for
PEBBs for Voltage Sourced Converters, where at
present the power electronics can account for in
excess of 60% of total costs, compared to typically
less than 30% for line-commutated, current-sourced
converters using thyristors.
Manufacturers will naturally move in this direction if
they consider this to provide cost benefits and/or
market advantages. This may result in some device
manufacturers increasing their scope to become
providers of PEBBs and some of the present power
electronic solution providers for transmission
networks becoming experts in the application of
PEBBs.
To provide substantial cost reduction it will be
necessary also to reduce the costs outside the PEBB,
e.g. by reducing engineering costs and using standard
components. To do so it may be necessary to adopt
some of the concepts used in the Industrial area. In
particular:
Where possible treat the conveners as catalogue
items, e.g. STATCOM, UF'FC, SSSC etc. This will
 necessitate establishing a range of standard ratings
and standard interfaces for each converter type
Perform rigorous type tests on the basic PEBB,
defining test levels in accordance with intended
and defined applications of the PEBB by
comprehensive analysis. These type tests should
he part of the development programme, and
should not be contract specific.
A range of standard routine tests for the PEBB,
possibly specific to application in different
converter types, needs to be defined.
It will of course not he acceptable for PEBB based
systems to have lower reliability, availability or
dependability compared to systems designed the
current way.
The technical expertise’ resident within the Network
Operators has reduced as a consequence of the
unbundling and privatisation of the electricity supply
industry, and the subsequent need for cost reductions
to meet shareholders’ expectations. Consequently,
specifications are becoming increasingly functionally
performance based, and the contractual conditions for
the supply of the solution become more onerous and
the most important part of the contract. This makes it
more likely that a manufacturer would want to use a
standard solution to meet the requirements, since this
will minimise the risks. It also makes it more difficult
for a small manufacturer without the large financial
backing of an international organisation to provide
such solutions.
Transmission Markets focus primarily on meeting
statutory network performance at minimum cost, and
their equipment engineering expertise is reducing.
Consequently, increased emphasis is being put on
contractual performance conditions. This may result
in the PEBB gaining popularity, as the Solution
Provider’s risk is reduced by the use of standard,
proven building blocks.
VIII. Bibliography
DrBjarne Andersen
(M1999) was bom in
Copenhagen, Denmark in
1948. He graduated from
the Technical University of
Denmark with a MSc in
electrical power engineering
and a PhD in High Voltage
Technique before joining
ALSTOM T&D Ltd Power Electronic Activities
(PEA) in 1977. He bas spent most of his career
working on HVDC, SVC and FACTS systems. He is
currently the R&D Director. He is a Member of the
IEEE and a fellow of the IEE, UK. He is a member of
IEEE WG I5 and I8 of the Substation Committee. He
is the Convenor of ClGRE Working Group 14-37
VSC Transmission and the Regular Member for UK
of Study Committee 14..

To some extent Standards Organisations can make a

contribution to the furtherance of the PEBB concept,
by helping to define the basic envelope of standard
ratings for converters and guidelines for type and
routine tests of these. However, at this stage it would
not he desirable to define too rigid a framework, since
the concept is still immature and the market forces
need to be allowed to act freely for a while.

VII. Conclusions

Power electronic manufacturers adopted the concept

of Building Blocks several years ago, as a means of
reducing costs. For a general purpose PEBB to
become successful Transmission Network Owners
and Operators will have to move towards the
procurement of standard equipment, in preference to
bespoke equipment. The combined benefit of this
change in purchasing philosophy, and the use of
PEBBs will be shorter delivery times and lower
capital cost.

Network Operators and Owners in the unbundled

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