Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) are being widely considered for medium to high voltage DC generation systems. Integrated system design optimization of the generator-MMC system through multi-objective optimization is of interest, because such an approach allows the trade-off between competing objectives (for example, mass and loss) to be explicitly and quantitatively identified. In this work, such an optimization based design paradigm for MMC based generator rectifier systems is developed. To formulate the design problem as a multi-objective optimization problem, it is required that the system waveforms can be obtained to facilitate the imposition of constraints and the estimation of power losses. Similarly, it is also desired to include detailed electric machine magnetic and electrical analysis in design optimization, as well as aspects such as the inductor and heat sink design. Such development typically requires detailed component design and simulation models for the electric machine and converter which are computationally expensive. As an alternative, the proposed work utilizes an electric machine metamodel, heat sink metamodel, and high-speed steady-state simulation model for the MMC to facilitate multi-objective optimization minimizing system metrics of interest while satisfying system constraints. Using the developed component simulation and design models, a multi-objective optimization based design of an MMC based generator-rectifier system is conducted.

In this master thesis control systems for a voltage-source converter HVDC connected to weak ac networks are investigated. HVDC stands for high voltage direct current and is a way to transfer power in the electrical power system. A HVDC uses direct current (dc) instead of alternate current (ac) to transfer power, which requires transformation between ac and dc since most power grids are ac networks. The HVDC uses converters to transform ac to dc and dc to ac and the converter requires a control system. A complete control system of a voltage source converter HVDC contains many different parts. The part investigated in this thesis is the active power control. Different structures containing PID controllers have been tested and evaluated with respect to stability and performance using control theory. The impact of weak ac networks has been evaluated in regards to the different control structures. The investigations have been conducted using mainly steady-state simulations. Based on the simulation and analyzes of the simulation results a promising control structure has been obtained and suggested for further investigation.

Cette thèse se focalise sur le problème du contrôle des flux de puissance entre plusieurs systèmes électriques AC non-synchrones reliés par un réseau à courant continu (DC). Elle propose trois schémas de commande afin de permettre aux sous-systèmes de partager leurs efforts de réglage de la fréquence et réduire ainsi le besoin de réserves propres et les coûts associés. A partir des mesures des fréquences de toutes les zones, le premier schéma de commande modifie les puissances injectées par chaque zone AC vers le réseau DC, de manière à faire réagir le système collectivement à des déséquilibres de charge. Cette réaction collective permet à chaque zone AC de réduire sa propre réserve primaire. Le deuxième schéma de commande a le même objectif que le premier, mais il agit sur les tensions continues des convertisseurs HVDC. En particulier, il modifie la tension continue de chaque convertisseur en fonction de la déviation de fréquence de la zone AC à laquelle il est connecté. Le dernier schéma de commande vise à rétablir les fréquences et les échanges de puissance à leurs valeurs nominales et prévues, respectivement, à la suite d'un déséquilibre. Il peut être combiné avec les deux autres schémas de commande. Des étudies théoriques démontrent les propriétés de stabilité des trois schémas de commande. Les résultats de simulation sur un réseau électrique de référence avec cinq zones AC illustrent leur bonne performance. / This thesis addresses the problem of frequency control in a power system composed of several non-synchronous AC areas connected by a multi-terminal HVDC grid. For this system, we propose three control schemes, two for primary frequency control and one for secondary frequency control. Based on remote measurements of the other areas' frequencies, the first control scheme modifies the power injections from the different AC areas into the DC grid so as to make the system collectively react to load imbalances. This collective reaction allows each individual AC area to downscale its primary reserves. The second control scheme has the same objective with the first one, but acts on the DC voltages of the HVDC converters. In particular, it modifies the DC voltage of each converter based on the frequency deviation of the AC area it is connected to. The last control scheme aims at restoring the frequencies and the power exchanges to their nominal or scheduled values in the aftermath of a power imbalance. It can be combined with the other two control schemes. Theoretical studies reveal the stability properties of the three control schemes. Simulation results on a benchmark power system with five AC areas confirm their good performance.

