Abstract

Major milestones in the development of high voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies and
concepts were achieved in 1950s. Thanks to the high power thyristor switches (1960-70s), the HVDC
technologies reached a significant degree of maturity in 1980s. The classical HVDC uses thyristor-
based current-sourced line-com mutated converter (LCC) technology. The advent of power
semiconductor switches in 1980-90s, with turn on-off capabilities especially the IGBTs and IGCTs,
and the on-going progress in this field, have introduced the conventional (two-level) voltage-source
converter (VSC) technology and its variety of configurations, multi-level and multi-module VSCs, also
as viable converter technologies for power system applications. The DC system is experiencing
significant degree of reemergence due to its potential to either directly address, or to facilitate
resolving a large number of existing and anticipated interconnected AC power system steady-state
and dynamic issues. HVDC technology made possible to transfer bulk power over long distances. In
part I of this two-parts paper, comparative evaluations, studies, and review of HVDC versus HV AC
transmission systems, are presented. Applications, different schemes of HVDC systems are also
outlined. Index Terms- HVDC converters, HVDC converter technologies, Hierarchal Level, HVDC
system components, HVDC schemes, HVDC transmission. The first electric generator was the direct
current (DC) generator, and hence, the first electric power transmission line was constructed with
DC. Despite the initial supremacy of the DC, the alternating current (AC) supplanted the DC for
greater uses. This is because of the availability of the transformers, poly-phase circuits, and the
induction motors in the 1880s and 1890s [1]-[2].The ever increasing penetration of the power
electronics technologies into power systems is mainly due to the continuous progress of the high-
voltage high-power fully-controlled semiconductors [3]-[14]. Transformers are very simple machines
and easy to be used to change the voltage levels for transmission, distribution, and stepping down of
electric power. Induction motors are the workhorse of the industry and work only with AC. That is
why AC has become very useful for the commercial and domestic loads. For long transmission, DC is
more favorable than AC because of its economical, technical, and environmental advantages. In
general, high voltage direct current (HYDC) transmission systems can be classified in several ways; on
the basis of cost, flexibility, and operational requirements. 978-1-4673-1835-8/12/$31.00 ©2012
IEEE The simplest HVDC scheme is the back-to-back interconnection, where it has two converters on
the same site and has no transmission lines. These types of connections are used as inter-ties
between two different AC transmission systems. The mono-polar link connects two converter
stations by a single conductor line and the earth or the sea is used as the returned path. The most
common HYDC links are bipolar, where two converter stations are connected with bipolar
conductors (±), and each conductor has its own ground return. The multi-terminal HYDC
transmission systems have more than two converter stations, which could be connected is series or
parallel [15]. II. RELIABILITY AND CONTROLLABILITY EVALUATIONS OF TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
Modern power systems are very complex technical structures. They consist of large number of
interconnected subsystems and components each of which interact with, and influence, the overall
systems reliability. One defmition of reliability is the ability of a component or a system to perform
required functions under stated conditions for a stated period of time [16]. Reliability assessments of
electrical systems are performed in order to determine where and when new investments,
maintenance planning, and operation are going to be made. Power system reliability is often divided
by the two functional aspects of system adequacy and security. Adequacy is the ability of the power
system to supply the aggregate electric power and energy requirements of the customer at all times,
taking into account scheduled and unscheduled outages of system components. Security is the
ability of the power system to withstand sudden disturbances such as electric short circuits or non-
anticipated loss of system components [16]. A reliability model that includes the whole complexity
of the entire electrical power system would be impossible to implement. The analysis would be far
too complex and the results would be very difficult to interpret. Instead it is preferable to separate
the system into three hierarchal levels (HL): generation (HLl), generation and transmission (HL2), and
distribution (HL3). Each level can then be modeled and evaluated individually [16]. A study of HL2 is
also referred to as a composite system reliability assessment and this can include both adequacy and
security analysis. Reliability assessments of HYDC systems can be modeled and evaluated