HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT

CURRENT (HVDC)
TRANSMISSION

Abu Zaharin Bin Ahmad, PhD

ext: 4246002/2133
Email: zaharin@ump.edu.my
Learning Outcome

1. Advantages of DC transmission

2. Analysis AC-DC Converter for HVDC applications

BEE4273: Dr. AZA

 Conventional Power Grid

Operating – same frequency, perfect synchronism

# control its terminal voltage by the excitation current and
the phase angle of this voltage – mechanical torque developed by the
turbine.

Group – generation, transmission and distribution

# inflexibly tied by the synchronous constraints.
# generators are designed to produce relatively low voltages –
undergoes a number of voltage transformation by power
transformers.
 Flexible Power Grid

Increasing primary transmission voltages - increasing
power carrying capability – also linked to improvements
in the transient stability.
# AC transmission restricted to keep the two
systems interconnected by the line in synchronism
following disturbances – transient stability.

Power system interconnections bring undisputable

benefits – economics scale, the choices of generating
plant, reserve capacity, diversity of demands, supply
reliability etc.

Faster controllability – possible by the development of PE
devices application to control of power apparatus and
systems.
 Issues Affecting Interconnections

Cable exceeds its capacity to carry its own charging
current?
# submarine interconnections with distance over 50 km, DC is
the only practical solution

Link is capable to maintain the synchronism of the two

systems under all extreme conditions?

Practical to arrange generation and frequency control in

the joint system on a common basis?

Synchronous interconnection exceeds the fault levels?

 Alternative DC Transmission Solution

Lack of technical limitations on the length of a submarine

cable

Interconnection systems do not need to operate in
synchronism

Power transfer can be set independently – impedance, phase
angle, frequency and voltage

Can supply power according to any prespecified criteria –
load flow, frequency control, voltage regulation, etc

Can improve the stability of one or both AC systems
 HVAC vs HVDC

- Advantages of DC

i. More power can be transmitted per conductor per circuit

- The capabilities of power transmission of an ac link and a dc link are
different.
- Same insulation - the direct voltage
 is equal to the peak value (√2
x rms value) of the alternating voltage
 .

 = √2


- Same conductor size - the same current can transmitted with both dc
and ac.
 =  
- the corresponding power transmission;
 = 
   dc power
 = 
 
  ac power
 HVAC vs HVDC
- The greater power transmission with dc over ac is given by the ratio
of powers.
 √
=  1.414 at unity PF & 1.768 at 0.8 PF
  

ii. Use of Ground Return Possible

- ground return (especially submarine crossing) may be used, as in the
case of a monopolar dc link.

iii. Smaller Tower Size

- The dc insulation level for the same power transmission is likely to be
lower than the corresponding ac level.
 HVAC vs HVDC
iv. Higher Capacity available for cables
-A comparison made between dc and ac for the transmission of about 1550 MVA is as
follows. Six number ac 275 kV cables, in two groups of 3 cables in horizontal formation,
require a total trench width of 5.2 m, whereas for two number dc ±500 kV cables with the
same capacity require only a trench width of about 0.7 m.

v. No Stability Problem
- The dc link is an asynchronous link and hence any ac supplied through
converters do not have to be synchronised with the link. Hence the length of dc
link is not governed by stability.

vi. Asynchronous interconnection possible

- With ac links, interconnections between power systems must be synchronous.
* different frequency systems cannot be interconnected
- Through HVDC links - For different frequency interconnections both convertors
can be confined to the same station.

vii. Tie line power is easily controlled

- The control is easily accomplished through grid control
 HVAC vs HVDC
- Inherent problems associated with HVDC.

i. Expensive converters

ii. Reactive power requirement

- Convertors require much reactive power, both in rectification as well as in
inversion.

iii. Generation of harmonics

- Convertors generate a lot of harmonics both on the dc side and on the ac side.

iv. Difficulty of voltage transformation

v. Absence of overload capacity

- Convertors have very little overload capacity unlike transformers.
 HVAC vs HVDC
- Economic Comparison.
i. The HVDC system has a lower line cost per unit length as compared
to an equally reliable ac system  lesser number of conductors and
smaller tower size.

