DC/DC Converter

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 September 2013

01 January 2017

42 months

£210,000

Power

Scotland

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

The overall objective of the project is to develop a design for a DC/DC converter which could subsequently (as part of a potential separate project) be developed further into a laboratory demonstration. More specifically the objectives of the project are to: Develop an optimal DC/DC converter suitable for high power applications Study the integration of DC/DC Converters and DC hubs with HVDC systems The project will be successful, if it produces robust conclusions on the design of a high power DC/DC converter.

"DC/DC converters could be important if HVDC grids with different voltages should be interconnected or if existing point to point HVDC schemes should be connected to an HVDC grid and the voltages do not match. "*As the number of HVDC systems in GB increases (as described in National Grid’s 10-year Statement, 2012) there may be opportunities to interconnect HVDC systems. However, current technology does not allow the interconnection of HVDC systems that are at different voltages. AC transformers are used to connect AC systems of different voltages. However the same technology cannot be applied to High Voltage DC systems (HVDC) to connect DC systems at different voltages. A DC/DC converter could connect HVDC systems at different voltages, potentially enabling, for example: Multi-voltage, Multi-terminal HVDC schemes; Where 2 HVDC links terminate in close proximity, they could be connected on the DC side, reducing losses (and potentially the need for a converter station for each link); Off-shore renewables directly connecting into a DC link without the need for an on-shore converter station; andMulti-voltage DC Grids*Extract from “Review of Worldwide Experience of Voltage Source Convertor (VSC) High Voltage Direct Current Technology (HVDC) Installations” Sinclair Knight Merz, March 2013. The Method is Technical. This project will investigate the potential of DC/DC converters to provide HVDC voltage stepping, HVDC hubs(connecting 3 HVDC links), power flow control and fault management, and refine the conceptual design for optimal performance. To achieve this, the project will develop software models of various DC/DC converter configurations, and undertake a range of studies on their operation and performance. SHE Transmission will collaborate with the University of Aberdeen to complete this project. The resulting optimised design proposal will be reviewed by SHE Transmission engineers to assess suitability for progression to further laboratory-based development and demonstration.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

09/08/18