Joan Sau-Bassols

Modelling and control of an interline Current Flow Controller for meshed HVDC grids

This paper focuses on the modelling and control of an interline current flow controller (CFC) for meshed HVDC grids. The operation states of the CFC are presented, and an average model is derived. The average model is used to perform steady-state analysis on a 3-terminal meshed grid, showing the current change capabilities and the benefits on the operation area. The converter control is designed using a linearized model. The system performance of the CFC is tested by means of simulation in a 3-terminal grid and in a 5-terminal grid.

Integrated HVDC Circuit Breakers With Current Flow Control Capability

Two key problems in meshed high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission grids are managing line power flows and protection against dc faults. Current flow controllers (CFCs) will be required to balance cable currents in meshed dc grids, in order to prevent individual line power capacity limits restricting overall power flow in the grid. Direct current circuit breakers (DCCBs) will be also required to protect HVDC grids from dc faults. This paper demonstrates that the current flow controller functionality can be added into a hybrid CBs design. This paper proposes integrating an interline CFC into the load commutation switch (LCS) of a hybrid DCCB. The integrated design LCS/CFC is analyzed and a state-space model is derived. The control of the CFC is designed and the performance of the LCS/CFC during normal operation is verified by means of MATLAB Simulink and PSCAD simulations. A comparison of the integrated LCS/CFC and the separate design is given. The case studies show a reduction in total power losses, and improved protection operation times can be achieved.

Series Interline DC/DC Current Flow Controller for Meshed HVDC Grids

This paper proposes a DC/DC current flow controller (CFC) for meshed high voltage direct current (HVDC) grids. The CFC has the advantage of a simplified structure that allows us to use the minimum number of switches when unidirectional current flows through the DC lines are expected. An extended CFC topology that is able to operate with all possible current flows is also presented. Then, the operating principle of the CFC is discussed and its structure is compared with a dual H-bridge analyzing advantages and disadvantages. This paper also details the applied modulation strategy and the control methodology. Finally, a five-terminal meshed HVDC grid is used to validate the CFC by means of simulations.

Modelling and control of an interline current flow controller for meshed HVDC grids

This paper focuses on the modelling and control of an interline current flow controller (CFC) for meshed HVDC grids. The operation states of the CFC are presented, and an average model is derived. The average model is used to perform steady-state analysis on a 3-terminal meshed grid, showing the current change capabilities and the benefits on the operation area. The converter control is designed using a linearized model. The system performance of the CFC is tested by means of simulation in a 3-terminal grid and in a 5-terminal grid.

Suitable method of overloading for fast primary frequency control from offshore wind power plants in multi-terminal DC grid

Increased penetration of offshore wind power plants (OWPPs) demands frequency control services from them. Overloading the wind turbine, for few seconds after the under frequency event, to utilize its kinetic energy seems promising option for fast primary frequency control. Two methods of overloading the wind turbine (WT), with and without considering the impact of WT dynamics and variation of WT output power during the overload, are proposed in the literature. In this paper, these two methods are applied for fast primary frequency control from OWPPs connected through multi-terminal DC grid considering the operation of the WT at below rated wind speed. Moreover, the impact of release of overload on the dynamics of the wind turbine, therefore on the associated AC and DC grids are studied in this paper. Finally, the suitable overloading method is proposed based on the simulation and experimental results. The time domain simulations for fast primary frequency control are performed on an OWPP connected through a 3-terminal DC grid using DIgSILENT PowerFactory. The experiments are performed on OWPP model integrated to a laboratory scale 3-terminal DC grid test set up. Based on the simulations and experimental results, overloading method which considers the variation of WT output power during the overload provides better performance during and after release of the overload.