HVDC Transmission

Electrical Engineering
8th Semester

Subject Code : EE801A

Lesson Plan
Module Content Hours
1. Introduction 04
2. Analysis of HVDC Converters 06
3. Control of HVDC Converters and Systems 08
4. Harmonics and Filters 10
5. Faults and Protection Schemes in HVDC Systems 04
6. Multi-Terminal HVDC Systems 08

HVDC Transmission 2
Text & Reference Books
Text Books:
1. HVDC Transmission, S. Kamakshaiah & V. Kamaraju, Tata McGraw Hill Education.
2. HVDC Power Transmission System, K. R. Padiyar, New Age International.

.Reference Books:
1. Direct Current Transmission (Volume I), E. W. Kimbark, Wiley-Interscience.
2. High Voltage Direct Current Transmission, J. Arrillaga, Peter Pregrinu.
3. High Voltage Direct Current Power Transmission, Colin Adamson and N. G. Hingorani,
Garraway Limited, London.

HVDC Transmission 3
Introduction
Introduction to DC Power Transmission Technology
War of Currents (Thomas A. Edison and George Westinghouse)

Limitations of Early Low Voltage DC Systems

High losses and voltage drop
Transformation of voltage required (Higher voltage means lower voltage drop)
Commutators of DC Machines impose limitations on the voltage, speed and
size. (Voltage per bar < 21 V)
high voltage per commutator high number of bars large diameter and low
speed for less centrifugal force heavier machines and more associated
maintenance costs

HVDC Transmission 4
Introduction
Introduction to DC Power Transmission Technology
Rise of AC Power System
Advent of Transformers for stepping up and stepping down the voltage level
Development of Polyphase Induction Motors (simple, rugged, cheap and
efficient)
Advancement of Synchronous Generators

The Thury System (1880 - 1911)

HVDC Transmission 5
Introduction
Introduction to DC Power Transmission Technology
Major Problems in HVAC Systems
Insulation
Stability
Reactive Power and Line Loading
Ferranti Effect and Skin Effect
Power Control
Interconnection

HVDC Transmission 6
Introduction
Comparison of AC and DC Transmission
Technical Limitations & Economic Limitations
Cheapest method by which a certain amount of power at a certain load factor can
be transmitted reliably over a certain distance.
Basis for comparison
Current Limit & Voltage Limit Economy & Terminal Equipment
Reactive Power & Surge Impedance Loading Ground Return
Stability Circuit Breaking
Control of Power Short-Circuit Current
Amount of Power Transfer Generating Units

HVDC Transmission 7
 Comparison of AC and DC Transmission
Basis Remarks HVAC Transmission HVDC Transmission
for
comparison
Current Limit For Overhead (OH) Lines, AC resistance is slightly DC resistance is lower than
Conductor temperature must not higher value due to skin effect. AC resistance.
Thermal loading due exceed permissible maximum
to Ohmic losses temperature. For same power, number of For same power, number of
depends on - (To avoid permanently increased sag) conductors required is more, conductors required is less,
Duration of therefore losses are more. therefore losses are less.
Current Flow For Underground (UG) Cables,
Ambient Temperature of insulation in contact Charging current in UG cables
Temperature must not exceed permissible limits the maximum possible
Conductor maximum temperature. load current.
resistance (To avoid insulation damage)

Voltage Limit For OH Lines, maximum working
voltage and minimum conductor
Switching and size are limited by loss and radio
Lightning Surges interference due to corona.
For UG Cables, limiting factor is
normal working voltage.
Switching Surges 2-3 times
normal peak voltage
Radio interference is
increased in foul weather.
Switching Surges 1.7
times normal voltage
Radio interference is
decreased in foul weather.
Insulation must withstand -
direct voltage > peak value
of AC voltage 8
 Comparison of AC and DC Transmission
Basis Remarks HVAC Transmission HVDC Transmission
for
comparison
Reactive Power & Voltage profile along line depends For long and heavily loaded No problem of reactive
Surge Impedance on inductive voltage drop and OH lines, excessive voltage power and line charging,
Loading (SIL) capacitive line charging, if sending drop (or rise) occurs at the however converters at both
and receiving end voltages are kept middle portion of the line. sides of the line require
Reactive power fixed. huge amount of reactive
requirements of line Line compensation must be power.
heavily depend upon For UG cables, the line charging employed to counteract the
line length. current (proportional to line length) reactive power requirements.
pose a serious problem.
Ferranti Effect

