HVDC-LIGHT Technology

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ABSTRACT:

Starting with a brief history of the evolution of HVDC

light technology, the paper gives the definition of “HVDC LIGHT”, and compares it
with Conventional HVDC. This paper focuses on the HVDC light converter
technology and about the light cable. The advantages of HVDC light cables over AC
under ground cables and over DC under ground cables are discussed. The active
and reactive power control by HVDC light are seen and Emergency Power and
Black Start Capability of HVDC Light, the new technology prospects and the
applications, by considering the possible economical and environmental
considerations are discussed.

The ever increasing progress of high-voltage high-power

fully-controlled semiconductor technology continues to have a significant impact on
the development of advanced power electronic apparatus used to support optimized
operations and efficient management of electrical grids, which in many cases, are
fully or partially deregulated networks. Developments advance both the high-
voltage direct-current (HVDC) power transmission and the flexible alternating
current transmission system (FACTS) technologies.
INTRODUCTION:

As the size of a concentrated load in cities increases due to the on-going

urbanization, metropolitan power networks have to be continuously upgraded to
meet the demand. Environmental issues are also becoming more and more of a
concern all over the world. Strong forces are pushing for replacing old local
generation with power transmission from cleaner sources. Land space being scarce
and expensive, substantial difficulties arise whenever new right-of-way is to be
secured for the feeding of additional power with traditional transmission lines. With
increasing power levels, the risk of exceeding the short-circuit capability of existing
switchgear equipment and other network components becomes another real threat
to further expansion. Increasing demands on the power quality in urban areas is
also a factor to consider for the power system engineer. The HVDC Light system is a
solution to these problems.

This technology is designed to transmit large quantities of power

using underground cables and at the same time adds stability and power quality to
the connected networks. The cables are easily installed underground using existing
right of ways, existing cable ducts, roads, subways, railways or channels. The HVDC
Light converter stations are compact and by virtue of their control, they do not
contribute to the short-circuit levels. As its name implies, HVDC Light is a high
voltage, direct current transmission technology and is well suited to meet the
demands of competitive power market for transmission up to 1100 MW.
EVOLUTION OF “HVDC LIGHT” TECHNOLOGY:

The reforms that have or are being introduced in the electricity

sector in many countries have radically changed the business environment of the
electricity supply industry, featuring, among other, the opening of the electricity
markets, competition and electricity trade across regions and national borders. The
utility company has now a new dimension in its competitive strategy. It does no
longer need to restrict its generating assets within fixed geographic bounds, but can
to a greater extent take advantage of remote energy resources, both small and large.

Recent development efforts in transmission technology have focussed

on compact, small weight and cost-effective, so-called voltage source converters
(VSC), using novel high power semiconductors that can be switched at high
frequencies. In parallel, a scientific and engineering breakthrough in extruded DC
cable technology makes it now possible to manufacture lightweight, high-power DC
cables that are easily installed, using conventional ploughing techniques.

By combining the advances made in VSC and DC cables, a new breed

of electricity transmission and distribution technology emerges: The "HVDC Light"
technology. The new technology extends the economical power range for High
Voltage Direct Current transmission (HVDC) downwards to just a few MW.
Transmission of electricity over long distances using underground DC cables is both
economical and technically advantageous. HVDC Light is thus an alternative to
conventional AC transmission or local generation in many situations. Possible
application fields include the feeding of distant loads and the connection of distant
generation plants. By feeding a remote load from the main grid, it is feasible to shut
down small, expensive and possibly polluting generation plants, as well as eliminate
the associated fuel transport. This makes the new technology very attractive from
both an economical and environmental point of view.
WHAT IS HVDC LIGHT?

HVDC Light is the successful and environmentally-friendly

way to design a power transmission system for a submarine cable, an underground
cable or network interconnection. HVDC Light is HVDC technology based on
voltage source converters (VSCs). The new transmission technology is called
"HVDC Light", thus emphasizing the lightweight and compactness features
intrinsic to it as well as its competitiveness in application in the low end of the power
scale.

