HVDC Transmission System

&
HVDC Substation

Quik Teck Talk Prasad S Ranga

Introduction
◼ Over 25 years of experience in Power System
Technologies & Emerging Markets and having
extensive expertise in Business Development, Market
Analytics, Operations, Project Management, Designs,
Product Development, Team Management,
Consultancy & Training.
◼ Represented global companies like ABB, GE apart
from Vijai Electricals & IISC.
◼ Educational background with Master’s degree in
Power Systems from Mississippi State University, USA
& Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from RV
College of Engineering, India.
◼ Worked in Emerging Markets viz. Digitization, Metro
SCADA, Smart Grids, Distributed Generation,
Wireless Mesh Communication Network, PV
Technology, HVDC & Renewables

Quik Teck Talk Slide: 2

Topics
◼ Understand HVDC Transmission System and associated
Substations.

◼ Benefits of HVDC System and Comparison with HVAC

system and it’s applications

◼ Various types of HVDC Systems and Transmission

Lines.

◼ Various components & equipment that make up HVDC

System.

◼ Control & Protection System for HVDC Equipment

◼ Q&A
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HVDC Transmission System
◼ AC has been the preferred global platform for electrical transmission to
homes and businesses for the past 100 years. And yet high-voltage AC
transmission has some limitations, starting with transmission capacity and
distance constraints, and the impossibility of directly connecting two AC
power networks of different frequencies.
◼ With the dawn of a new energy era and the need to build a smarter grid,
HVDC is expected to grow far beyond its traditional position as a
supplement to AC transmission.
◼ HVDC is now the method of choice for subsea electrical transmission and
the interconnection of asynchronous AC grids, providing efficient, stable
transmission and control capability.
◼ HVDC is also the technology of choice for long-distance bulk power
transmission, able to send vast amounts of electricity over very long
distances with low electrical losses. That makes it a key technology in
overcoming a huge problem with renewable generation like wind, solar and
hydro which are remotely located.

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HVDC Transmission System Benefits
◼ The reasons for choosing HVDC instead of AC to transmit power in a
specific case are often numerous and complex. Either HVDC is necessary
or desirable from a technical point of view, i.e. controllability. Or HVDC
results in a lower total investment, including lower losses, and/or is
environmentally superior.
◼ In many cases, HVDC links are justified based on a combination of
technical, economic and environmental advantages.
Two 3,000 MW HVDC lines with 2 conductors,
compared to the five 500 kV AC lines (below)
that would have been needed if AC transmission
had been selected to deliver the same amount
of power. HVDC transmission systems clearly
have far smaller footprints than AC systems.

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HVDC Transmission System
Ultra high voltage DC systems
◼ The increased interest in recent years for transporting clean and renewable
energy from remote generation plants has brought focus on higher DC
transmission voltage from presently used 600kV DC. This has led to
development of Ultra high voltage direct current (UHVDC) at 800kV and
more recently even up to 1,100 kV DC.
◼ 800 kV UHVDC transmissions are economically attractive for bulk power
transmissions of 5,000 – 8,000 MW over 1,000 – 1,500 km. 800 kV HVDC
transmission projects are already established voltage level for bulk power
transmission over long distances.
◼ 1,100 kV for transmission capacities up to 10 GW and over distances
reaching even above 3,000 km.

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HVDC Application & Benefits
DC Links in AC Grids
◼ DC transmissions embedded in the AC grid will result in a more secure and optimized
control of the network's load flow, as well as quick power restoration in the event of a
significant disturbance, even a blackout.
◼ DC transmissions can compensate for fluctuations in power, voltage and frequency,
making it an ideal technology for stabilizing a power system.
◼ In addition, more DC links will contribute to reduced system losses, increased
transmission capacity and improved power quality.
HVDC instead of AC to transmit power in a specific case are often
numerous and complex
◼ Bulk Power Transmission over long distances economically
◼ Offshore Wind Connections
◼ Connecting Remote Generation (such as Wind, Solar, Hydro)
◼ Connecting Remote Loads (such as Islands and Remote cities, Industries in remote
locations such as mines)
◼ Power from Shore (deliver power both to and from offshore platforms)
◼ Interconnecting Asynchronous grids
◼ Undersea and underground cables

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HVDC Application & Benefits
Benefits of HVDC System
DC is more efficient than AC for transmitting large amounts of power over long
distances:
◼ 3,500 MW transmission line, 1000KM long
❖ Losses on AC line ~ 15%

❖ Losses on DC line ~ 4.54%

◼ Only 2 conductors vs. 9 (3 per phase)

◼ Smaller towers require less right of way
◼ Break even distances
❖ 600KM for overhead lines

