D e c.

2001

A n O v e rv ie w o f C a p a c itor
Commuta ted C o n v e rte r (C C C ) for
D C T ransmission

Bruno N Kayibabu
 A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
C o n v e n tional C o n v e rte r - A R e v ie w
l R e a c tiv e pow e r absorption is typically 50% of the active power.

l This reactiv e pow e r absorption is g e n e rally compensated for locally by

connecting shunt capacitors/A C filte rs to the converter AC bus.

l The system requirements a re such that the installed reactive power is

split into s e v e ra l shunt capacitor/A C filte r banks.

l In addition to filte r and shunt capacitor banks other equipment such as

s w itchgear and C T ’s must be provided.
 A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
C o n v e n tional C o n v e rte r - A R e v ie w
l This arrangement is g e n e rally costly and takes a lot of space.

AC System

Converter Station
 A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
C C C C oncept
l C C C is characte ris e d by the insertion of a commuta tion capacitor in
s e rie s w ith the converter transformer.
l The commuta tion capacitor may be located betw e e n the thyristor
v a lves and the converter transformer...

AC System

Converter Station
 A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
C C C C oncept

l O r be tw e e n the converte r transforme r and the AC filter

AC System

Converter Station
A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
Commutation Principles - C o n v e n tional
C o n v e rte r (R e ctifie r - A lpha ~ 18°)

Id

ia
1 3 5 0.00 0.04
va ia

vb ib

vc ic

4 6 2

Voltage 0.00 0.04

Vv1 Vac
A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
Commutation Principles - C C C (R e ctifie r - A lpha ~ 1 8 ° )

Id

ia
0 .0 0 0 .0 4
1 3 5
va ia vcapa
+ -
vb ib vcapb
+ -

Vcapa
0 .0 0 0 .0 4
vc ic vcapc
+ -
4 6 2

Voltage
0.00 0.04

Vv1 Vac
A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
Commutation Principles - C C C (R e ctifie r - A lpha ~ 0 ° )

Id

ia
0 .0 0 0 .0 4
1 3 5
va ia vcapa
+ -
vb ib vcapb
+ -

Vcapa
vc ic vcapc
0 .0 0 0 .0 4
+ -
4 6 2

Voltage 0.00 0.04

Vv1 Vac
A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
Commutation Principles - C C C (Inv e rte r - Gamma ~ 1 8 ° )

Id

ia
0 .0 0 0 .0 4
1 3 5
va ia vcapa
+ -
vb ib vcapb
+ -

Vcapa
vc ic vcapc
0 .0 0 0 .0 4
+ -
4 6 2

Voltage
0.00 0.04

Vv1 Vab
 A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
Commutation Principles - C C C

In summary, w ith C C C :
l T h e firing angle (alpha) at the rectifie r can be made very small or
negativ e
l T h e e x tinction angle (gamma) at the inv e rte r can be made very small
or ne g a tiv e
In other words:
l T h e reactiv e pow e r consumption of the converte r can be made very
small or ne g a tiv e , thus avoiding the need to provide shunt reactiv e
pow e r compensation equipment
 A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
M a in A dvantages

l L o w e r reactiv e pow e r unbalance and no need for switching of reactive

pow e r e lements
l L o w e r load re jection tempora ry o v e rv o lta g e (TO V )
l H igher power transfer capability
l H igher voltage stability, higher immunity to commutation failures
l L o w e r transforme r ra ting
l Compact sta tion design, low maintenance
 A n O v e rv ie w of C C C
M a in D isadvantages

l H igher valve voltage stresses, higher valve switching losses

l H igher harmonics on both D C and A C side s
l R a dio and PLC frequency nois e
l E x posed insulation
l C a n n o t pro v ide e x tra reactiv e pow e r a t lo w pow e r transfe r