HVDC Transmission

by
Dr S N Saxena
saxenasndr@yahoo.com
 HVDC Transmission
• DC system of generation and distribution of
electricity was started in 1890s by Thomas Edison.
• But, the development of transformer gave advantage
to AC system due to generation at the designed
voltage level, transmission at higher voltage level,
and utilization by consumers at lower voltage level.
Thus, the AC system started by George Westinghouse
in 1890s became the norm, and continued up to
1950s.
• However, with the development of high power
converters, the advantages of DC were again
considered and HVDC systems were slowly
introduced wherever AC systems had limitations.
 HVDC Transmission
• High Voltage DC (HVDC) transmission system involves
conversion of 3-phase EHV AC voltage into HVDC by
converters, transmission by HVDC OH lines or UG cables,
and again conversion of HVDC into 3-phase AC for
connection to the EHV AC grid. Converting stations on
two sides are identical and power can be transferred
from any one side to another.
• Depending upon polarity of transmission voltage and
current return path, there are 3 types of HVDC links:
(a) Monopolar; (b) Homopolar; and (c) Bipolar.

3-Ph AC DC 3-Ph
AC HVDC AC
DC AC
Trans- Trans- Trans-
former Converter mission Converter former
 HVDC Transmission
• Monopolar Link: It has one conductor and uses
either ground or sea-bed as current-return. A
metallic return can also be used where concerns for
harmonic interference or corrosion exist.
• Since corona effects in a dc line are substantially less
with negative polarity of conductor as compared to
positive polarity, a monopolar link is normally
operated with negative polarity.

Transmission line
3-phase converter - 500 kV converter 3-phase
400 kV 400 kV
I1
AC System AC System
I1
 HVDC Transmission
• Homopolar Link: In this type, two OH lines with same
polarity (usually negative) are operated with ground
return. Ground current will now be twice the line
current, which is mostly not desirable.
• Therefore, homopolar link is never used.

Transmission line
- 500 kV
I1
3-phase I1 3-phase
AC System I2 AC System
I2
- 500 kV
converter converter
 HVDC Transmission
• Bipolar Link: This is the most commonly used HVDC
system, having positive and negative OH lines or
cables for power transmission, with earth providing
return passage for currents of both poles.
• Each terminal has two sets of converters in series on
DC side, with their junctions grounded at both ends.
Since both poles operate with equal currents under
normal operation, there is zero ground current
flowing under these conditions.
+ 500 kV Line
C1 I1 C1
3-phase I1 3-phase
AC System I2 AC System
I2
C2 C2
- 500 kV Line
 Operation of Bipolar as Monopolar
• Bipolar system is operated as monopolar link in
following situations:
• (a) When installing a new system, stage-I can have
one-half the power flow with commissioning of one-
half of the converter system on both sides and only
one line (monopolar link); other-half system can be
added in stage-II to have bipolar link giving designed
power transfer. Thus, capital investment can be done
in two stages, giving relief to the developer. Most of
the HVDC systems have been commissioned in this
manner only.
 Operation of Bipolar as Monopolar
• (b) During scheduled maintenance of system, only
one-half system corresponding to one pole can be
taken up, so that the other-half of HVDC system can
continue to operate with one-half power transfer.
• (c) Similarly, in case of fault on one of the lines or on
any one converter, only the faulted system can be
shut down, and operation can be continued with
one-half power transfer on the other healthy system.
 star / star + 500 kV star / star
AC HVDC AC
3-Ph P1 S1 Cov-1 Cov-1 S1 P1
transmission 3-Ph
star / delta delta / star
AC AC
P2 S2 Cov-2 Cov-2 S2 P2
3-Ph 3-Ph

star / star star / star

AC AC
P3 S3 Cov-3 Cov-3 S3 P3
3-Ph 3-Ph
star / delta delta / star
AC AC
3-Ph P4 S4 Cov-4 - 500 kV Cov-4 S4 P4
3-Ph

Conv transformers Converter Converter Conv transformers

Bipolar HVDC Transmission System

 HVDC Transmission
• The converter of each pole consists of two numbers
of six-pulse (3-phase bridge) converters connected in
series on DC side to form a 12-pulse converter;
where one six-pulse converter is fed by a star-star
transformer, and the second six-pulse converter is
fed by a star-delta transformer.
• The primary sides of the two transformers are
connected in parallel to the 3-phase AC supply. The
converter transformer design is different than
conventional transformer, due to requirement of
high reactance and ability to withstand large current
harmonics. It is common to use 3 nos of single-phase
transformers, connected to form a 3-phase bank.
12-Pulse Converter for HVDC System
VDC
VDC

T1 T3 T5
6-pulse converter

ωt
T4 T6 T2
VDC

12-pulse converter
T1’ T3’ T5’ Reduced harmonics
ωt

T4’ T6’ T2’

