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OFFSHORE wind farms need to develop technologies that fulfill three main objectives:Efficiency, power density and reliability. The purpose of this thesisis to study an HVDC transmission system based on series connection of the turbineswhich theoretically meet these three objectives. A new topology of matrixconverter operated at high frequency is proposed. This converter is studied usingdifferent modulation algorithms. Simulation and experimental results demonstratedthat the converter can be operated as a current source converter with highefficiency. An optimal control based on a linear quadratic regulator is proposedto control the matrix converter as well as the converter placed on shore. Resultsdemonstrated the high performance of this type of control and its simplicity forimplementation. An stationary state study based on non-linear programming andMontecarlo simulation was carried out to determine the performance of the conceptfor long-term operation. Series connection is an efficient technology if and only ifthe differences in the effective wind velocity are small. This aspect limits the numberof wind turbines that can be connected in series, since a numerous number ofturbines will lead to high covariances in the distribution of the wind. A complementarystudy about active filter and reactive power compensation was carried outusing an optimization-based algorithm.

This dissertation presents the analysis and development of an innovative semiconductor device and topology for the high power current source converter (CSC). The CSC is very attractive in high power applications due to its lower output dv/dt, easy regeneration capability and implicit short-circuit protection. Traditionally, either a symmetrical gate turn-off (GTO) thyritor or an asymmetrical GTO in series with a diode is used as the power switch in the CSC. Since the GTO has a lower switching speed and requires a complicated gate driver, the symmetrical GTO based CSC usually has low dynamic response speed and low efficiency. To achieve high power rating, fast dynamic response speed and low harmonics, an advanced semiconductor device and topology are needed for the CSC. Based on symmetrical GTO and power MOSFET technologies, a symmetrical emitter turn-off (ETO) thyristor is developed that shows superior switching performance, high power rating and reverse voltage blocking capability. The on-state characteristics, forced turn-on characteristics, forced turn-off characteristics and the load-commutated characteristics are studied. Test results show that although the load-commutation loss is high, the developed symmetrical ETO is suitable for use in high power CSC due to its low conduction loss, fast switching speed and reverse voltage blocking capability. The snubberless turn-on capability is preferred for a semiconductor device in a power conversion system, and can be achieved for devices with forward biased safe operation area (FBSOA). The FBSOA of the ETO is investigated and experimentally demonstrated. The ETO device has excellent FBSOA due to the negative feedback provided by the emitter switch. However, the FBSOA for a large area ETO is poor. A new ETO concept is therefore proposed for future development in order to demonstrate the FBSOA over a large area device. To improve the turn-on performance of the large area ETO, a novel concept, named the transistor-mode turn-on, is proposed and studied. During the transistor-mode turn-on process, the ETO behaves like a transistor instead of a thyristor. Without a snubber, the transistor-mode turn-on for the ETO is hard to achieve. Through the selection of a proper gate drive and di/dt snubber, the transistor-mode turn-on can be implemented, and the turn-on performance for the ETO can be dramatically improved. To increase the power rating of the CSC without degrading the utilization of power semiconductor devices, a novel multilevel CSC, named the parallel-cell multilevel CSC, is proposed. Based on a six-switch CSC cell, the parallel-cell multilevel CSC has the advantages of high power rating, low harmonics, fast dynamic response and modularity. Therefore, it is very suitable for high power applications. The power stage design, modeling, control and switching modulation scheme for a parallel-cell multilevel CSC based static var compensator (STATCOM) are analyzed and verified through simulation. / Ph. D.

In conventional three-phase PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) current source converter based STATCOM (Static Synchronous Compensator) applications, DC link current is kept constant at a predefined value and the reactive power of STATCOM is controlled by varying modulation index. This control strategy causes unnecessary power losses especially when the reactive power of STATCOM is low. For this purpose, in order to reduce the active power drawn by STATCOM, the modulation index can be maximized by adjusting DC link current. Within the scope of this thesis, an adaptive control of DC link current will be designed and applied to a 0.4kV 50kVAr three phase current source converter based STATCOM so that the power losses can be reduced. The theoretical work will be compared and discussed with the experimental results.

This research work is devoted to the analysis, design and development of the first medium power Current-Source Converter (CSC) based distribution-type Static Synchronous Compensator (D-STATCOM) with simplest converter topology and coupling transformer connection. The developed CSC-D-STATCOM includes a +/-750kVAr full-bridge CSC employing Selective Harmonic Elimination Method (SHEM), a 250kVAr low-pass input filter at 1kV voltage level, and a &amp / #916 / /Y connected coupling transformer for connection to medium-voltage load bus. The power stage of CSC is composed of series connection of natural air-cooled high-voltage IGCT switched at 500 Hz for the elimination of four lowest current harmonic components (5th, 7th, 11th, 13th), and optimized fast recovery high voltage diode in each leg. Reactive power control is achieved by applying the phase shift angle control at fixed modulation index, which is implemented digitally on a DSP microcontroller. The developed system has been implemented for compensation of rapidly varying reactive power demand of coal mining excavators in Turkish Coal Enterprises. The field test results have shown that the proposed CSC D-STATCOM serves as a technologically new full substitute of conventional Voltage-Source Converter based D-STATCOM having complex transformer connections in view of relatively fast response in reactive power compensation, very low total demand distortion factors, complying with the IEEE Std. 519-1992 even for the weakest power systems, and acceptable efficacy figures.

