Multi‐vendor interoperability in HVDC grid protection: State‐of‐the‐art and challenges ahead

Abstract

Multi-vendor interoperable HVDC grid protection is key to build large-scale HVDC grids in a step-by-step manner. On the one hand, various protection strategies and technologies have been developed in the past decade to address the challenges associated with HVDC grid protection. On the other hand, state-of-the-art HVDC technologies are often vendorspecific and there is a general lack of standardisation on HVDC systems as the majority of existing HVDC systems have been built by single vendors as turn-key projects. In recent years, driven by the need to develop multi-vendor HVDC grids, both national and international standardisation bodies have been working on guidelines and pre-standardisation for HVDC systems. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent progress on HVDC grid protection focusing on multi-vendor interoperability and identifies the main challenges to achieve interoperable HVDC grid protection. Compared to AC system protection, the fundamental differences of multi-vendor interoperability in HVDC grid protection are the possible co-existence of multiple protection philosophies and the extended scope of the fault clearing process in terms of protection and control. The challenges and research needs related to multi-vendor HVDC grid protection due to these fundamental differences are identified.

Electric Power Network Interconnection: A Review on Current Status, Future Prospects and Research Direction

“…The main fields of research in UHV transmission for the global electric grid interconnections are: UHV AC/DC substations and circuit design [146,147]; electromagnetically controlled environmental systems [148]; project management, construction and handling guidelines of tests on UHV equipments [149,150]; development of standard for testing of equipments; gas insulated transmission lines [151,152]; unmanned aerial and robot inspecting vehicles [153]; HVDC power grid protection and control [154][155][156]; performance and design evaluation of wireless, super-conductive and pipe power transmission technology [157][158][159][160][161].…”

Interdependencies in HVDC grid protection: Impact of converter parameters and controls on DC fault‐ride‐through capabilities and protection system design

“…To prevent this, different MTDC protection strategies limiting the impact of DC contingencies are being discussed [6, 9]. The majority of those strategies addresses systems based on state‐of‐the‐art half‐bridge (HB) MMCs, and foresees full‐scaled DC circuit breakers (DCCBs) with interruption times between 2 and 10 ms in combination with current‐limiting inductors as depicted in Figure 1 [6, 7, 10]. By clearing DC faults within a few ms, these concepts aim to limit the DC voltage dip's propagation into non‐faulted protection zones of the MTDC system, such that converters in these zones can remain in operation.…”

“…To take this dependency into account, [16] classifies HVDC protection by specifying the converter's DC fault reaction into continuous operation (CO)—that is, non‐blocked MMCs—temporary stop (TS), or permanent stop (PS)—that is, blocked MMCs. For faults in neighbouring or distant protection zones, CO is often the desired converter reaction, not only to limit the loss of power transmission, but also to provide continuous grid‐supporting functionalities to weak AC grids [7].…”

“…To integrate larger amounts of offshore wind energy at an increased cost-efficiency, reliability, and redundancy, a connection of future HVDC links to so-called multi-terminal HVDC (MTDC) networks is envisioned and promoted through different organisations [1][2][3][4]. However, the protection of MTDC networks in the event of a DC fault remains a major challenge, especially if both a modular step-wise development, and a multi-vendor approach are to be considered [4][5][6][7]. protection zones of the MTDC system, such that converters in these zones can remain in operation.…”

An Architecture for a Multi-Vendor VSC-HVDC Station With Partially Open Control and Protection

“…In [4], a multi-vendor setup was suggested using vendor-specific units (intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), DC circuit breakers (DCCBs), and converters including C&P) that are connected in a plug & play fashion. Furthermore, the review in [5] provides an extensive overview of available implementation aspects and possible HVDC station architectures for future multi-vendor systems -however, with a focus mainly on system protection.…”