Modeling and analysis of superconducting fault current limiters applied in VSC-HVDC systems

Mourinho, Fabricio Andrade; Motter, Daniel; Vieira, José Carlos M.; Monaro, Renato M.; Blond, Simon Le; Zhang, Min; Yuan, Weijia

doi:10.1109/pesgm.2015.7286262

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…However, SFCL parameter optimization, economic performance analysis, design of electrical insulation are not yet investigated. Superconducting fault current limiters have been studied in VSC-HVDC systems [31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. A novel SFCL with both a superconducting coil and a resistance is presented for limiting rapidly growing current in VSC-HVDC systems during severe disturbances [32].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fault Ride-through Capability Enhancement of Voltage Source Converter-High Voltage Direct Current Systems with Bridge Type Fault Current Limiters

Alam

Abido

2017

Energies

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This paper proposes the use of bridge type fault current limiters (BFCLs) as a potential solution to reduce the impact of fault disturbance on voltage source converter-based high voltage DC (VSC-HVDC) systems. Since VSC-HVDC systems are vulnerable to faults, it is essential to enhance the fault ride-through (FRT) capability with auxiliary control devices like BFCLs. BFCL controllers have been developed to limit the fault current during the inception of system disturbances. Real and reactive power controllers for the VSC-HVDC have been developed based on current control mode. DC link voltage control has been achieved by a feedback mechanism such that net power exchange with DC link capacitor is zero. A grid-connected VSC-HVDC system and a wind farm integrated VSC-HVDC system along with the proposed BFCL and associated controllers have been implemented in a real time digital simulator (RTDS). Symmetrical three phase as well as different types of unsymmetrical faults have been applied in the systems in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed BFCL solution. DC link voltage fluctuation, machine speed and active power oscillation have been greatly suppressed with the proposed BFCL. Another significant feature of this work is that the performance of the proposed BFCL in VSC-HVDC systems is compared to that of series dynamic braking resistor (SDBR). Comparative results show that the proposed BFCL is superior over SDBR in limiting fault current as well as improving system fault ride through (FRT) capability.Moreover, VSC-HVDC offers a solution for many problems faced nowadays by power networks such as network congestion, grid reinforcement, multi-terminal DC (MTDC) operation and asynchronous operations of two different grids [10]. Different types of VSC topologies are proposed in the literature [11,12] including two level, three level and multilevel converters for HVDC transmission. Multilevel means more than two voltage levels can be achieved in one phase leg, which reduces the switching times of valve and makes the voltage wave form closer to a sinusoidal curve. Line to neutral voltage waveforms of both two-level and three-level converters with PWM are discussed and compared in [12].However, despite the numerous advantages, VSC-HVDC systems face difficulties in dealing with different grid faults [13]. Fault ride-through (FRT) capability enhancement is one of the main requirements for wind farm-integrated VSC-HVDC systems [14,15]. During system faults, bulk power interruptions must be avoided by keeping the HVDC system energized, otherwise, the system may face serious instability due to this bulk power interruption. Modular multilevel converter-based VSC-HVDC system topologies can provide enhanced fault ride-through capability [16]. In [17,18] FRT capability as well as transient stability improvement have been reported by applying various VSC control techniques. A power synchronization control technique has been proposed in [19] with coordination between wind turbines and HVDC controllers in order to achieve FRT ...

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confidence: 99%

Fault Ride-through Capability Enhancement of Voltage Source Converter-High Voltage Direct Current Systems with Bridge Type Fault Current Limiters

Alam

Abido

2017

Energies

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“…This solution remains expensive, shows losses and requires space. Several studies show that the Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SCFCL) offers an attractive solution for the protection of HVDC grids [2] [3]. The first economic calculations based on the Eccoflow conductor [4] with a limitation electric field of 50 V/m (50 ms) and a tape at 200 €/kA/m show prohibitive costs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status of the European Union Project FASTGRID

Tixador

Bauer²,

Bruzek

et al. 2019

IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.

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HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) super-grids are one attractive solution for the transmission of bulk power of renewable electricity over long distances. Their protection is still an issue and Superconducting Fault Current Limiters (SCFCL) offer attractive perspectives. However, the actual superconducting tapes are not yet properly designed for operation at high voltages (> 100 kV): the electric field developed during the current limitation is still too low (approx. 50 V/m for 50 ms) and the limiter requires too long lengths of tape. The European project FASTGRID aims at improving the properties of the REBCO tapes to enhance significantly (by 2 to 3 times) the electric field limit and so the economical attractiveness of SCFCL. We use advanced THEVA tapes. Substantial improvements are also planned on the stabilizer (shunt) layer. Several shunt ways are under investigations. Other improvement on the tape properties will be carried out, namely the increase of the normal zone propagation velocity by at least one order of magnitude, with the help of the innovative Current Flow Diverter architecture. The optimized conductor will be used in a SCFCL module (≈ 1.5 kA -50 kV) tested at 65 K. We will monitor the temperature along the conductor using an attached optical fibre. FASTGRID will also develop innovative tapes based on sapphire substrate, which can tolerate very high electric fields, in the range of kV/m. Validated on the laboratory scale, this game-changing technology needs to be implemented at long lengths with an industrial process. We will provide an overview of the project and its first results.

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“…To date, VSC-HVDC system stability has been examined with the implementation of different categories of superconducting FCLs (SFCLs) [1,9,31,32]. However, superconducting fault current limiters have several drawbacks such as big size, heavy weight and cost, magnetic field interference with nearby sensitive devices, higher leakage and circulating currents, long recovery time, and loss in stand-by mode [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] compared to non-superconducting fault current limiters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-Linear Control for Variable Resistive Bridge Type Fault Current Limiter in AC-DC Systems

2019

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This paper proposes a non-linear control-based variable resistive bridge type fault current limiter (VR-BFCL) as a prospective solution to ease the effect of disturbances on voltage source converter-based high voltage DC (VSC-HVDC) systems. A non-linear controller for VR-BFCL has been developed to insert a variable optimum resistance during the inception of system disturbances in order to limit the fault current. The non-linear controller takes the amount of DC link voltage deviation as its input and provides variable duty to generate a variable effective resistance during faults. The VSC-HVDC system’s real and reactive power controllers have been developed based on a current control loop where direct axis and quadrature axis currents are used to control the active and reactive power, respectively. The efficacy of the proposed non-linear control-based VR-BFCL solution has been proved with balanced as well as unbalanced faults. The results confirm that the oscillations in active power and DC link voltage have been significantly reduced by limiting the fault current through the insertion of an optimum effective resistance with the proposed control technique. The real time digital simulator (RTDS) has been used to implement the proposed approach. The performance of the proposed non-linear control based VR-BFCL is compared with that of traditional fixed duty control.

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Modeling and analysis of superconducting fault current limiters applied in VSC-HVDC systems

Cited by 19 publications

References 8 publications

Fault Ride-through Capability Enhancement of Voltage Source Converter-High Voltage Direct Current Systems with Bridge Type Fault Current Limiters

Fault Ride-through Capability Enhancement of Voltage Source Converter-High Voltage Direct Current Systems with Bridge Type Fault Current Limiters

Status of the European Union Project FASTGRID

Non-Linear Control for Variable Resistive Bridge Type Fault Current Limiter in AC-DC Systems

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