Protection of HVDC transmission lines based on voltage source converters by using fault current limiters

• Grant number: 14/14343-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Power Systems
• Principal Investigator: José Carlos de Melo Vieira Júnior
• Grantee: Fabricio Andrade Mourinho
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

HVDC systems that employ voltage source converters, the VSC-HVDC, are not yet fully disseminated and employed in Brazil, in contrast to other countries that have begun to study and to widely apply this type of transmission system. Compared with traditional HVDC systems, VSC-HVDC systems are a more efficient transmission technology and can overcome deficiencies found in conventional direct current transmission. The VSC-HVDC can be used more efficiently in the new energy networks, in power islands, integrating wind generation, to renew the lines of urban centers, in multiterminal applications and to connect weak systems. As VSC is a recent technology, it is still not widely adopted and a major limitation of using these systems is their fragility in the face of faults in the DC line. In this context, fault current limiters based on superconducting materials can potentially be used in conjunction with such systems to minimize the impact of faults. The action of the limiters is beneficial to the system during fault conditions; however, the performance of the protection system to extinguish faults is still required. Therefore, this work aims to assess the coordination of fault current limiters with the protection of VSC-HVDC lines, to establish a methodology for setting the protection functions considering the limiter and to propose a new protection scheme that operates selectively and reliably for VSC-HVDC systems considering the presence of fault current limiters. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MOURINHO, Fabricio Andrade. Transmission line protection of VSC-HVDC systems using fault current limiters. 2016. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD) São Carlos.