❖ 50KM for submarine lines

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HVDC Transmission System
Some more Advantages of HVDC System
◼ Cost of transmission lines & towers are less, since only two conductors are used for
transmission.
◼ There is no reactive power. So transmission losses are reduced.
◼ Due to high voltage transmission, for the same power, current is less. So I2R loss is
very less.
◼ Because of DC transmission, there is no skin effect. So thin conductors can be used.
◼ HVDC uses electronic converters. Protections, fault clearance can be implemented
faster, thereby offering improved transient stability.
◼ For faults, power levels on HVDC system can be controlled electronically (very fast).
◼ Since HVDC requires no charging current and the reactive power, it is preferred in
power transmission through cables.
◼ Unlike HVAC transmission system, HVDC does not induce body currents in the
vicinity of the conductors.
◼ HVDC transmission does not have any dielectric loss heating problems in the
insulation of conductors.
◼ HVDC has minimum audible noise as well as minimum radio, TV interference

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HVDC Application & Benefits
Some Disadvantages of HVDC Transmission
◼ Converters with small overload capacity are used.
◼ Circuit Breakers, Converters and AC filters are expensive especially for
small distance transmission.
◼ No transformers for altering the voltage level.
◼ HVDC link is extremely complicated.
◼ Uncontrollable power flow.

What are the transmission line investment costs

◼ Right of way
◼ Transmission towers
◼ Conductors
◼ Insulators
◼ Terminal equipment

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HVDC Convertor Substations
◼ AC power is generated in the generating station is converted into DC with
the help of rectifier. The DC power will flow through the overhead lines. At
the user end, this DC is converted back into AC with the help of an inverter
is placed at the receiving end.
◼ Thus, there will be a rectifier terminal in one end of HVDC substation and an
inverter terminal in the other end. The power of the sending end and user
end will be always equal (Input Power = Output Power).
◼ When there are two converter stations at both ends and a single
transmission line is termed as two terminal DC systems. When there are
two or more converter stations and DC transmission lines is termed as
multi-terminal DC substation.

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Classification of HVDC Links
Mono Polar Links
◼ Single conductor is required and water or ground act as the return path. If
the earth resistivity is high, metallic return is used.
◼ Use of this system is mainly due to cost considerations.
◼ This configuration type is the first step towards a bipolar link.

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Classification of HVDC Links
Bipolar Links
◼ Double converters of same voltage rating are used in each terminal,
connected in series on the DC side. The converter junctions are grounded.
◼ There are two conductors. One operates at +ve polarity and other is –ve
polarity.
◼ During fault in one pole it works as Monopolar. If one pole is isolated due to
fault, the other pole can operate with ground and carry half the rated load
(or more using overload capabilities of its converter line).

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Classification of HVDC Links
Homo Polar Links
◼ It consists of more than two conductors which is having equal polarity
generally negative. Ground is the return path.
◼ During fault in one pole it works as Monopolar

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Components of HVDC Systems
◼ Converters
◼ Smoothing Reactors
◼ Electrodes
◼ Harmonic Filters
◼ Reactive Power Supplies
◼ Convertor Transformer
◼ AC Circuit Breakers
◼ DC Lines

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Components of HVDC Systems
Converters:
◼ The AC to DC (rectification) and DC to AC (inversion) conversion are done by
the converters. It includes transformers and valve bridges.
◼ Two types of semiconductors are normally used in the converters: the Gate
Turn-Off Thyristor (GTO) or the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT).
◼ Converters using thyristors are known as Line Commutated Converters
(LCC). In thyristor-based converters, many thyristors are connected in series to
form a thyristor valve, and each converter normally consists of six or twelve
thyristor valves. The thyristor valves are usually grouped in pairs or groups of
four and can stand on insulators on the floor or hang from insulators from the
ceiling. Line commutated converters require voltage from the AC network for
commutation.
◼ Almost all converters used for HVDC are intrinsically able to operate with power
conversion in either direction.
◼ Voltage sourced converters have started to be used for HVDC. Voltage
Sourced Converters (VSC) use insulated-gate bipolar transistors instead of
thyristors, and these can provide power to a deenergized AC system (passive
networks without generation)

