2019 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Asia

Analysis of Influence Factors on the Transmission

Capability of the Yu-e Back-to-back VSC-HVDC
South Channel
Xiaodong Yu, Tangze Yang, Kan Cao, Defu Cai, Li Wan, Kunpeng Zhou, Ying Wang, Raoyu Ze
Electric Power Research Institute
State Grid Hubei Electric Power Co,Ltd
Wuhan, Chian
a921125@126.com

Abstract—Yu-e back-to-back VSC-HVDC networking project is
the first VSC-HVDC networking project whose voltage and
capacity is up to±420kV and 5000MW. Currently, it is the
VSC-HVDC project of highest voltage and largest capacity in
the world which realizes the asynchronous networking between
Southwest and Central China power grid and guarantees the
safety of hydropower delivery between these two power grids.
However, it may cause the units of Enshi and Three Georges
power plant unstable when power is transmitted from Southwest
power grid to Central China power grid through Yu-E back to
back VSC-HVDC project. In view of the problems above, this
paper studies the influence of the nearby Yihua HVDC
transmission power, the up-delivery power of 500kV Enshi main
transformer and output of the adjacent hydropower plant on
transmission capability of Yu-E back-to-back VSC-HVDC
system.
Index Terms—VSC-HVDC, Networking project, Transient
stability, Up-delivery power delivery, Hydropower output
I. INTRODUCTION
The Yu-E back-to-back VSC-HVDC project connecting
Southwest and Central China power grid is planned to put into
operation in 2018 by State Grid Corporation of China
(SGCC). It is the first ±420kV VSC-HVDC project in China,
whose transmission power capacity is 5000MW[1]. This
project has the highest voltage level and the largest
transmission power capacity in the world, containing north
and south channel in Yichang and Enshi, respectively. The
south channel is built in 500kV Shizhou station which is
accessed to Hubei power gird in the middle of 500kV
Zhangjiaba-Enshi AC line and located in XianFeng County,
Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province. It is adjacent to 500kV
Enshi main transformer, Yihua HVDC and Shuibuya power
plant.
Hubei power grid will be subjected to 5000MW power
after the operation of back-to-back VSC-HVDC project. The
pressure of power flow evacuation in the Three Gorges area
will increase when power flow of West to East power
transmission section in Hubei power grid increase. In addition,
the connection between Central China and Southwest power
grid is going to change from synchronous to asynchronous,
which would weaken the electrical link between Hubei power
grid and other three Central China power grid , and inertia of
Central China power grid will decrease. Thus, this project will
have a great impact on stability characteristics of Hubei power
grid. When Southwest grid transfers power to Central China
grid through the south channel, it may cause the Enshi
hydropower unit and the Three Gorges power plant to lose
transient stability which would endanger the security and
stability of the power grid。
At present, researches at home and abroad mainly focus
on the theoretical study of grid stability with a single VSC-
HVDC project. For example, in reference [2] the modal
analysis and sensitivity analysis methods are used to study the
system stability, and the small signal model of VSC-HVDC is
adopted to solve the problem. In reference [3], the detailed
transient model of the DC cable in VSC-HVDC system and
the converter station’s decoupling control models are
established. At the same time, the influence of the control
parameters on the system stability is verified by simulation in
this article. In references [4-5], the VSC-HVDC input
admittance model and the grid impedance model are
established, and the impedance stability analysis method is
applied to analyze the system stability. The control strategies
to improve stability are proposed in these references, too. In
all of the references above, the mathematical model of the
VSC-HVDC system is adopted to study the system stability.
However, as the scale of the AC system near VSC-HVDC
inreases, the complexity of mathematical modeling also
increases exponentially, which may give a rise to the difficulty
in solving this problem.
However, the applecation scenery of Yu-E back-to-back
VSC-HVDC networking project is complicated in the actual
power grid. The power transmission stability is coupled with
the up-delivery power of 500kV Enshi main transformer, the
Yihua HVDC transmission power and the output of the
adjacent Shuibuya hydropower plant. Thus, the model

Project Supported by State Grid Corporation of China(52200018001)

Project Supported by State Grid Corporation of Hubei(5215321700W)

