2008 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Chongqing, China, November 9-13, 2008
Study for Arrangement of the Smoothing Reactor
in ±800kV UHVDC Project
Cheng Xiaoxuan1, lv Jinzhuang2, Gou Ruifeng1 , Zhao Jie2
1
Xi’an High Voltage Apparatus Research Institute, Xi’an 710077, Shaanxi Province, China
2
Technology Research Center of China Southern Power Grid, Guangzhou 510623, Guangdong Province, China
Abstract-Normally, the smoothing reactor in ±500kV HVDC
system is installed on the pole bus. It’s the first time for the
application in UHVDC project of the 50/50 split of the smoothing
reactor, i.e. half of the required smoothing reactance of the
converter station is connected with pole bus and the rest is
connected with the neutral bus. In this article, in comparison
with the scheme of all smoothing reactors installed on DC pole
bus, the influences of the smoothing reactors connected with pole
bus and neutral bus on the system peak/crest of the continuous
operating voltage (PCOV/CCOV) and on the insulation
coordination of the converter station are focused on discussion.
Also the PSCAD/EMTDC program is used for the DC transient
overvoltage (DCTOV) calculation in detail for arrangement
schemes comparing. All of the studies is based on the Yun-Guang
±800kV UHVDC project. With considering of the type selection,
manufacture and the investment of the smoothing reactor, the
conclusion will be drawn in this article: the different smoothing
reactor arrangement scheme will bring the obvious influence on
the production, transport and the cost of the important
equipment in the UHVDC project. After the issues are analyzed
economically and technically, the optimum scheme with split
installation of the smoothing reactor is determined finally.
Key words- UHVDC， arrangement of smoothing reactor,
overvoltage, insulation cooperation.
I. INTRODUCTION
± 800kV UHVDC project is brought forward and built
firstly by China. Due to the highest DC voltage level of the
UHVDC project in the world at the present time, the things
including the system study and the equipment manufacture etc,
are all facing the new challenge around of the world. For the
smoothing reactor in the ± 500kV HVDC project, the oil
insulated reactor is used to being applied. But in the UHVDC
system, the air core smoothing reactor is also an option for the
higher increasing of the pole line voltage.
In the ± 800kV Yun-Guang UHVDC project, the total
stress across the reactor is 800kV DC plus added 1950kV
light impulse, giving a total stress of 2750kV. Thus the light
impulse withstand level (LIWL) of the smoothing reactor
should not be lower than this value. The oil insulated reactor
will not be applicable for such high LIWL requirement. The
reasons are described hereafter. Above all, the testing of oil
insulted smoothing reactors for this voltage level is
complicated. There are two alternatives test methods. One is
that one terminal of the reactor is connected with a 800kV DC
voltage and the impulse is applied on the other terminal.
However, most test laboratories are refuse to this kind of test,
since a flash over in the test item will ruin the DC-generator.
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Alternatively, one side of the reactor is connected with ground
and the impulse is applied on the other terminal. However,
this means that the insulation of the reactor bushing and the
reactor itself must be insulated for 2750kV. It is difficult for
oil insulated reactor on testing, design and manufacture.
Using air core reactors, the insulation to ground is simple and
the main insulation could afford by using the support insulator.
The voltage across the air core reactor is easily limited by an
arrester connected across the reactor. Consequently the
insulation level requirement for the reactor will not increase
greatly. Secondly, the transport of the oil insulated reactor will
be more difficult than that of the air core reactor due to the
larger dimension, more weight and more cost. Thirdly, the
maintenance of the air core reactor is much easy than that of
the oil insulated for the oilnessless design. Additionally, the
investment will be higher increasing if the oil insulated
reactor is applied. 2+1 oil reactor, each 300mH, which are
needed for each station will cost about 120 million RMB.
Alternatively, about 64 million RMB is budgeted if the air
core reactors are adopted, i.e. 4 pole bus reactor and 4 neutral
bus reactor, each 75mH for whole station. So based on
analyzing economically and technically, the air core
smoothing reactor is more appropriate for using in UHVDC
project.
Whereas, the following issue is how to arrange the air core
reactors in the DC yard reasonably and properly in order to
obtain the preferable system performance. All around
consideration will be necessary. In this article, the Yun-Guang
± 800kV UHVDC project is the target. The topics for
discussion involve three parts for the arrangement schemes,
one is the influences of the smoothing reactors connected with
pole bus and neutral bus on peak voltage on the crucial
location of the system, the other is the influences on the
insulation coordination of the converter station, and the last is
the calculation and analysis of the DCTOV under the different
schemes respectively.
II. PUTTING FORWARD OF SMOOTHING REACTORS
CONNECTED WITH POLE BUS AND NEUTRAL BUS
The oil smoothing reactor is completely installed on the
pole bus in the ±500kV HVDC system. But in the ±800kV
Yun-Guang UHVDC project, the 300mH smoothing reactor is
needed depending on the result of the main circuit study.
Because the reactance of single air core reactor is limited for
the reason of the arts and crafts, 4 air core reactors (75mH for
371
each) are necessary for meeting the requirement of UHVDC
system. As a result the arrangement of making all of the
reactance on pole bus becomes more difficult.
For solving this problem, during the main circuit scheme
design, 4 air core reactors are split into the 2 pole bus reactors
and 2 neutral bus reactors. The pole bus reactors are installed
between the high potential (HV) converter and DC pole bus.
As well as the neutral bus reactors are installed between the
low potential (LV) converter and neutral bus. One of the
benefits of such arrangement is to diminish the installation
difficulty for the devices on pole bus. At the same time the
requirements for insulation withstand level of the smoothing
reactors which are moved to neutral bus are debased. The
arrangement of the smoothing reactor in UHVDC is show in
Fig. 1.
It’s the first application of the 50/50 split of the smoothing
reactor in UHVDC project. And the effects of this
arrangement on the DC transient overvoltage and insulation
coordination of the converter station is very important for
system study, which has to be calculated and analyzed in
detail.
arrester can be cut down.
In comparison with the scheme of all smoothing reactors
installed on DC pole bus (i.e. centralized arrangement
scheme), because of the equal decrease with opposite
direction of the harmonic voltage for the current crossing the
pole bus reactor and neutral bus reactor，the scheme of the
smoothing reactors connected with pole bus and neutral bus
(i.e. split arrangement scheme) makes it possible that the
voltage on the middle bus between the two 12-pluse converter
units in series is almost a pure DC voltage. About 4.6% peak
value could be reduced at the middle bus between the two 12-
pluse converter units. The results of the voltage measuring on
this location with two arrangements are shown in Fig. 2.
Therefore, if the split arrangement scheme is adopted, each
point to ground peak value of arresters of the HV 12-pluse
converter can be calculated in accordance with the formula
used for the conventional 500kV 12-pluse converter and then
the DC voltage of middle bus may be added, or else the
PCOV of middle bus may be added for centralized
arrangement of the smoothing reactor. This can reduce each
arrester peak value of high potential 12-pluse converter unit.
The value is reduced about 2.2% to 4.6% (see Table 1 in
which record the data at α 15°on rectifier side, γ 18°on
inverter side.), which is different at different point. According
to these considerations, the reference voltage of the arrester
installed at these points may be lower than that of the scheme
of smoothing reactors completely installed on pole. It may
reduce the protection level of arresters and also reduce the
insulation level of each spot of high potential 12-pluse
converter. But the DCTOV study has to be done for
determining the extent of such influence.