 HVDC Transmission
• With 12-pulse converter arrangement, 11th, 13th ….
etc (12p ± 1)th current harmonics will exist on AC side
of converter, which require installation of shunt-
connected passive R-L-C filters tuned to 11th and 13th
harmonics and a damped filter for higher-order
harmonics on AC bus in order to avoid these
harmonics polluting the EHV AC supply.
• Also operation of converters cause PF of AC line
currents to be low, necessitating installation of large
capacitor bank on AC side of converters; requiring
capacitor bank to supply minimum of about 0.5
MVAr per MW of power flow.
 HVDC Transmission
• The MVAr to be compensated by the capacitor bank
(connected at the AC side of converters) depends
upon the power (MW) being transmitted.
• Therefore, with variation in DC power (MW)
transmitted, it becomes necessary to vary also the
MVAr being compensated by the capacitors, so as to
avoid over-compensation when transmitted power is
low. This requires bank to be sub-divided into a
number of parallel connected switchable capacitors.
 Choke
star / star + 500 kV
P1 Cov-1 HVDC
S1
star / delta
12th & 24th
P2 S2 Cov-2 harm. filters
AC 3-Ph
400 kV

star / star
P3 S3 Cov-3 12th & 24th
harm. filters
11th & PF star / delta
13th comp. P4 S4 Choke
harm. cap.
Cov-4 - 500 kV
HVDC
filters Conv transformers Converter

HVDC Transmission System

 Converter Transformer
Single-phase, 3-winding
converter transformer
Long valve-winding
bushings, which
project through
wall of valve hall,
are shown on left.
Line-winding
bushing projects
vertically upwards
at centre-right
 Three-Winding Converter Transformer
It is common to use 3-winding transformers; with
primary wdg connected to EHV AC grid; secondary
wdg connected to converter; and filters & capacitor
bank connected to the 3rd (tertiary) winding.
three winding transformer of one converter
star star delta
connected connected connected
primary tertiary secondary
winding winding winding
to
to one
3-phase
Converter
AC Supply