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores (Área de Especialização de Energia). Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2012

Ingeniero Civil Eléctrico / El sistema eléctrico nacional se encuentra actualmente en una etapa de desarrollo, enmarcado por el proceso de interconexión entre los sistemas interconectado del norte grande (SING) e interconectado central (SIC). Además, se vive un proceso de crecimiento de las energías renovables no convencionales (ERNC), gracias al desarrollo de las tecnologías de generación y a los cambios regulatorios del país. Así, es posible estimar la configuración del sistema eléctrico nacional en el mediano plazo y los nuevos desafíos que enfrenta el sistema, en particular, entre la Región Metropolitana y del Biobío que representa la zona de mayor intercambio de energía. Entonces, el objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el impacto sistémico relacionado con la instalación de un enlace asincrónico en el corredor Alto Jahuel - Charrúa en la seguridad del sistema, analizando efectos en los niveles de cortocircuito y en el comportamiento dinámico de las tensiones (tensión transitoria de recuperación y su tasa de crecimiento). Para estudiar los efectos en el cortocircuito se desarrollan modelos estáticos en el software DigSilent. Luego, se exploran metodologías de reducción de redes, las cuales, se aplican a un conjunto de alternativas de transmisión para obtener modelos reducidos de red. Posteriormente, se desarrollan estos modelos en el software PSCAD que permite realizar simulaciones de transitorios electromagnéticos. Se presenta la configuración proyectada del sistema hacia el año 2024, considerando diversas alternativas de transmisión y se desarrollan modelos dinámicos detallados de las alternativas propuestas, utilizando metodologías de representación de elementos para fenómenos transitorios. En el estudio de cortocircuito se determina la ventaja en la instalación de un enlace HVDC por sobre las alternativas HVAC ya que el nivel de cortocircuito, en las instalaciones de 500 [kV] estudiadas, es menor en alrededor de 4 [kA] para estos casos. Para las subestaciones de 220 [kV] los enlaces HVDC presentan la misma ventaja sobre los enlaces HVAC en el extremo norte. Para el extremo sur el mayor impacto en el nivel de cortocircuito se relaciona a la instalación de reactores limitadores de corriente en Charrúa. En el estudio de transitorios electromagnéticos se aprecia que la disminución en el nivel de cortocircuito observada en los casos de enlace HVDC impacta positivamente en la respuesta dinámica de las tensiones. Esto se debe a que los interruptores pueden soportar mayores tensiones transitorias de recuperación y con una mayor tasa de crecimiento cuando la corriente de falla que circula por ellos es menor.

<p>ABB:s MACH2 system uses a number of currents to ignite thyristors for AC/DC-trassfformation and they are measured for control and protection. The measurement methods used today has major drawbacks. Two alternative techniques are investigated, one based on the Hall-Effect (HED) and the other based on Anisotropic Magnetoreistanse (AMR), both techniques sensing the magnetic field produced by currents in a conductor. The HED hawe low sensitivity so some kind of flux concentrators is needed. This adds volume, costs and complexity to the device. The AMR technique is much more sensitive than the HED. Unfortunately AMR are also much more sensitive for high over currents that may damage the devise, and they are not as common on te market. By testing linearity, step response and frequency dependency for some components, my conclusion is that HED components with toroidal flux concentrators utilizing magnetic feedback (Closed Loop, CL) may be used in this particular application. A drawback with CL are that they, when measuring sharp edged step signals, suffer from overshoots at the output that might activate the over current protection.</p>