□Centralized arrangement of smoothing

440 reactor on Pole Bus
■Smoothing reactor split install
430
420

410
V1,V2,V3 Valve Arrester 400
DB,DL Pole bus Arrester
C2 HV 12-pluse converter arrester
CB1 DC bus middle arrester 390
M1 LV 12-pluse converter middle bus arrester
E1H,E2,E2H.EL.EM Neutral bus arrester 380
DR2 Pole bus smoothing reactor arrester
A2 HV transformer converter valve side arrester
370
Figure 1. Spilt arrangement of the smoothing reactor 0 0.0025 0.005 0.0075 0.01 0.0125 0.015 0.0175 0.02
and arresters arrangement diagram Figure 2 .the peak voltage on the middle bus between two 12-pluse converters

III. INFLUENCES OF THE SMOOTHING REACTORS TABLE 1

CONNECTED WITH POLE BUS AND NEUTRAL BUS ON PEAK VALUE ON RECTIFIER SIDE
PEAK VOLTAGE OF THE SYSTEM Location （ Voltage to Split Centralized Difference
Ground） arrangement arrangement ％
The reference voltage of the arrester is one of important
Pole top 831 849 2.2%
terms which determine the protection level of the arrester. The Middle of two 12-pulse
PCOV/CCOV of the arresters influences the reference voltage converter units 410 429 4.6%
directly. If the PCOV/CCOV could be decreased effectually, Middle bus of HV 12-pulse
converter unit 652 667.7 2.4%
the insulation level of the equipment which is protected by the