to filters &
comp. capacitor
 HVDC Transmission
• Further, on DC side of 12-pulse converter, there is
generation of 12th, 24th..… (12pth) etc voltage
harmonics, requiring installation of a large smoothing
reactor (choke) in series on each DC line and shunt-
connected passive R-L-C filter tuned to 12th harmonic
& also a damped filter for higher order harmonics in
order to reduce harmonics on the transmission lines.
• Each arm of six-pulse converter has a large number
of (hundreds of) light-triggered, water-cooled
thyristors in series, along with suitable protection
elements. But, since 1990s, IGBT-based converters
were being introduced wherever feasible.
 HVDC Transmission
• Thyristor-based converters in HVDC system can be
used only to connect two AC grids, because then, AC
voltage causes sequential commutation of thyristors
(called as natural-commutated or line-commutated
converter).
• However, using IGBT (which is self turn-off device),
HVDC system can be used to transmit power from
one AC system to load centre (where there is no
generating source).
 Back-to-Back HVDC System
• When power transfer is desired between two AC
networks with no other interconnection, which can
give the possibility of frequencies of two grids being
different, then the two grids are required to be
connected by HVDC system, sometimes with zero
line / cable length.
• A system with zero line / cable length is called back-
to-back connection. In this case, DC voltage is usually
kept lower, say, 100 to 200 kV.
• In India, a few DC back-to-back systems were
installed long back, but, they have lost relevance
now, as India has become “One National Grid”.
 Back-to-Back HVDC System
• SAKUMA back-to-back HVDC system [inter-
connecting 50 Hz grid (of Tokyo & N-E Japan) and
60Hz grid (of W-Japan)], was commissioned first in
1960s with mercury-arc valves, which were later
replaced in 1980s & 90s by thyristors. It has power
transfer capability of 600 MW, with 125 kV DC link.
 Comparison of HVDC & EHV AC Systems
• Cost of a transmission system comprises of the
capital investment required for actual infrastructure
[i.e. right-of-way (ROW), towers, conductors,
insulators, and terminal equipment] and costs
incurred for operational requirements (i.e. losses).
• Assuming similar insulation requirements for peak
voltage levels for both EHV AC and HVDC lines, HVDC
line can carry as much power with 2 conductors
(having positive / negative polarities with respect to
ground), as EHV AC line with 3 conductors of same
size. Therefore, for given power transfer, HVDC line
requires smaller ROW, simpler & cheaper towers,
and reduced conductor & insulator costs.
 Comparison of HVDC & EHV AC Systems
• With HVDC option, since there are only 2 conductors
(with same current capacity of 3 EHV AC conductors),
line losses are reduced to about two-third of EHV AC
system. Absence of skin effect with HVDC is also
beneficial in reducing power losses marginally.
• Corona effects tend to be less significant on HVDC
than for EHV AC conductors. The other costs are for
compensation & terminal equipment. HVDC system
does not require line reactive power compensation
(that becomes essential for long distance EHV AC
system), but terminal equipment costs are more in
HVDC due to presence of converters and filters.
 Comparison of HVDC & EHV AC Systems
• Overall initial cost = Cost of terminal equipment +
Cost of transmission system
• Terminal cost of HVDC is higher (2-3 times) than EHV
AC, but for long distance transmission beyond break-
even distance (BED), overall cost of HVDC system
becomes lower due to reduced cost of transmission
system. BED is about 500 km for OH system and 50
km for UG cable system for ± 500 kV HVDC system.
Overall Cost
BED
CHVDC
CEHVAC
Distance
 Asynchronous HVDC Link
• By interconnection of one part of grid with another
through HVDC system, the two grids have
asynchronous link; that means, frequency of each
part of grid is independent of the other.
• Therefore, if two systems at two different
frequencies are required to be interconnected, then
HVDC system only can provide the solution. Also, if
power transfer between two different countries is to
be considered, then HVDC system is preferred, so
that each grid can have its full independent control.
 Asynchronous HVDC Link
• Ex-1: Itaipu HVDC system (consisting of two bipolar
lines) transfers 6300 MW from 50 Hz Itaipu hydro-
electric power plant (in Brazil) to 60 Hz network of
Sao Paulo. Only HVDC system is feasible.
• Ex-2: France and UK are interconnected by HVDC
under-sea cable system, by which mostly Hydro
power generated in France is transmitted to UK;
thus, HVDC gives independent control of systems to
the two countries.
• Ex-3: As given earlier, 50 Hz system of N-Japan could
be connected to 60 Hz system of W-Japan only by
HVDC system (back-to-back).
 HVDC System using Cable
• When power transfer through submarine cable is
required, then for EHV AC cable, there are problems
of capacitance charging current & power loss in
insulation; and beyond a certain distance, AC cable
cannot be used. For DC cable, there is no such
limitation, and can be used for transmission of power
for a long distance.
• Ex-1: Only HVDC link could be considered for
transmitting 600 MW power through 43 km long,
±125 kV, under-sea cable between Mainland and
Hokkaido Island in Japan.
• Ex-2: Also, only HVDC link was considered to transmit
2000 MW power through 46 km long, ± 270 kV,
under-sea cable between UK and France.
 Comparison of HVDC & EHV AC Systems
• Most of the HVDC system with under-sea cable do
not go for ground (under-sea) return and have return
current path also through cable only, in order to
avoid disturbance to navigation system of ships
passing in that area.
• Other advantages of HVDC transmission system (as
compared to EHV AC system) include: (a) it has
simpler process for precise & fast control of power
flow; (b) direction of power flow can be reversed in a
few cycles; (c) precise control of power transfer can
be done irrespective of voltage of each AC grid at
point of connection; etc.
 Problems in HVDC Transmission System
• The major problem in HVDC system is that there is
no equipment like transformer which can give
convenient voltage change. Therefore, voltage has to
be kept at one level only between two ends.
• Another problem concerns generation of harmonics,
requiring installation of bulky and costly tuned filters
on both AC & DC sides, along with smoothening
reactors of large value on each HVDC line.
• Although capacitance of filters also provides some PF
compensation, but still additional PF correcting
capacitor banks have to be provided on both AC
grids.
 Problems in HVDC Transmission System
• The current return path through ground or sea can
cause interference in the communication circuits
near that area. That has been the main reason for
many HVDC schemes (particularly those using under-
sea cables) to have current return path through cable
only.
• Also the currents through ground cause corrosion of
metallic pipe lines near that area, when transmitting
power through HVDC cables. This requires special
coating on those metallic pipes.
 Problems in HVDC Transmission System
• Circuit breakers are not available for DC currents,
thus switchings are to be done on AC side only.
• Also, the converters have limited overload capability,
requiring sophisticated control system to avoid over-
loading of converters.
• Harmonic currents on AC side of converters cause
over-heating of converter transformers, requiring
considerable de-rating of these transformers in order
to limit their temperature-rise.
 HVDC Light System
• With availability of high capacity self-turn-off devices
(IGBTs) of reasonable cost, it has become possible to
operate HVDC converters (as PWM Converters) giving
negligible harmonics and near 1.0 PF; thus no
necessity of using filters or PF compensating
capacitors. Break Even Distance is very less for
compact IGBT-based converters. For that reason,
many IGBT-based HVDC schemes have been installed
in recent years for short distance transmission, using
both OH HVDC lines and UG HVDC cables.
• Such HVDC schemes (called as HVDC Light) are being
used for transmission of power through DC cables
within city.
 EHV AC Versus HVDC System
• It must be mentioned that EHV AC will continue to
be the main system of high power transmission.
• That is why in India, 13118 ckt km of 400 kV EHV AC
transmission lines were added during 2016-17, giving
a growth on year-on-year basis of 8.7%, making the
present total length of 164588 ckt km. Similarly,
7458ckt km of 765 kV EHV AC transmission lines
were added during 2016-17, giving a growth on year-
on-year basis of 30%, making the present total length
of 33286 ckt km.
 EHV AC Versus HVDC System
• Regarding EHV AC sub-station transformers,
38805MVA of 400 kV units were added (+17.6%),
bringing the total to 259107 MVA; and 26000 MVA of
765 kV units were added (+17.3%), bringing the total
to 176000 MVA.
• Regarding HVDC sub-station transformers, there was
no addition of 500 kV units; but for 800 kV systems,
4500 MVA units were added (+150%), bringing the
total to 7500 MVA.
 EHV AC Versus HVDC System
• HVDC systems is being employed:
(a) wherever economical (long distance transmission)
(b) where HVDC only can be employed
(b1) using HVDC UG cable within city, where
OH lines are not possible because of safety or
appearance, or
(b2) using under-sea cable, or
(b3) providing asynchronous link.
• During 2016-17 in India, there was no addition of 500 kV
HVDC lines (presently 9432 ckt km), but 2618ckt km of
800 kV HVDC lines were added (+75%), all long distance
OH system (presently 6124 ckt km).
 HVDC Transmission Systems in India
• In India, up to April 2016, six ± 500 kV HVDC systems
and two ± 800 kV HVDC systems of Powergrid were
in commercial operation for long distance
transmission. (There are also a few back-to-back
HVDC systems in India.)
• Further, in 2013, Adani Transmission Ltd
commissioned 1000 km long, ± 500 kV HVDC system
to evacuate 2500 MW power from Adani Power’s
Mundra STPS (Gujarat) to Mohindergarh (Haryana).
 HVDC Transmission Systems in India
• ABB is constructing ± 800 kV, 1830 km, 6000 MW,
HVDC system between Raigarh (Chattisgarh)–
Pugalur (Tamil Nadu) to provide power to Southern
States, and also to evacuate RE from Southern States.
• Also, Siemens is constructing India’s first 2x1000MW,
± 320 kV, 127 km OH line & 26.5 km UG cable,
Voltage-Source-Converter based HVDC system using
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) for
interconnecting Pugalur (Tamil Nadu) and North
Thrissur (Kerala).
Adani Mundra - Mohindergarh ± 500 kV HVDC Line
HVDC Bipolar Thyristor-based OH Transmission Systems
Name Length (km) Voltage (kV) Power (MW) Yr of Operation
Rihand – 814 ± 500 1500 1990
Delhi
Chandrapur - 752 ± 500 1500 1999
Padghe
Talcher – 1450 ± 500 2500 2003
Kolar
Ballia – 800 ± 500 2500 2010
Bhiwadi
Mundra – 960 ± 500 2500 2012
Mohindergarh
Champa – 1365 ± 800 2 x 3000 2016
Kurukshetra