<p>In this bachelor thesis, cable fault locators are studied for use on the overhead electrode lines in the HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) Light project Caprivi Link. The cable fault locators studied operates with the principle of travelling waves, where a pulse is sent in the tested conductor. The time difference is measured from the injection moment to the reflection is received. If the propagation speed of the pulse is known the distance to the fault can be calculated. This type of unit is typically referred to as a TDR (Time Domain Reflectometer). The study is performed as a computer simulation where a simplified model of a TDR unit is created and applied to an electrode line model by using PSCAD/EMTDC. Staged faults of open circuit and ground fault types are placed at three distances on the electrode line model, different parameters of the TDR units such as pulse width and pulse amplitude along with its connection to the electrode line are then studied and evaluated. The results of the simulations show that it is possible to detect faults of both open circuit and ground fault types with a suitable TDR unit. Ground faults with high resistance occurring at long distances can be hard to detect due to low reflection amplitudes from the injections. This problem can somewhat be resolved with a function that lets the user compare an old trace of a “healthy” line with the new trace. The study shows that most of the faults can be detected and a distance to the fault can be calculated within an accuracy of ± 250 m. The pulse width of the TDR needs to be at least 10 μs, preferable 20 μs to deliver high enough energy to the fault to create a detectable reflection. The pulse amplitude seams to be of less significance in this simulation, although higher pulse amplitude is likely to be more suitable in a real measurement due to the higher energy delivered to the fault. The Hipotronics TDR 1150 is a unit that fulfil these requirements and should therefore be able to work as a line fault locator on the electrode line.</p>

This thesis deals with enhancing the performance of Fuzzy Logic (FL) based PI controllers for High Voltage Direct Current Transmission Systems (HVDC) by optimizing the key parameters i.e. membership functions (MFs) and fuzzy rule base in the controllers design. In the first part of the thesis, an adaptive Fuzzy PI controller is designed and the effect of various MF shapes, widths and distribution on the performance of a FL controlled HVDC system under different system conditions is studied with the aim of selecting a MF which minimizes the total control error. Simulated results show that the shape, width and distribution of a MF influences the performance of the FL controller and concludes that nonlinear MFs (i.e. Gaussian) offer a more better choice than linear (i.e. Triangular) MFs as the former provides a smoother transition at the switching points and thus propose a better controller. In the second part of the thesis, a Neuro-Fuzzy (NF) controller to update the fuzzy rule base with changing system conditions is proposed, which in turn adjusts the PI gains of a conventional PI controller. Results from simulations illustrate the potential of the proposed control scheme as the NF controller successfully adapts to different system conditions and is able to minimize the total current error. / UOIT

This thesis presents the concept of a "distributed HVDC converter" for offshore wind farms. The proposed converter topology allows series interconnection of wind turbines obviating the necessity of transformers and an offshore platform. Each wind turbine is equipped with a 5MW permanent-magnet synchronous generator and an ac-dc-dc converter. The converter topology is a diode rectifier (ac-dc) cascaded with a single-switch step-down converter (dc-dc). The dc-dc stage allows the current to flow at all times in the dc link while regulating generator torque. The receiving end is equipped with a conventional thyristor-based HVDC converter. The inverter station is located onshore and it regulates the dc link current to be constant. Stability of the configuration and independent operation of the wind turbines are validated through simulations using the PSCAD/EMTDC software package. Protection for some key dc fault scenarios are discussed and a possible protection strategy is proposed.

This thesis presents the concept of a "distributed HVDC converter" for offshore wind farms. The proposed converter topology allows series interconnection of wind turbines obviating the necessity of transformers and an offshore platform. Each wind turbine is equipped with a 5MW permanent-magnet synchronous generator and an ac-dc-dc converter. The converter topology is a diode rectifier (ac-dc) cascaded with a single-switch step-down converter (dc-dc). The dc-dc stage allows the current to flow at all times in the dc link while regulating generator torque. The receiving end is equipped with a conventional thyristor-based HVDC converter. The inverter station is located onshore and it regulates the dc link current to be constant. Stability of the configuration and independent operation of the wind turbines are validated through simulations using the PSCAD/EMTDC software package. Protection for some key dc fault scenarios are discussed and a possible protection strategy is proposed.