Low Energy Protection System for DC Grids Based on Full Bridge MMC Converters

Dragan Jovcic; Weixing Lin; Samuel Nguefeu; Hani Saad

doi:10.1109/TPWRD.2018.2791635

Low Energy Protection System for DC Grids Based on Full Bridge MMC Converters

Dragan Jovcic, Weixing Lin, Samuel Nguefeu, Hani Saad

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57 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

This paper studies protection and control methods for a large DC grid based solely on Full Bridge MMC (Modular Multilevel) converters. An initial theoretical study concludes that DC CB energy dissipation will depend on inductance and square of fault current but not on protection operating time. It is proposed to use differential protection because of robust selectivity and also since it operates well with small series inductors. The analysis of DC CB dissipated energy leads to new protection logic design that delays tripping signals until local current reduces to low values. Low speed DC Circuit Breakers with very small inductors are adequate. The design of controllers for MMC converters should be coordinated with DC grid protection and the study derives values for current controller references. The fault recovery time is found to depend on current reference settings at MMC terminals, and optimal values are derived. The conclusions are confirmed using EMTP simulation on a 400kV, 4-MMC DC grid considering two topologies: with 5 overhead lines and with 5 DC cables.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1934-1943
Number of pages	10
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery
Volume	33
Issue number	4
Early online date	10 Jan 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/TPWRD.2018.2791635
Publication status	Published - 31 Aug 2018

Keywords

AC-DC power conversion
DC power systems
DC power transmission
HVDC converters
HVDC transmission

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10.1109/TPWRD.2018.2791635Licence: Unspecified

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Dragan Jovcic
- Aberdeen HVDC Research Centre
- Centre for Energy Transition
- Engineering, Engineering - Chair in Engineering
Person: Academic

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title = "Low Energy Protection System for DC Grids Based on Full Bridge MMC Converters",

abstract = "This paper studies protection and control methods for a large DC grid based solely on Full Bridge MMC (Modular Multilevel) converters. An initial theoretical study concludes that DC CB energy dissipation will depend on inductance and square of fault current but not on protection operating time. It is proposed to use differential protection because of robust selectivity and also since it operates well with small series inductors. The analysis of DC CB dissipated energy leads to new protection logic design that delays tripping signals until local current reduces to low values. Low speed DC Circuit Breakers with very small inductors are adequate. The design of controllers for MMC converters should be coordinated with DC grid protection and the study derives values for current controller references. The fault recovery time is found to depend on current reference settings at MMC terminals, and optimal values are derived. The conclusions are confirmed using EMTP simulation on a 400kV, 4-MMC DC grid considering two topologies: with 5 overhead lines and with 5 DC cables. ",

keywords = "AC-DC power conversion, DC power systems, DC power transmission, HVDC converters, HVDC transmission",

author = "Dragan Jovcic and Weixing Lin and Samuel Nguefeu and Hani Saad",

note = "This project is funded by RTE, Paris, France. D. Jovcic and W. Lin are with the School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, U.K. ( d.jovcic@abdn.ac.uk, weixinglin@abdn.ac.uk). S. Nguefeu and H. Saad are with the R{\'e}seau de Transport d{\textquoteright}Electricit{\'e}, Paris 92932, France (samuel.nguefeu@rte-france.com, hani.saad@rte-france.com )",

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N1 - This project is funded by RTE, Paris, France. D. Jovcic and W. Lin are with the School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, U.K. ( d.jovcic@abdn.ac.uk, weixinglin@abdn.ac.uk). S. Nguefeu and H. Saad are with the Réseau de Transport d’Electricité, Paris 92932, France (samuel.nguefeu@rte-france.com, hani.saad@rte-france.com )

PY - 2018/8/31

Y1 - 2018/8/31

N2 - This paper studies protection and control methods for a large DC grid based solely on Full Bridge MMC (Modular Multilevel) converters. An initial theoretical study concludes that DC CB energy dissipation will depend on inductance and square of fault current but not on protection operating time. It is proposed to use differential protection because of robust selectivity and also since it operates well with small series inductors. The analysis of DC CB dissipated energy leads to new protection logic design that delays tripping signals until local current reduces to low values. Low speed DC Circuit Breakers with very small inductors are adequate. The design of controllers for MMC converters should be coordinated with DC grid protection and the study derives values for current controller references. The fault recovery time is found to depend on current reference settings at MMC terminals, and optimal values are derived. The conclusions are confirmed using EMTP simulation on a 400kV, 4-MMC DC grid considering two topologies: with 5 overhead lines and with 5 DC cables.

AB - This paper studies protection and control methods for a large DC grid based solely on Full Bridge MMC (Modular Multilevel) converters. An initial theoretical study concludes that DC CB energy dissipation will depend on inductance and square of fault current but not on protection operating time. It is proposed to use differential protection because of robust selectivity and also since it operates well with small series inductors. The analysis of DC CB dissipated energy leads to new protection logic design that delays tripping signals until local current reduces to low values. Low speed DC Circuit Breakers with very small inductors are adequate. The design of controllers for MMC converters should be coordinated with DC grid protection and the study derives values for current controller references. The fault recovery time is found to depend on current reference settings at MMC terminals, and optimal values are derived. The conclusions are confirmed using EMTP simulation on a 400kV, 4-MMC DC grid considering two topologies: with 5 overhead lines and with 5 DC cables.

KW - AC-DC power conversion

KW - DC power systems

KW - DC power transmission

KW - HVDC converters

KW - HVDC transmission

U2 - 10.1109/TPWRD.2018.2791635

DO - 10.1109/TPWRD.2018.2791635

M3 - Article

VL - 33

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EP - 1943

JO - IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery

JF - IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery

SN - 0885-8977

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ER -

Low Energy Protection System for DC Grids Based on Full Bridge MMC Converters

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Dragan Jovcic

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