Stability Loss of synchronism and hunting Transient stability is lower
due to sudden loading / un-loading. than steady state stability.
Steady state stability (Less than the half of thermal
and transient stability Critical power (or torque) angle limit)
Maximum transferable power
is dependent upon line
reactance.
Very high transient stability
limit
Maximum transferable
power is only limited by
thermal loading.
9
 Comparison of AC and DC Transmission
Basis Remarks
for
comparison
Control of Power Power control and power
modulation is necessary for better
performance and increased
reliability of the system.
Amount of Power Power transfer capability should be
Transfer independent of line length.
In UG cables, reliable power
transfer is dependent on permissible
working stress.
HVAC Transmission
Power control is not possible
without additional
components.
Elimination of faults are
complicated.
Power transfer capability is
dependent upon power factor
of operation (i.e. line losses).
Power transfer is complicated
by line configuration,
reactive power and right-of
way requirements.
In AC cables, permissible
working stresses are lower.
HVDC Transmission
Bi-directional control over
power transmitted in either
direction. Control of power
is easy and rapid.
Fast control to limit fault
currents.
For same amount of power
transfer, DC lines are
simpler, cheaper and require
less right-of-way.
In DC cables, permissible
working stresses are higher
than that of the AC cables.
10
 Comparison of AC and DC Transmission
Basis Remarks HVAC Transmission HVDC Transmission
for
comparison
Economy Total Cost = Fixed Cost + Running Initial cost is low but Initial cost is high, primarily
and Terminal Cost transmission cost increases due to very expensive
Equipments tremendously with the converter station
Cheapest method by which a certain increase in line length. equipments.
amount of power at a certain load
factor can be transmitted reliably Right-of-way requirements For same power, Right-of-
over a certain distance. and cost due to conductor, way requirements and cost
tower erection and line due to conductor, tower
commissioning is high. erection and line
commissioning is low.

Transmission loss is low.

Ideally suited for bulk
power transmission.

Ground Return Use of ground as return is not Ground can be used as

possible due to very low return by using specially
penetration. constructed ground
electrodes.
11
 Comparison of AC and DC Transmission
Basis Remarks HVAC Transmission HVDC Transmission
for
comparison
Circuit Breaking Circuit breaking is important for Normal circuit breaking is Circuit breaking is
rapid fault clearing. possible due to presence of complicated due to absence
natural current zero. of natural current zero in
DC line current.
Short-circuit Limited short-circuit fault Limited overload capability
Currents level. of the converter valves.

Fault level increases with Fault level remain

addition of new lines.
Generating Units Asynchronous operation is
and Tie-line Power not possible.
Control
Tie-line power control is
complicated
unchanged with addition of
new lines.
Asynchronous operation is
possible.
Ideally suited for off-shore
power generation.
Tie-line power control is
easy and rapid.

12
Introduction
Advantages of HVDC Transmission
Greater power per conductor and higher efficiency of transmission.
Simpler line construction and commissioning.
No problem of charging current and cables can be worked at higher voltage gradient.
Line power factor is always unity and line does not require reactive compensation.
Less corona loss and radio interference, especially in foul weathers.
Synchronous operation is not required and hence distance is not limited by stability.
May interconnect AC systems of different frequencies.
Low short-circuit current on DC line and does not contribute to short circuit current of
AC system
Tie line power control is easy and rapid.
Ground return can be used.
HVDC Transmission 13
Introduction
Limitations of HVDC Transmission
Converters and valves are expensive.
Converter stations require huge amount of reactive power. This reactive power
needs to be supplied from AC side at both ends.
Converter stations generate harmonics on both AC and DC sides, which are to be
eliminated using huge filters.
Converters have limited overload capacity.
Complexity of control.
Reliable multi-terminal DC systems are yet to be established because of lack of
HVDC circuit breakers.

HVDC Transmission 14
Introduction
Applications of HVDC Transmission
For bulk power transmission over long distances by overhead lines.
For interconnection of systems using long cables, especially for sea water crossing
(such as for feeding power to a far-off island using submarine cables).
For interconnection of AC systems having different frequencies or for
asynchronous operation.
For supplying power to special types of load centers (such as congested urban
areas) where it is difficult to acquire right of way for overhead lines and where the
lengths involved make the AC cables impractical.

HVDC Transmission 15
Introduction
Reliability of HVDC Transmission
Reliability
of HVDC transmission system is comparable to that of EHVAC
transmission system.
Reliability is rapidly increasing with the development of high quality valves and
switches.
Main parameters for reliability
1.
2.
3. Mean Time To Failure (MTTF)
4. Mean Time To Repair (MTTR)
Monopolar operation is possible in the event of outage of one pole.

HVDC Transmission 16