This research work is devoted to the analysis, design and development of the Current-Source Converter (CSC) based distribution-type Static Synchronous Compensator (D-STATCOM) for low-voltage applications in reactive-power control in order to achieve i) faster transient response in reactive-power control, ii) lower current harmonic distortion, iii) lower power losses and iv) minimum storage elements in comparison with conventional solutions. The developed CSC-D-STATCOM includes a low-pass input filter and a three phase forced-commutated CSC which is composed of six insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) with built-in series diodes. The analysis and the control of the CSC-D-STATCOM are carried out in dq-synchronous reference frame in order to obtain the reference current waveform which is to be generated by switching the IGBTs at 3kHz with the use of space vector modulation.

This research work is devoted to the design, development and implementation of a Current Source Converter (CSC) based Active Power Filter (APF) for Medium Voltage (MV) applications. A new approach has been proposed to the design of the CSC based APF for reducing the converter kVA rating considerably. This design approach is called the Selective Harmonic Amplification Method (SHAM), and is based on the amplification of some selected harmoniccurrent components of the CSC by the input filter, and the CSC control system, which is specifically designed for this purpose. The proposed SHAM has been implemented on the first industrial CSC based APF for the elimination of 11th and 13th current harmonics of 12-pulse rectifiers fed from Medium Voltage (MV) underground cables in order to comply with IEEE Std. 519-1992. 450 kVA rated APF with only 205 kVA CSC rating has been connected to the MV bus via a coupling transformer of 600kVA, 34.5/1.1 kV. The power stage of the CSC based APF is composed of water-cooled high voltage IGBT and diode modules. Reference currents to be generated by the CSC are obtained by the use of a selective harmonic extraction method, by mploying synchronously rotating reference frames for each selected harmonic component. An Active damping method is also used to suppress the oscillations around the natural frequency of the input filter, excluding the harmonic components to be eliminated by APF. Simulation and field test results have shown that SHAM can successfully be applied to a CSC based APF for reduction of converter kVA rating, thus making it a cost- competitive alternative to voltage source converter based APFs traditionally used in industry applications.

A new concept, the multi level voltage/current reinjection ac/dc conversion, is described in this thesis. Novel voltage and current source converter configurations, based on voltage and current reinjection concepts are proposed. These converter configurations are thoroughly analyzed in their ac and dc system sides. The fundamentals of the reinjection concept is discussed briefly, which lead to the derivation of the ideal reinjection waveform for complete harmonic cancellation and approximations for practical implementation. The concept of multi level voltage reinjection VSC is demonstrated through two types of configurations, based on standard 12-pulse parallel and series connected VSC modified with reinjection bridges and transformers. Firing control strategies and steady state waveform analysis are presented and verified by EMTDC simulations. The multi level current reinjection CSC is also described using two configurations based on standard 12-pulse parallel and series connected CSC modified with associated reinjection circuitry. Firing control strategies and steady state waveform analysis are presented and verified by EMTDC simulations. Taking the advantage of zero current switching in the main bridge valves, achieved through multi level current reinjection, an advanced multi level current reinjection scheme, consisting thyristor main bridges and self-commutated reinjection circuitry is proposed. This hybrid scheme effectively incorporates self-commutated capability into a conventional thyristor converter. The ability of the main bridge valves to commutate without the assistance of a turn-off pulse or line commutating voltage under the zero current condition is explained and verified by EMTDC simulations. Finally, the applications of the MLCR-CSC are discussed in terms of a back to back HVDC link and a long distance HVDC transmission system. The power and control structures and closed loop control strategies are presented. Dynamic simulation is carried out on PSCAD/EMTDC to demonstrate the two systems ability to respond to varying active and reactive power operating conditions.

The interaction of an HVDC converter with the connected power system is of complex nature. An accurate model of the converter is required to study these interactions. The use of analytical small-signal converter models provides useful insight and understanding of the interaction of the HVDC system and the connected system components. In this thesis analytical models of the HVDC converters are developed in the frequency-domain by calculating different transfer functions for small superimposed oscillations of voltage, current, and control signals. The objective is to study the dynamic proprieties of the combined AC-DC interaction and the interaction between different HVDC converters with small signal analysis. It is well known that the classical Bode/Nyquist/Nichols control theory provides a good tool for this purpose if transfer functions that thoroughly describe the 'plant' or the 'process' are available. Thus, there is a need for such a frequency-domain model. Experience and theoretical calculation have shown that voltage/power stability is a very important issue for an HVDC transmission link based on conventional line-commutated thyristor-controlled converters connected to an AC system with low short circuit capacity. The lower the short circuit capacity of the connected AC system as compared with the power rating of the HVDC converter, the more problems related to voltage/power stability are expected. Low-order harmonic resonance is another issue of concern when line-commutated HVDC converters are connected to a weak AC system. This resonance appears due to the presence of filters and shunt capacitors together with the AC network impedance. With a weak AC system connected to the HVDC converter, the system impedances interact through the converter and create resonances on both the AC- and DC-sides of the converter. In general, these resonance conditions may impose limitations on the design of the HVDC controllers. In order to improve the performance of the HVDC transmission system when it is connected to a weak AC system network, a reactive compensator with a voltage source converter has been closely connected to the inverter bus. In this thesis it is shown that the voltage source converter, with an appropriate control strategy, will behave like a rotating synchronous condenser and can be used in a similar way for the dynamic compensation of power transmission systems, providing voltage support and increasing the transient stability of the converter. / QC 20100708