ii. However, the dc system needs two expensive converter stations which
may cost around two to three times the corresponding ac transformer
stations.

iii. # HVDC transmission is not generally economical for short distances.

iv. Economic considerations call for a certain minimum transmission

distance (break-even distance) before HVDC can be considered competitive
purely on cost.
HVAC vs HVDC
 HVAC vs HVDC
Cost

Line Cost AC

Line Cost DC

Terminal Cost DC

Terminal Cost AC

Break-even distance for d.c. transmission Distance (km)

HVAC vs HVDC
HVAC vs HVDC
HVAC vs HVDC
There main elements – 1. Converter station (transmission & receiving ends)
2. Transmission medium
3. Inverter (receiver)
 POWER CONVERSION
- Power Electronic converters use semiconductor devices which are operated
in "ON " and "OFF" states.

* ON state - the voltage across the device is negligible.

* OFF state - current flow through it is negligible.

- The state of a device is decided by the external circuit conditions and a

(a low power) signal which is provided at the GATE terminal of the device.

- Most power electronic converters used in

power system applications, like HVDC, use a
device known as a THYRISTOR – common
rating used: 10 kV, 8000 A.
 POWER CONVERSION
- An IDEAL Thyristor has the following characteristics:

1. A thyristor turns ON if  > 0 (forward bias) and  > 0 (firing).

2. Once a thyristor is ON, it remains ON even if  becomes 0.
3. A thyristor which is ON, switches OFF if  falls to 0.
 HVDC CONVERTER

108

Thyristor
Power (VA)
IGCT
106
IGBT
104

Thyristor IGCT IGBT MOSFET 102 MOSFET

(a)
101 10 2 10 3 104
Switching Frequency (Hz)
(b)

Power semiconductor devices.

 POWER CONVERSION

- Most HVDC AC-DC converters use line commutated thyristor bridges.

- Use the AC voltages to provide the required forward voltages which are
essential for thyristor turn ON.
 HVDC SYSTEM

DC line
AC line AC line
+

−
AC1 AC2
P1 , Q1 P2 , Q2

Fig. 7-21Diagram
Block Block diagram of voltage-link
of voltage-link HVDC HVDC system.
system

- For DC lines  Reactive power compensation is not needed

- However  Reactive power support will be required at both ends
- # converter consumes reactive power
 REACTIVE POWER

- Power is a function of time  when Voltage and Current sinusoids

 =   cos  + "
- It can be found that;
  =   cos( )

THUS;    
%  = 
   =  cos " +  cos " cos(2 )
2 2
V( I(
− sin θ sin(2ωt)
2

Real Power, P = /010 =   cos "

Reactive Power, Q =   sin(")

 REACTIVE POWER
- noting that in the phasor domain;

 =  ∠θ
I = 
∴ Thus, the impedance will be; 3(4) 36
Z= =  ∠θ
5(4) 56

# θ is the angle between the phase voltage and the phase current.
 REACTIVE POWER

- For the case of purely resistive  modeled only resistors

- Impedance is REAL – means that θ = 0

V V∠0 V
I= = =
Z Z∠0 Z

3(4) 3
Z= =  ∠7
5(4) 5

Real Power, P = /010 =  

Reactive Power, Q = 0
 REACTIVE POWER
- For the case of purely Inductive  modeled only inductors
- Impedance is POSITIVE and IMAGINARY – means that θ = 879

V V∠0 V
I= = = ∠ − 90
Z Z∠θ Z

3(4) 3
Z= =  ∠θ
5(4) 5

Real Power, P = 0

Reactive Power, Q =  
 REACTIVE POWER
- For the case of purely Capacitive  modeled only capacitors
- Impedance is NEGATIVE and IMAGINARY – means that θ = -879

V V∠0 V
I= = = ∠90
Z Z∠ − θ Z

3(4) 3
Z= =  ∠ − θ
5(4) 5

Real Power, P = 0

Reactive Power, Q = − 

  Resistive component “consumes” active power
 Reactive component “supplies” reactive power
 Source “consumes” reactive power

** Real Power, P, is the average power, and is the

power associated with resistances.

** Reactive Power, Q, is used as a measure of the

energy that is given to the inductors and capacitors,
and then returned later.