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Components of HVDC Systems

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Components of HVDC Systems
LCC HVDC
– Current-sourced
– Line-Commutated
LCC HVDC
• Use semiconductors which can withstand
voltage in either polarity
• Output voltage can change power
direction
• Current direction does not change
• Store energy inductively
• Use semiconductors which can turn on by
control action
• Turn-off and “commutation” rely on the
external circuit
Quik Teck Talk
VSC HVDC
− Voltage-Sourced
− Self-Commutated
VSC HVDC
• Use semiconductors which can pass
current in either direction
• Output voltage polarity does not change
• Current direction changes to change
Power direction
• Store energy capacitively
• Use semiconductors which can turn on
or off by control action
• Turn-off is independent of external
circuit
Slide: 18
Components of HVDC Systems
Smoothing Reactors:
◼ Each pole consist of smoothing reactors connected in series with the pole
which adds inductance to help smooth the direct current.
◼ It is used to avoid commutation failures occurring in inverters, reduces
harmonics and avoids discontinuation of current for loads.
◼ The smoothing reactor can have either an air-core or an iron-core. Iron-core
coils look like oil-filled high voltage transformers. Air-core smoothing coils
resemble, but are considerably larger than, carrier frequency choke coils in
high voltage transmission lines and are supported by insulators. Air coils
have the advantage of generating less acoustical noise than iron-core coils,
they eliminate the potential environmental hazard of spilled oil, and they do
not saturate under transient high current fault conditions. This part of the
plant will also contain instruments for measurement of direct current and
voltage.
◼ Special direct current filters are used to eliminate high frequency
interference.

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Components of HVDC Systems
Electrodes:
◼ They are actually conductors which are used to connect the system to the earth.
◼ The electrode are buried into the earth (upto 500mtr) where the resistivity is
around (3-10 Ohm/m) to reduce transient over voltages during line faults and
gives low DC electric potential and potential gradient at the surface of the earth.
Harmonic Filters:
◼ Harmonic filters are necessary for the elimination of the harmonic waves in
voltage and current of the converters used, and for the production of the
reactive power at line commutated converter stations. Filters are tuned to the
expected harmonic frequencies and consist of series combinations of capacitors
and inductors.
◼ Voltage sourced converters generally produce lower intensity harmonics than
line commutated converters. As a result, harmonic filters are generally smaller or
may be omitted altogether.
◼ A coil with a parallel capacitor forming a resonant circuit, is also provided to
eliminate spurious signals in the frequency range of power-line carrier
equipment in the range of 30 kHz to 500 kHz. These filters are usually near the
alternating current terminal of the static inverter transformer.

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Components of HVDC Systems
Reactive Power Supplies:
◼ When line commutated converters are used, the converter station will
require between 40% and 60% of its power rating as reactive power.
◼ This can be provided by banks of switched capacitors or by synchronous
condensers, or if a suitable power generating station is located close to the
static inverter plant, the generators in the power station.
◼ The demand for reactive power can be reduced if the converter
transformers have on-load tap changers with a sufficient range of taps for
AC voltage control.
◼ Some of the reactive power requirement can be supplied in the harmonic
filter components.
◼ Voltage sourced converters can generate or absorb reactive as well as real
power, and additional reactive power equipment is generally not needed.

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Components of HVDC Systems
Convertor Transformers:
◼ The converter transformers step up the voltage of the AC supply network.
Using a star-to-delta or "wye-delta" connection of the transformer windings,
the converter can operate with 12 pulses for each cycle in the AC supply,
which eliminates numerous harmonic current components.
◼ The insulation of the transformer windings must be specially designed to
withstand a large DC potential to earth.
◼ Converter transformers can be built as large as 300 MVA as a single unit. It
is impractical to transport larger transformers, so when larger ratings are
required, several individual transformers are connected together. Either two
three-phase units or three single-phase units can be used. With the latter
variant only one type of transformer is used, making the supply of a spare
transformer more economical.
◼ Converter transformers produce more acoustic noise than normal three-
phase power transformers. This effect should be considered in the siting of
an HVDC converter station. Noise-reducing enclosures may be applied.

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Components of HVDC Systems
AC Circuit Breakers:
◼ The fault in the transformer is cleared by the circuit breakers. It also used to
disconnect the DC link.
◼ The three-phase alternating current switch gear of a converter station is similar
to that of an AC substation. It will contain circuit breakers for overcurrent
protection of the converter transformers, isolating switches, grounding switches,
and instrument transformers for control, measurement and protection. The
station will also have lightning arresters for protection of the AC equipment
from lightning surges on the AC system.
HVDC Breakers
◼ As DC has no natural current zeros, Artificial current zero are produced by LC
oscillations. Breaker interrupts at artificial current zeroes
◼ Hybrid HVDC CB works in 3 stages: Power electronics breaker is tripped - High
resistance path for current - Mechanical breaker is fired - Main power electronics
completes breaking process.

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Components of HVDC Systems
DC Lines:
◼ It can be cables or overhead lines.
◼ It is now economically feasible to expand transmission capacity using
underground HVDC cables. This approach not only minimizes environmental
impact, it also improves the quality of the power supply.

