Impact of HVDC transmission on existing power system

protection
Why HVDC instead of AC?
HVDC is more efficient than high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) in that
it uses the insulating strength of the line or cable continuously rather than
only during the crest voltage, as with AC. Thus for the same level of
insulation, the continuous DC voltage can be at least 1.41 times the RMS
AC voltage, with power transfer being increased by the same amount.
The increase in DC voltage can be even greater than that, since HVDC
systems do not require the same additional margin for over voltages, which
occur at switching.
The resistance of conductors is also slightly lower for DC current in as much
as electric fields associated with power frequency AC current forces the
current distribution to favor the outer periphery of a conductor.
With DC or very low frequency AC, the current distribution is more uniform,
so the electrical resistance is less.
These intrinsic characteristics can result in an HVDC conductor transmitting
on the order of 60% more power than the same conductor with same
insulation in an AC system.
Higher voltages reduce the transmission power loss or reduce the cost of
conductors when transmitting a given quantity of power, since a smaller
current is required. Conductor cost is roughly proportional to the current
carried, and conductor loss is roughly proportional to the square of the
current, so higher transmission voltages improve the efficiency.
How to Protect HVDC?
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. As soon as a protection operates a fast

changeover is executed from the active system to the standby system, to ensure
that the protection action is based on a correct external measurement.
The protection setup should be arranged into overlapping protective zones. For
each fault case, there should be a fast main protection with a limited protective
zone. The main protective function should normally be supported with a slower or
less sensitive backup protective function. The backup protective function should,
if possible, be based on a different measuring principle and when applicable, with
a more extended protective zone. Where applicable the alarm and trip references
shall be set so as to give level and time separated operation. Tripping paths to the
breaker should be redundant and fed by two different auxiliary voltage supplies.
The protections shall be arranged so that testing and maintenance can be carried
out without affecting the operation of the
transmission.

Protection Schemes for HVDC

Converter protections

Voltage stress protection

The Voltage stress protection protects the converter equipment from dielectric
stresses by interlocking the converter transformer tap changers. Dielectric
stresses are caused by the AC side voltage.
Valve short circuit protection
the protection detects valve short circuits and other phase to phase short circuits
on the DC side of the converter transformer. The protective function uses the AC
conductor currents IVY and IVD and the DC pole line and neutral bus direct
currents, IDL respectively IDNE. Higher amplitudes in the AC conductor currents
than in the DC current are a criterion of a valve or another phase to phase short
circuit.
Commutation failure protection
The Commutation failure protection detects failures in the twelve pulse converter
due to abnormal commutation conditions by measuring the AC currents IVY and
IVD in combination with DC currents IDL and IDNE. During commutation failures
the DC current is higher than the AC conductor current, which is detected by the
protection.
High Angle Supervision
the stresses on the main circuit equipment caused by an increased angle
operation due to the extreme requirements on increased firing and extinction
angles, are calculated by the High Angle Supervision HAS function. The HAS
calculates the limitations on the HVDC system. It includes a theoretical model of
the valve damping circuits, the arresters across the
valve and the valve reactor.
DC overcurrent protection
The DC overcurrent protection protects the valves and the converter equipment.
The AC conductor currents IVY and IVD, the neutral bus current IDNE and the
cooling water temperature is measured. The protection contains two parts one
for the overcurrent and the other for the thyristor over temperature detection.
Valve misfire protection
the control pulse generator in the converter firing control system delivers control
pulses CP to each valve with a duration corresponding to the required conducting

interval. To facilitate detection of faulty valves the CP is compared with

information about firing. Thereby, a valve firing outside the CP interval as well as
failure to fire within the CP interval is prohibited by this protection.
Thyristor monitoring
the thyristor valve monitoring system is a self-supervising system. In every valve
control unit there is a function, detecting if the voltage is picked up within a
specified time by the corresponding thyristor. At the time the thyristor picks up
the voltage an indication pulse IP is sent on an optical fiber to the valve control. A
failed thyristor does not pick up voltage and this condition is detected.
Back up UD Supervision
the backup UD supervision calculates the DC voltage out of UDI0, a, g and the
neutral bus current IDNE. The calculated DC voltage is compared with the
measured DC voltage and the difference is used to detect and prevent
transmission disturbances due to abnormal control or measuring circuit
conditions. The function is coordinated with the UD calculation in
the control system.

Pole Protection

DC abnormal voltage protection

the protective zone includes all equipment exposed to DC voltage and the
thyristor valves at bypass pair firing of the inverter. The DC abnormal voltage
protective function detects both over and under voltages on the DC line by
measuring the voltage UDL, the current IDL and the converter firing angle.
DC harmonic protection
DC harmonic protection detects abnormal harmonics in the converter current,
generated at control equipment malfunction or during valve
and AC network disturbances. The direct current is filtered for the fundamental
and second harmonic frequencies.
DC differential protection
the protective zone of the DC differential protection is from the converter
transformer secondary bushings to the measurements of both the line and
electrode currents, at the DC side of the converter. To detect ground faults within
the protective zone the direct currents IDL and IDNE are measured in combination
with the AC conductor currents IVY and IVD neutral bus currents IANC and ICN in
addition with the DC filter currents IF1 and IF2.
DC line ground fault protection
Detects ground faults on the DC line. The protection initiates control actions to
extinguish the fault current, and if conditions permit, restores the power
transmission. The detection is made by measuring the level of the DC line
voltage and the derivatives of both the direct line voltage UDL and the direct line
current IDL.
DC filter overload protection
the protection detects an overload on a filter component by measuring the two
filter currents IF1 and IF2. The protection calculates the heating in the resistors
and the reactors caused by high currents and initiates control actions to revent a
further exposure, when one or several components has become overheated.
Electrode line open circuit protection
Electrode line open circuit protection protects the neutral bus equipment from
dielectric stresses due to an electrode line open circuit. This is done by monitoring
the neutral bus direct voltage UDN and the neutral bus direct current IDNE.

DC switchyard protections

Bipole Neutral differential protection

The electrode line conductor IDEL1&2, the metallic return path IDME, the station
ground IDGND and the neutral bus IDNE1&2 currents are measured. A differential
current exceeding a preset level is a criterion for a ground fault within the
protective zone. The protection is disabled in the metallic return operating mode.
Metallic return conductor ground fault protection
Metallic return conductor ground fault protection monitors the ground current in
the grounded station. Depending on whether the station is grounded by the two
electrode conductors or the grounding switch, the corresponding currents
IDEL1&2 or IDGND are measured. A detected ground current is a criterion for a
ground fault on the return conductor.
Transfer breaker protection
protects the transfer breaker in case the commutation of the current fails during
DC yard switching.

Station ground overcurrent protection

The Station ground overcurrent protection protects the station ground, converter
transformer and the bus between the electrode line and the pole neutral bus.

Electrode cable longitudinal differential protection

the protection device measures and compares the currents in both ends of the
electrode cable. The detection is coordinated for possible time difference
between the sampling of the two measured currents. The protection shall only be
active if the communication with the remote end is in service.
Electrode line unbalance supervision
the current in each electrode line conductor (IDEL1 and IDEL2) is measured when
the difference between the two measured currents exceeds a preset level the
criterion for a ground fault or an open circuit on one of the conductors is fulfilled.