978-1-7281-3520-5/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE 291

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complexity is too high to adopt theoretical analysis method to
solve the system stability by establishing its mathematical
model. In this article, the influencing factors of the power
transmission capacity of Yu-e back-to-back VSC-HVDC
networking project is studies based on the PSASP, using time
domain simulation methhod.
II. BASIC INFORMATION OF YU-E BACK- TO-BACK VSC-
HVDC PROJECT
A. The VSC-HVDC
It is necessary to implement Southwest power grid and
Central China power grid asynchronous networking. The
asynchronous networking can bring many advantages, such as
achieving the reasonable consumption of seasonal hydropower
in Chongqing and Sichuan province, giving full play to the
power transmission line capacity, optimizing AC power
system structure, improving the controllability of power grid
operation and reducing the risk of security and stability
operation of power grid.
The construction of Yu-E back-to-back VSC-HVDC
project can build Southwest synchronous power system, which
covers Sichuan, Chongqing and Tibet power grid. This project
can realize asynchronous networking between Southwest and
Central China power grid, as shown in Figure.1. This project
can also reduce the short-circuit current in Three Gorges area.
The 500kV Enshi station is connected with the 220kV
power grid through the 500kV/220kV transformer. Since a
large number of small hydropower units are set in 220kV
Enshi power grid, hydropower would be up-delivered to
500kV power grid through the main transformer during the
flood season.
The 500kV Enshi Station is connected to the 500kV
Yuxia Station through three 500kV AC lines, and the
Shuibuya Power Plant (4×460MW) delivers power to the
Yuxia Station through the 500kV two 500kV AC lines.
The 500kV Yidu Station is connected to Yuxia Station
through a short single 500kV AC line. It is connected to the
Three Gorges Right Second Power Plant through three 500kV
AC lines, and sent hydropower to the Shanghai Power Grid
through ±500kV Yihua DC (3000MW).

Figure 2. The AC power grid adjacent to the south channel of the Yu-E
back-to-back VSC-HVDC

III. INITIAL VOLTAGES AND POWER FLOW

Considering that the up-delivery power of Enshi main
transformer is 100MW, the units of Shuibuya hydropower
plants is of full power functon (4×460MW), the power of
VSC-HVDC south channel is 800MW (the control mode is
fixed reactive power control), and the power of Yihua HVDC
is 2500MW, the voltages of nearby 500kV stations and the
power flow of nearby 500kV AC lines is as shown in Table1
and 2.

TABLE I. THE VOLTAGES OF NEARBY 500KV STATIONS

Station 1 2 3 4

Voltage 524kV 517kV 519kV 502kV

Figure 1. The Southwest and Central China power grid
Station Three Gorges plant Shuibuya plant
The converter unit of this project adopts symmetrical Voltage 524kV 519kV
unipolar connection. Each station has 2 converter units. The
capacity of converter unit is 1250MW, and its DC voltage is ± TABLE II. THE POWER FLOW OF NEARBY 500KV AC LINES
420kV, which are the first in the world. The converter valve
uses half-bridge modular multi-level scheme and adopts water Station 2-3 Shuibuya plant-3
cooling. The valve tower installs by grounding support way.
Power flow 1892MW-j369Mvar 1840MW+398Mvar
B. The adjacent AC power grid
Station Yidu-4 3-4
The AC power grid adjacent to the south channel of the
Yu-E back-to-back VSC-HVDC system is shown as Figure 2. Voltage 2329MW+j11Mvar 3245MW+j40Mvar

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 It can be seen from Table I and II above that the voltage
of Xinglong station is nearly 500kV, and the power emerging
in Xinglong station is very heavy, which means the N-1 and
N-2 faults occurring around Xinglong station may cause
instabilities in power system.
IV. ANALYSIS OF INFLUENCE ON POWER TRANSMISSION
CAPACITY OF YU-E BACK-TO-BACK VSC-HVDC SOUTH
CHANNEL
The Yuxia power transmission channel consists of the
three Yuxia-Xinglong AC lines and the short single Yuxia-
Yidu AC line. The heavy power flow of Yuxia power
transmission channel will cause the voltage of nearby 500kV
stations low. At this time, if the N-1 and N-2 faults occur in
Yuxia-Xinglong AC lines, the voltage of nearby 500kV
stations will further reduce, which may cause the transient
stability of Enshi and the Three Gorges units to the main
network to be lost.
A. The influence of Yihua HVDC power
When the power of Yihua HVDC reduces, the reduced
power will be transferred to the Yuxia power transmission
Considering that the up-delivery power of Enshi main
transformer is 100MW, the units of Shuibuya hydropower
plants is of full power functon (4×460MW), the power of
VSC-HVDC south channel is 800MW (the control mode is
fixed reactive power control). When the power of Yihua
HVDC is 3000MW and 2500MW, the voltages of 500kV
stations and the power angle curves of the Enshi and Three
Gorges units after the N-1 faults in Yuxia-Xinglong lines are
shown in the Figure.3-4 above. Because the curves of 500kV
buses and power angle have the similar characteristics, the
specific names are not marked in the figures.
It can be seen from Figure. 3-4, when the power of Yihua
HVDC reduces, the reduced power will be transferred to the
Yuxia power transmission channel, which will increase the
system stability risk. It is necessary to reduce the power
transmission of Yu-E back-to-back VSC-HVDC south
channel or take other measures to reduce the power flow of
Yuxia power transmission channel to improve the safety and
stability of the system.
1.200

channel, which will increase power flow evacuation pressure, 1.000

resulting in a decrease in the voltage of the 500skV station in
the near area. When the N-1 and N-2 faults in Yuxia-Xinglong 0.800

lines occur, it may give a rise to transient problems of Enshi

0.600
and Three Gorges units.
1.200
0.400

1.000 0.200

0.000
0.800 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00
Time(s)

0.600
(a) Voltages of 500kV stations near the Yu-e Back-to-back VSC- HVDC
South Channel
100000.000
0.400

