An enhanced MMC topology with DC fault ride-through capability

Author

Xiaoqian Li ; Wenhua Liu ; Qiang Song ; Hong Rao ; Shukai Xu

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Tsinghua Univ., Beijing, China

fYear

2013

fDate

10-13 Nov. 2013

Firstpage

6182

Lastpage

6188

Abstract

High-voltage direct current system using modular multilevel converter (MMC-HVDC) is a potential candidate for grid integration of renewable energy over long distances. The dc-link fault is an issue MMC-HVDC must deal with. This paper proposed an enhanced MMC topology with dc fault ride-through capability. By using diode clamp sub-modules, the freewheeling effect of diodes is eliminated and fault currents can be very rapidly extinguished. Since the tripping of circuit breakers is avoided, MMC can immediately restart power transmission for non-permanent faults. The required rated voltage of additional semiconductors is half the conventional semiconductors, resulting in low extra cost. Simulation results using PSCAD/EMTDC have verified the validity of the proposed protection scheme.

Keywords

HVDC power transmission; circuit breakers; diodes; electrical faults; power convertors; power grids; MMC topology; MMC-HVDC; circuit breaker tripping; dc fault ride-through capability; diode; diode clamp submodule; fault currents; freewheeling effect; grid integration; high-voltage direct current system; modular multilevel converter; nonpermanent fault; power transmission; renewable energy; semiconductor device; Circuit breakers; Circuit faults; Clamps; Fault currents; Insulated gate bipolar transistors; Semiconductor diodes; Topology; Dc fault; fault clearance; modular multilevel converter (MMC); system recovery;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Industrial Electronics Society, IECON 2013 - 39th Annual Conference of the IEEE

Conference_Location

Vienna

ISSN

1553-572X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IECON.2013.6700152

Filename

6700152