Three-Way Subsynchronous Torsional Interactions between LCC HVDC, MMC HVDC and a Thermal Generator

This paper performs a three-way subsynchronous torsional interactions (SSTI) study between a hybrid dual-in-feed HVDC system and a nuclear generator. The test case is based on the French IFA2000 line commutated converter (LCC) HVDC (2 GW) and the new Eleclink modular multilevel converter (MMC) HVDC (1 GW) interacting with the Gravelines generator (1 GW). The analysis is performed by the means of the eigenvalue stability assessment on an analytical model, while accuracy of the conclusions is verified using the detailed non-linear EMTP model. The study shows that the dual-infeed system may introduce higher risk of the SSTI compared with the point-to-point HVDC systems. It shows that MMC operating as static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) may further reduce the torsional damping at 6.3 Hz mode. This conclusion may be unexpected since it is known fact from literature that STATCOM has a beneficial impact on the transient performance of LCC. Further studies show that in a sequential HVDC loading, it may be beneficial to load the MMC HVDC first. Also, the risk of the SSTI may be minimized by changing HVDC controller gains, in particular, by increasing phase-locked-loop (PLL) gains on LCC rectifier.