Solvers for Real-Time Simulation of Bipolar Thyristor-Based HVDC and 180-cell HVDC Modular Multilevel Converter for System Interconnection and Distributed Energy Integration

Publication date : Feb 2011
Paper File : CiGRE_Recife2011_paperfinal.pdf



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Abstract

Thyristors-based converters are still today the most common type of HVDC links. Modular Multilevel Converter based HVDC links are often considered for lower power rating projects like off-shore wind farms. Both approaches present challenges in both the design and the testing of proposed circuit topologies and control & protection system design. Conventional real-time simulators used by most power electronic system manufacturers for testing thyristor-based AC-DC converter systems in HIL mode encounter difficulties or simply cannot simulate MMC-based circuits composed very large number of fast power electronic devices. This paper will demonstrate new solvers methods adapted for both thyristors and MMC-based HVDC links. In the case of thyristors-based HVDC, a new solver called State-Space Nodal implements an efficient real-time method to deal with the numerous switched filter banks and valves groups found in these apparatus. The real-time and parallel simulation of Modular Multilevel Converters with hundreds of switches, which is very difficult or impossible with conventional solvers, is made with a pragmatic fixed-causality solver. System transients and dynamic performance under several operating conditions evaluated in HIL mode with a prototype controller-in-the-loop composed of several hundred of I/O connections will also be presented, using the RT-LAB real-time digital simulator.

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