AC Transmission Line Corridor DC Transmission Line Corridor

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Control of HVDC Systems
Control Implementation
◼ Power control: To transmit a scheduled power, the corresponding current
order is determined by:
❖ Rectifier control and protection: Determines firing angles and sets their

limits.
❖ Inverter control and protection: Determines firing angles and set

frequency of resulting AC.

❖ Master Control: It coordinates the conversion of current order to a firing
angle order, tap changer control and other protection sequences.

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Control of HVDC Systems
◼ HVDC Control System provides unequalled calculation capacity and enables a high
degree of integration for all control and protection functions. It also provides
advanced fault registration and remote control functions. The system is designed to
run 24/7 for thirty years or more, allowing the HVDC system to be controlled and
protected in the most reliable way throughout its life time.
◼ HVDC CS uses state-of-the-art computers, microcontrollers and digital signal
processors connected by high-performance industrial standard buses and fiber optic
communication links. It includes very powerful internal supervision, which
eliminates periodic maintenance of the control equipment.
◼ The system consists of the station control and monitoring servers, operator
workstations, control and protection main computers, digital signal processor units,
I/O systems and valve control units. Thanks to the modularity, the high performance
of the HVDC CS equipment, offers similar hardware and system software used for a
VSC-HVDC, LCC-HVDC or FACTS control system with only the application software
and the valve control differing.
◼ The ability to upgrade is yet another advantage with Modular Advanced Control
System for HVDC. That means even an older HVDC system can enjoy the benefits of
great controllability. This is a great way to prolong the lifetime of an existing
transmission link with rapid project completion and minimal transmission disruption.
◼

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Control of HVDC Systems
Control & Protection Overview

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Protection of HVDC Systems
DC Grid Protection – Zones of Protection
◼ Keep the protections associated with Zones 4 and 5 physically separate in
order to permit for future multi-vendor upgrade to multi-terminal

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Protection of HVDC Systems
Clearance of DC side Faults

Protection requirements – AC vs. DC faults

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Protection of HVDC Systems
Review of options for HVDC circuit breaker

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Protection of HVDC Systems
General Protection Philosophy
◼ The purpose of the HVDC protection system is to promptly remove main
circuit equipment from service at short circuits or at abnormal operation that
might cause damage or interfere with the operation of the neighboring
system.
◼ The HVDC control and protection system is divided to two Redundant
systems A and B, based on an Active Standby concept. Both systems
include a complete set of control and protection systems. Each protection
system consists of both set1 and set2 protections.
◼ As soon as a protection operates a fast change over is executed from the
active system to the standby system, to ensure that the protection action is
based on a correct external measurement. The concept is equal for both
the DC and the AC protections.

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DC Protection of HVDC Systems

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DC Protection of HVDC Systems

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DC Protection of HVDC Systems

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DC Protection of HVDC Systems

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AC Protection of HVDC Systems

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AC Protection of HVDC Systems

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AC Protection of HVDC Systems

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AC Protection of HVDC Systems
Apparatus Protective Relays for Convertor Transformers
▪ Oil temperature indicator
▪ Reactor pressure and oil flow relays
▪ Low oil level detector
▪ Oil leakage detector
▪ Gas detector
▪ Winding temperature indicator
▪ Cooling system failure protection

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Protection of HVDC Systems
Fault Clearing Actions
▪ Transfer to redundant control & protection system

Control Actions
▪ Retarding of the converter
▪ Blocking of the converters
▪ Disconnection from the AC System

System Supervision

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HVDC Transmission Systems in India
HVDC Projects in India
◼ Sileru – Barsoor – 200KV, 100MW, 200KM
◼ Rihand – Dadri – 500KV, 1500MW, 814KM
◼ Chandrapur – Padghe – 500KV, 1500MW, 752KM
◼ Talcher – Kolar – 500KV, 2500MW, 1450KM
◼ Ballia – Bhiwadi – 500KV, 2500MW, 800KM
◼ Mundra – Mohindergarh – 500KV, 2500MW, 960KM
◼ Champa – Kurukshetra – 500KV, 2x3000MW, 1365KM
◼ Agra – Biswanath (NE) – 800KV, 6000MW, 1728KM
◼ Raigarh – Pugalur – 800KV, 6000MW, 1830KM
Back to Back Stations: HVDC Link – Connecting Regions & Capacity:
◼ Vindhyachal: North-West: 176KV, 2x250MW
◼ Chandrapur: West-South: 205KV, 2x500MW
◼ Vizag-I (Gazuwaka): East-South: 205KV, 500MW
◼ Sasaram: East-North: 205KV, 500MW
◼ Vizag-II: East-South: 176KV, 500MW
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 Thank you

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