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I. I NTRODUCTION
Recently voltage source converter based high voltage di- Fig. 1. VSC Operation (a) Normal. (b) Positive Line-to-Ground Fault.
rect current (VSC-HVDC) systems are becoming more of a
competitor of classical thyristor-based HVDC systems [1]. As
the converter power rating increases it may one day replace the freewheeling diodes act a bridge rectifier and feed the fault
thyristor-based HVDC. VSC-HVDC is attractive because, un- [7], [9], [10], [13]–[17], as shown in Fig. 1. The types of faults
like classical-HVDC, no reactive power support is needed to possible on a HVDC system are as follows.
operate the system. In fact VSC’s can produce reactive power,
• Positive line to ground fault
and control active and reactive power independently [2]. This
• Negative line to ground fault
controllability allows VSC-HVDC converters to operate in
• Positive line to negative line fault
systems with little or no AC support, something that classical
• Overcurrent
HVDC cannot achieve without expensive support [3]–[6].
• Overvoltage
VSC’s are also advantageous in multi-terminal systems. Multi-
terminal systems consist of three or more converters to create A challenge associated with the protection of VSC-HVDC
a HVDC network. Applications of multi-terminal systems systems is that the fault current must be detected and extin-
include distribution into large cities, renewable energy inter- guished very quickly as the converters fault withstand rating
connects, and even ship power systems [7]–[10]. VSC’s are is generally only twice the converter full load rating [10].
better suited for multi-terminal systems as the power flow can Fault detection is also important, especially on multi terminal
be changed by changing the direction of the current. Classical systems, in order to isolate the fault and restore the system to
HVDC requires the DC voltage polarity to be changed, which working order. This paper attempts to review the issues and
can be difficult [3], [11], [12]. the current methods of VSC-HVDC protection.
Currently, all of the installed VSC-HVDC systems are either
back-to-back converters or are connected through underground II. P OSSIBLE FAULTS
cable. No overhead DC lines have been installed as of yet. It
is said that the absence of overhead DC greatly reduces the A. Line-to-Ground
risk of DC faults. However, in the case of a cable-connected A line-to-ground fault (ground fault) occurs when the pos-
system, a ground fault is almost always permanent, either by itive or negative line is shorted to ground. In overhead lines
the failed cable insulation or the cable damage by an outside faults may occur when lightning strikes the line. This may
source. As more of these systems are installed into the bulk cause the line to break, fall to the ground and create fault. In
power system, protection of the VSC-HVDC systems must be this situation the fault is always permanent and the line must
a priority. VSC-HVDC systems are, by design, vulnerable to be isolated for repair. Ground faults may also occur by objects
faults on the DC systems. Classical current-sourced-converter- falling onto the line, such as trees, providing a path to ground.
based (CSC) HVDC naturally are able to withstand short In some cases when an object causes the ground fault it may
circuit currents due the DC inductors limiting the current fall away from the line and the system can be restored. If the
during fault conditions [8], [13]. When a fault occurs on the fault persists the line would have to be taken out of service
DC side of a VSC-HVDC system the IGBT’s lose control and until the fault path can be cleared.
2
Underground cable is almost completely immune to line- When the rectifier returns suddenly it can cause overvoltages
to-line faults, as insulation, conduit and the earth separate similar to that of an inverter loss [18].
the cables. However, they can still occur. The insulation of Unbalanced AC network phases, mainly caused by faults,
the cable can fail due to improper installation, excessive can lead to adverse effects on the operation of the VSC [19].
voltage/current, exposure to the environment(water, soil, etc) The configuration of the transformer linking the VSC to the
or cable aging [13]. When this occurs, the broken insulation AC grid can affect the voltage level on the DC side under
will allow a path for current to flow to ground. As the fault AC faults. It can be seen that when the VSC is connected in a
persists the integrity of the insulation is reduced causing the Y/∆,that a ground fault on the AC can result in an overvoltage
fault to worsen. A ground fault may also occur when a person of 1.5 p.u. [20].
inadvertently cuts through one of the lines. This can happen
during construction projects. In either case the fault will III. DC P ROTECTION WITH AC D EVICES
always be permanent and will require a complete shutdown Protection of DC systems can be done with conventional AC
of the line as well as a costly repair. devices such as circuit breakers and fuses. The advantages of
When a line-to-ground fault occurs, the faulted pole rapidly using AC devices include:
discharges capacitor to ground. This causes an imbalance of • Less expensive than DC counterparts
the DC link voltage between the positive and negative poles. • Shorter lead time
As the voltage of the faulted line begins to fall, high currents • Mature science
flow from the capacitor as well as the AC grid. These high • More familiar devices
currents may damage the capacitors and the converter [16].