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Valve side of the HV Y/Y spot on the HV Y/Y transformer converter valve side, which
converter transformer 870 880 1.15%
Valve side of the HV Y/D will make great sense for manufacture, transport and the
converter transformer 649.67 667.59 2.76% investment of this converter transformer. But at the same time,
Valve side of the LV Y/Y
converter transformer 460 462 0.4% the insulation level of the valve bottom devices will be
Valve side of the LV Y/D increased. However, the investment of such devices will not
converter transformer 252.56 243.99 -3.5%
be changed notability for having characteristic of lower
Middle bus of LV 12-pulse
converter unit 233.5 244.9 4.88% normal voltage.
IV. INFLUENCES OF THE SMOOTHING REACTORS V. ANALYSES OF THE DCTOV CALCULATION RESULTS
CONNECTED WITH POLE BUS AND NEUTRAL BUS ON UNDER THE DIFFERENT SCHEMES RESPECTIVELY
INSULATION COORDINATION OF THE CONVERTER
STATION
In order to comparing the overvoltage of the converter
station under the different schemes, the PSCAD/EMTDC
The influences of the arrangement of smoothing reactor on program is used to set up the model of Yun-Guang UHVDC
the protection level of each arrester are decided by the arrester project for DCTOV study. The arresters arrangement is show
location and protection principle. The arresters arrangement is in Fig. 1. The most severe cases are simulated for getting the
show in Fig. 1. The calculation value of PCOV of the HV Y/Y maximum stress for each arrester.
converter transformer valve side arrester A2 may have much The results of calculation are show in Table 2, where the
variety between the split arrangement scheme and centralized stress about voltage, energy and current of the arrester under
arrangement scheme of smoothing reactor, resulting in the each most severe case for two schemes are list.
PCOV changed from 885kV to 905kV. Accordingly the Comparing with the centralized arrangement scheme of the
reference voltage is increased to 974kV and the protection smoothing reactor, the split arrangement is not influence on
level is increased to 1395kV from 1344kV. If the switch the valve arrester V. But the maximum voltage of the pole bus
impulse withstand level (SIWL) of the valve side of HV Y/Y arrester DB/BL is decreased from 1310kV to 1299kV, whose
converter transformer need to be ensured 1600kV under reduction is notable. The maximum voltage of arrester A2 is
centralized arrangement scheme, the insulation margin is only cut down from 1299kV to 1285kV (see Fig. 3). It shows that
14.6% which does not meet the margin requirement. So only the split arrangement scheme is benefit for decreasing the
the split arrangement scheme could ensure that the SIWL of overvoltage of the spots on pole bus and HV Y/Y converter
this spot is not over 1600kV. It makes great sense for the transformer valve side.
design, transport and the investment of this converter The stress of the arrester E2H is abated with smoothing
transformer. reactor split arrangement. But the overvoltage of E1H is
During the single 12-pulse converter unit operation with increased from 255kV to 262.8kV, and the energy is added too.
400kV alone, the influence of the smoothing reactor This may make the number of the columns/posts connected in
arrangement on the PCOV of HV 12-pulse converter arrester parallel of E1H is more than that with centralized
C2 and the DC bus middle arrester CB1 is limited. Thereby arrangement scheme.
the reference voltages of these kinds of arresters are similar TABLE 2
among two arrangement schemes. THE MAXIMUM STRESS OF EACH ARRESTER UNDER TWO SCHEMES
For the valve arrester V and pole bus arrester DB/DL, the
Split arrangement Centralized arragement
smoothing reactor arrangement will not effect on the Arrester
PCOV/CCOV calculation. Voltage Current Energy Voltage Current Energy
(KV) (kA) (MJ) (KV) (kA) (MJ)
For the neutral bus arrester E, the disadvantages for neutral
bus equipped with smoothing reactors are obvious. Firstly, It V1 388.5 2.67 6.13 388.9 2.7 6.2
will cause the energy capability of E1H (high energy) arrester V2 388.8 1.31 2.4 388.9 1.31 2.6
to be higher than that of E2H (high energy). If it is considered
V3 395 0.9 1.1 395 0.9 1.0
that the energy should be decreased, the reference voltage of
E1H need be increased. Whereas, this will make the insulation DB/DL 1299 0.67 2.4 1310. 0.8 2.98
level of the valve bottom devices should be higher than that of C2 696 0.8 1.01 693.9 0.73 0.91
the neutral bus.
M1 435 1 1.05 345 - -
For the LV 12-pulse converter middle bus arrester M1, the
PCOV of arrester M1 is equal to arrester V3’ CCOV plus the CB1 681 0.48 0.6 703 0.9 1.07
voltage to ground on valve side of neutral bus. Because the E1H 262.8 8.0 14.4 255 3.9 8.9
split arrangement scheme of smoothing reactor could make E2H 255.3 1.52 0.55 253.6 1.22 3.1
the voltage to ground on valve side of neutral bus increase,
E2H 252.9 1.13 4.28 255 3.4 8.47
accordingly the PCOV of M1 is increased either.
Thus it can be seen that the split arrangement scheme of E2 256 0.51 1.77 248 0.216 1.024
smoothing reactor could decrease the insulation level of the A2 1285 0.31 0.97 1299 0.49 1.75

