A Hybrid Converter for HV DC Applications

In view of the growing use of high-voltage (HV) dc in the US as well as other countries, new converter designs that can overcome the shortcomings of the conventional converter and support new applications of HV dc technology are being investigated. An HV dc converter is introduced that can operate without external reactive power compensation under any load conditions, control real and reactive power (or ac bus voltage) independently over a range of operation, and operate into weak ac systems without sophisticated converter control. The hybrid converter is found to be promising, and its full potential remains to be developed.