Below the methods of protection are shown.
Fig. 2. Back to Back Differential Protection. Fig. 4. IGBT-CB Fault Blocking Capabilities.
other end, the relay would know a fault has occurred and the A. IGBT Circuit Breakers
VSC’s would be tripped offline. In a two terminal transmission An IGBT circuit breaker (IGBT-CB) utilizes the blocking
system, two relays would be required and the current readings capability of the solid-state device. Like the other IGBTs in the
would have to be sent to the other relay via communication converters, the IGBT-CBs are configured with an anti-parallel
as can be seen in Fig. 3. This type of differential protection diode. The only drawback to the IGBT-CB is that it is a uni-
is common in AC systems [24] as could be applied to VSC directional device. This is illustrated in Fig. 4. When a fault
protection. Also, compensation for losses would have to be occurs on the DC line, the IGBT is able to block the fault
taken into account. current (represented by the dashed line in Fig. 4). If the fault
While AC circuit breakers are inexpensive, easy to use, and occurs on the converter side, the anti-parallel diodes conduct
widely used, they also shut down the entire converter. This and allow current to flow (represented by the solid line in Fig.
is problematic in the case of ground faults where the faulted 4). In this scenario the IGBT-CB must rely on the blocking of
line could be isolated and the system could run mono-polar the IGBTs in the converter [7].
using ground as a return path [16]. AC circuit breakers are For two-terminal systems, IGBT-CBs can be placed at each
also inconvenient in multi-terminal systems, which will be converter station, one on the positive line and one on the
discussed later. negative line, as can be seen in Fig. 4. Fast acting DC switches
are used in conjunction with the IGBT-CB, which is used
to isolate the line once the fault current has been cleared. It
B. Fuses
should be noted that the switch cannot break current and may
Fuses on the AC side are generally not a good solution only be opened once the fault has been extinguished. As with
for protection of the VSC [25]. This is because a fuse is a AC, the DC current of each line and the DC voltage of each
thermal device that is only allowed one operation. Fuses do capacitor will be sensed. Once the control system senses a
not have the ability to distinguish whether a fault is temporary fault on the line, an appropriate IGBT-CB will receive a gate
or permanent. To a fuse every fault is permanent and therefore signal to block the current. Once the fault current has been
the system would not be able to be restored until the fuse was extinguished the fast acting DC switches will open, isolating
physically replaced. The only place that a fuse may be an the line. To determine if the fault is temporary or permanent,
acceptable alternative is for a non-critical load, or in areas the DC switches and the IGBT-CB will close. If the fault has
where space is limited, such as a ship. Fuses are used for cleared the system will return to normal operation. If the fault
protection [25], but are mainly for AC protection and other is still present, the line will be isolated again and a permanent
DC devices protect the DC line. The DC devices coordinate fault will be determined.
with the fuse such that they will trip before the fuse. The fuse The advantage of using an IGBT-CB is that the entire
will only operate in the event that the DC protection fails. converter is not shutdown in the case of a ground fault. This
4
[7] L. Tang and B. Ooi, “Protection of VSC-multi-terminal HVDC against Jared Candelaria (S’10) Graduated from
DC faults,” 33rd Annual IEEE Power Electronics Specialist Conference, Metropolitan State College of Denver in 2007. He
vol. 2, pp. 719–724, November 2002. is currently a graduate student at the University
[8] N. Flourentzou, V. Agelidis, and G. Demetriades, “VSC-based HVDC of Colorado- Denver, Denver, CO pursuing a
power transmission systems: An overview,” Power Electronics Transac- MSEE degree (Power Option).His research interests
tion, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 592–602, April 2009. include power systems applications, power system
[9] L. Tang and B. Ooi, “Locating and isolating DC faults in multi-terminal protection and HVDC. Mr. Candelaria is also
DC systems,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. employed as an electrical engineer at NEI Electric
1877–1884, July 2007. Power Engineering in Arvada, Colorado. His
[10] M. Baran and N. Mahajan, “Overcurrent protection on voltage sourced duties at NEI include arc flash, interconnection of
converter based multiterminal DC distribution systems,” IEEE Transac- distributed generation, SCADA, substation design,
tions on Power Delivery, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 406–412, January 2007. industrial design and protective relaying. Mr. Candelaria is a registered E.I.T.