..
 HVDC Light cables have extruded polymer insulation. Their strength and
flexibility make the HVDC Light cables well suited for severe installation conditions both
underground as a land cable and as a submarinecable.The converter station design is based on
voltage source converters (VSCs) employing state of the art turn-on/turn-off IGBT power
semiconductors that operate with high frequency pulse width modulation. HVDC Light has
the capability to rapidly control both active and reactive power independently of each other, to
keep the voltage and frequency stable. This gives total flexibility regarding the location of the
converters in the AC system since the requirements of short-circuit capacity of connected AC
network is low (SCR down to zero).
 The submarine cables can be laid in deeper waters and on rough bottoms.
 The land cables can be installed less costly with ploughing technique.
 HVDC cables can now also go overhead with aerial cables

MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HVDC LIGHT AND CONVENTIONAL

HVDC LIGHT CONVERTER TECHNOLOGY:

Conventional HVDC converter technology is based on the use of

line-commutated or phase-commutated converters (PCC). With the appearance of
high switching frequency components, such as IGBT’s (Insulated Gate Bipolar
Transistor) it becomes advantageous to build VSC (Voltage Source Converters)
using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Technology.
 HVDC Light uses Pulse Width Modulation to generate the fundamental
voltage. It controls the magnitude and phase of the voltage freely and almost
instantaneously and allows independent and very fast control of active and reactive
power flows. PWM voltage source converter does not contribute to the short-circuit
power, as the AC current can be controlled by the converter valve

The key part of the HVDC Light converter consists of an IGBT

valve bridge. No special converter transformers are necessary between the valve
bridge and the AC-grid. A converter reactor can separate the fundamental
frequency from the raw PWM waveform. If the desired DC voltage does not match
the AC system voltage, a normal AC transformer may be used in addition to the
reactor. A small shunt AC-filter is placed on the AC-side of the reactor. On the DC-
side there is a DC capacitor that serves as a DC filter.
APPLICATION OF NEW DC TECHNOLOGY: HVDC-Light

HVDC light is expected to become the preferred alternative in many

electricity supply applications such as:

Connection of small-dispersed electricity generators to a grid:

With the independent control of reactive and active power afforded by the
VSC scheme, the varying operating conditions of the wind power units can be
allowed without negative impact on the power quality level of the grid.

Delivery of electricity to islands:

Electricity from a remote power system, supplied via an HVDC-Light link,

can successfully replace diesel-generating sets that are commonplace in such cases.

Feeding electric power to large and rapidly growing cities:

As the size of a concentrated load increases due to on-going

urbanization, the metropolitan power network has to be continuously upgraded to
meet the demand.

Feeding of electric power to remotely located loads:

Small cities, mining districts, villages and other places that are located far from
any electrical network, can now be economically fed from larger networks via an
HVDC-light link. In this way, the advantages afforded by large electricity networks
are brought to basically any place on land or even offshore.
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

 Magnetic fields are eliminated since HVDC Light cables are laid in pairs
with DC currents in opposite directions.
 It offers no overhead lines, neutral electromagnetic fields, oil-free cables and
compact converter stations.
 The cable insulation is power electronic based are not dangerous.

CONCLUSIONS:

The technical development that has recently taken place in the field of
electrical transmission, coupled to a changing business environment of the
electricity supply industry and the deregulation of energy sector at large, lead to a
growing attractiveness of electrical transmission.

The hallmarks of the new technology are: short lead times, cost
effectiveness, compactness, environmental friendliness, and ease of application. It is
anticipated that this technology will quickly become the preferred alternative for
transportation of energy, in many application cases where electricity transmission
was not considered previously.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 B. Normark, D. Ravemark, “Underground transmission with HVDC Light”.

 “Power System Stability benefits with VSC DC-Transmission Systems”,
CIGRE.
 K. Eriksson, “HVDC Light – An excellent tool for City Center Infeed”.