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FIGURE 3. STRESS OF ARRESTER A2 AT MOST SEVERE CASE
VI. CONCLUSION
(1) In comparison with the scheme of all smoothing
reactors installed on DC pole bus, the scheme of the
smoothing reactors connected with pole bus and neutral bus
makes it possible that the peak voltage on the spots of HV 12-
pluse converter units are reduced about 2.2% to 4.6%, varying
with different points.
(2) The scheme of the smoothing reactors connected with
pole bus and neutral bus could ensure that the SIWL of spot
on HV Y/Y converter transformer valve side is limited within
1600kV, which will make great sense for the production,
transport and the investment of this kind of transformer.
(3) The scheme of the smoothing reactors connected with
pole bus and neutral bus results in the increase of the
overvoltage level of arrester E1H. Consequently, the
insulation level of the valve bottom devices will be increased.
However, the investment of such devices will not be changed
notability for having characteristic of lower normal voltage.
(4) The different smoothing reactor arrangement scheme
will bring the obvious influence on the manufacture, transport
and the investment of the crucial equipment in the UHVDC
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project. After the issues are analyzed economically and
technically, the optimum scheme with split installation of the
smoothing reactor is determined finally.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author wishes to thank the support of the Ministry of
Science and Technology of CHINA. The research is one part
of science and technology supporting plan, and the research
number is 2006BAA02A18.
REFERENCE
[1] The DC transient overvoltage and insulation coordination study for
±800kV Yun-Guang UHVDC project. Xi’an High Voltage Apparatus
Research Institute, March 2008
[2] ED3_061[1].CS -0 The insulation coordination study report for Yun-
Guang line ±800kV DC transmission project. CSG TRC, Sep 2007.
[3] Technical study for ±800kV DC Transmission project. China Southern
Power Grid – 2006
[4] GB/T 311.3 Procedures for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter
station
BIOGRAPHIES
Cheng Xiaoxuan was born in Xi’an P.R. China in Feb 1972. She graduated
in the department of the industrial electric automation from HeFei University
of technology and received the bachelor degree in 1995. She is presently a
senior engineer in the department of HVDC system study in Xi’an high
voltage apparatus research institute, where her research interest concerns the
overvoltage and insulation coordination study of HVDC and UHVDC system.
LV Jinzhuang, Born in 1974, got the Ph.D degree from North China
Electrical Power University in Dec. 2003. worked for Technology Research
Center of China Southern Power Grid since 2004 to now. The research
interest focus on the high voltage and insulation technology of HVDC and
UHVDC system.
Gou Ruifeng was born in 1959. He graduated in the department of the high
electric voltage technique from Xi’an Jiaotong University with a bachelor
degree in 1982. After that, he worked for Xi’an high voltage apparatus
research institute（XIHARI）in high voltage technique study and HVDC
system study for several years ， especially focus on overvoltage and
insulation coordination of HVDC system. He is the vice-director of XIHARI
and a professor senior engineer presently.
Zhao Jie, Born in 1961, got the bachelor degree from Xi’an Jiaotong
University and got the Ph.D. degree from Tshinghua University in Dec. 2007.
Be engaged in the research and management of power system more than
25years. now worked as director of Technology Research Center of China
Southern Power Grid. The research interesting covers power system
automation, high voltage technology of HVDC, UHVDC and FACTS.