Agra – 1728 ± 800 6000 2016

Biswanath (N-E)
 India – Sri Lanka HVDC System
• HVDC grid interconnection is a proposed project to
transfer 1000 MW power between Madurai (TN,
India) and Anuradhapuran (Sri Lanka). Feasibility
studies were completed in Feb 2016.
• The link would be 285 km in length, including 50 km
of submarine HVDC cable through Palk Strait, and
135 km as OH HVDC transmission lines (partly in
India & Sri Lanka). It would be implemented by
Powergrid (India) and Electricity Board of Sri Lanka.
 Some Significant HVDC Schemes
• In 2017, China is going to commission 3333 km long
Ultra HVDC transmission system, operating at
±1100kV and transmitting 10000 MW power.
• By 2020, China’s maximum demand is expected to
reach 1272 GW.
• As a result, China has voltage levels up to 1000 kV AC
and 800 kV HVDC and is busy testing 1100 kV UHVDC
voltage level. Due to total power requirement and
long distances involved, China has rapidly become a
world leader in HVDC. By 2018, about 60% of
installed capacity of HVDC schemes worldwide will
be in China (in only 20% of the number of schemes).
Converter Transformers for 1100 kV UHVDC for China
 Some Significant HVDC Schemes
• There are a number of HVDC systems, using UG or
under-sea cable, operating in various countries & in
Europe (between different countries); the longest
using 300 km UG cable in Australia, and 435 km
under-sea cable in Italy.
• Many HVDC schemes have been commissioned since
1990s in several countries, using Insulated Gate
Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs), operating up to 320 kV,
and transferring power up to 2000 MW.
Thank You