[11] W. Lu and B. Ooi, “Multi-terminal HVDC as enabling technology in the state of Colorado.
of premium quality power park,” Power Engineering Society Winter
Meeting, vol. 2, pp. 719–724, 2002.
[12] J. Pan, R. Nuqui, K. Srivastava, P. Holmberg, and Y. Hafner, “AC grid
with embedded VSC-HVDC for secure and efficient power delivery,”
Energy 2030 Conference, pp. 1–6, 2008. Jae-Do Park (M’07) received the B.S. and M.S.
[13] J. Yang, J. Fletcher, and J. O’Reilly, “Multiterminal DC wind farm degree in electrical engineering from the Hanyang
collection grid internal fault analysis and protection design,” IEEE University in Seoul, Korea in 1992 and 1994, re-
Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 25, pp. 2308–2318, October 2010. spectively and the Ph.D degree from the Pennsylva-
[14] H. Liu, Z. Xu, and Y. Huang, “Study of protection strategy for VSC nia State University, University Park, in 2007. Dr.
based HVDC system,” Transmission and Distribution Conference and Park is currently an Assistant Professor of Electrical
Exposition, vol. 1, pp. 49–54, September 2004. Engineering at the University of Colorado Denver.
[15] N. Gibo and K. Takenaka, “Protection scheme of voltage sourced His research interests include energy system appli-
converter based HVDC systems under DC faults,” Transmission and cations such as renewable energy sources, flywheel
Distribution Conference and Exhibition: Asia Pacific. IEEE/PES, pp. energy storage systems, grid-interactive distributed
1320–1325, 2002. generation systems, and microgrid systems. Prior
[16] J. Yang, J. Zheng, G. Tang, and Z. He, “Characteristics and recovery to his arrival at the University of Colorado Denver, Dr. Park worked for
performance of VSC-HVDC DC transmission line fault,” Power and Pentadyne Power Corporation in California as Manager of Software and
Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), pp. 1–4, April 2010. Controls, where he took charge of control algorithm design and software
[17] G. Ding, G. Tang, Z. He, and M. Ding, “New technologies of voltage development for the high-speed flywheel energy storage system. He also
sourced converter (VSC) for HVDC transmission system based on VSC,” worked at the R&D Center of LG Industrial Systems, Anyang, Korea, where
Power and Energy Society General Meeting: Conversion and Delivery he developed induction machine drive systems such as high-speed elevator
of Electrical Energy in the 21st Century, pp. 1–8, July 2008. drives and general purpose inverters as a research engineer.
[18] W. Lu and B. Ooi, “DC overvoltage control during loss of conveter in
multiterminal voltage sourced conver based HVDC(M-VSC-HVDC),”
IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 915–920, July
2003.
[19] I. Etxeberria-Otadui, U. Viscarret, M. Caballer, A. Rufer, and S. Bacha,
“New optimized PWM VSC control structures and stategies under unbal-
anced voltage transients,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics,
vol. 54, no. 5, pp. 2902–2914, October 2007.
[20] L. Tang and B. Ooi, “Managing zero sequence in voltage sourced con-
veter,” Industry Applications Conference, vol. 2, pp. 795–802, December
2002.
[21] “IEEE application guide for ac high-voltage circuit breakers rated on a
symmetrical current basis,” 1999.
[22] P. Anderson, “Power systems protection,” 1998.
[23] C. Kim, V. Sood, G. Jang, S. Lim, and S. Lee, “Hvdc transmission:power
conversion applications in power sytems,” 2009.
[24] J. Blackburn and T. Domin, “Protective relaying:priniples and applica-
tions,” 2007.
[25] N. Mahajan, “Systems protection for power electronic building block
based DC distribution systems,” Ph.D. dissertation.
[26] B. Bose, “Modern power electronics and AC drives,” 2002.
[27] L. Bing, J. Xu, R. Torres-Olguin, and T. Undeland, “Fault mitigation
control design for grid integration of offshore wind farms and oil &
gas installations using VSC-HVDC,” International Symposium on Power
Electronics, pp. 792–797, June 2010.
[28] L. Lamont, D. Jovcic, and K. Abbot, “VSC transmission control under
faults,” Universities Power Engineering Conference, vol. 3, pp. 1209–
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