80000.000
0.200

60000.000
0.000
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00
Time(s)
40000.000
(a)Voltages of 500kV stations near the Yu-e Back-to-back VSC- HVDC
South Channel
20000.000
100.000

80.000
0.000

60.000

-20000.000
40.000 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00
Time(s)
20.000
(b)Power angle of the Enshi and Three Gorges units
0.000
Figure 4. The voltages and the power angle curves with 2500MW Yihua
-20.000 HVDC
-40.000
B. The influence of up-delivery power of 500kV Enshi main
-60.000
transformer
-80.000
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00
Time(s)
12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00
During the flood season, the increase of the up-delivery
(b)Power angle of the Enshi and Three Gorges units power of 500kV Enshi main transformer will bring difficulty
in power flow evacuation of the Yuxia power transmission
Figure 3. The voltages and the power angle curves with 3000MW Yihua
HVDC channel. When up-delivery power of 500kV Enshi main

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transformer is heavy, the N-1 and N-2 faults in Yuxia-
Xinglong lines will cause the transient stability problems of
the Three Gorges and Enshi units.
Considering that the up-delivery power of Enshi main
transformer is 50MW, the units of Shuibuya hydropower
plants is of full power functon (4×460MW), the power of
VSC-HVDC south channel is 800MW (the control mode is
fixed reactive power control), and the power of Yihua HVDC
is 2500MW, the voltages of 500kV stations and the power
angle curves of the Enshi and Three Gorges units after the N-1
faults in Yuxia-Xinglong lines are shown in the Fig.5 below.
1.200
1.000
0.800
0.600
is 2500MW, when the Shuibuya hydropower plant only has
one unit operating (1×460MW), the voltages of 500kV
stations in the near area and the power angle curves of the
Enshi and Three Gorges units after the N-1 faults in Yuxia-
Xinglong lines are shown in the Figure.6 below.
It can be seen from Figure. 4 and 6 that when the up-
delivery power of 500kV Enshi main transformer increases,
the pressure of power flow evacuation in the near area
increases, too. The power of Yu-E back-to-back VSC-HVDC
should be reduced to keep the grid safe and stable.
Furthermore, when the output of Shuibuya hydropower
plant is less than 460MW or the up-delivery power of 500kV
Enshi main transformer is less than 0 MW, the transmission
capacity of Yu-E back-to-back VSC-HVDC is not limited by
transient stability when N-1 and N-2 faults occur in Yuxia-
Xinglong line.
1.200

1.000
0.400

0.800
0.200

0.600
0.000
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00
Time(s)
0.400
(a) Voltages of 500kV stations near the Yu-e Back-to-back VSC- HVDC
South Channel
80.000 0.200

60.000
0.000
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00
Time(s)
40.000

(a) Voltages of 500kV stations near the Yu-e Back-to-back VSC- HVDC
20.000
South Channel
100.000
0.000

80.000
-20.000
60.000
-40.000
40.000

-60.000
20.000

-80.000
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 0.000
Time(s)
-20.000
(b)Power angle of the Enshi and Three Gorges units
-40.000
Figure 5. The voltages and the power angle curves with 50MW up-delivery
power of Enshi main transformer -60.000

-80.000
It can be seen from Figure. 4-5 that when up-delivery 0.00 5.00 10.00
Time(s)
15.00 20.00

power of 500kV Enshi main transformer is 50MW increases,
the pressure of power flow evacuation in the near area
increases, too. The power of Yu-E back-to-back VSC-HVDC
should be reduced to keep the grid safe and stable.
C. The influence of Shuibuya Hydropower output
As the Shuibuya hydropower output will occupy the Yuxia
power transmission channel, when the Shuibuya Hydropower
output increases, the grid security and stability risks will
increase, too.
Considering that the up-delivery power of Enshi main
transformer is 100MW, the power of Yu-E back-to-back
VSC-HVDC south channel is 800MW (the control mode is
fixed reactive power control), and the power of Yihua HVDC
(b)Power angle of the Enshi and Three Gorges units
Figure 6. The voltages and the power angle curves with 1×460MW
Shuibuya hydropower output
V. CONCLUSION
It can be seen from the simulation results above that when
the power flow evacuation pressure of Yuxia power
transmission channel increases, the voltages of the 500kV
stations in the near area become lower, which will easily cause
Enshi and the Three Gorges units unstable to the main grid
after the N-1 and N-2 faults in Yuxia-Xinglong lines.

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 Thus, the reduction of Yihua's HVDC power, the increase
of the up-delivery power of 500kV Enshi main transformer
and the increase of Shuibuya hydropower output, which will
increase the difficulty of the power flow evacuation in Yuxia
power transmission channel, will make the grid’s safety and
stability greatly reduced.
In order to ensure the supporting role of Yu-E back-to-
back VSC-HVDC networking project in the asynchronous
networking between Central China and Southwest power grid,
measures should be taken to control the power flow of Yuxia
power transmission channel to improve the grid’s safety and
stability.
REFERENCES
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