go to top scroll for more

Projects


Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/L021552/1
Title FCL/B: An Integrated VSC-HVDC Fault Current Limiter/Breaker
Status Completed
Energy Categories Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr M Barnes
No email address given
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
University of Manchester
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 31 July 2014
End Date 28 February 2018
Duration 43 months
Total Grant Value £640,219
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region North West
Programme Energy : Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr M Barnes , Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester (99.996%)
  Other Investigator Dr X Pei , Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath (0.001%)
Prof I (Ian ) Cotton , Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester (0.001%)
Professor AC Smith , Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester (0.001%)
Dr R Shuttleworth , Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Applied Superconductor (0.000%)
Project Contact , Alstom Grid Ltd (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Multi-terminal DC networks and meshed DC grids have been advocated by transmission utilities, industry and academe, as a potentially more cost effective means of integrating offshore renewable energy than point-to-point links. National Grid's Electricity Ten Year Statements and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity's Ten Year Network Development Plan as well as studies by The North Seas Countries' Offshore Grid Initiative all support this view.To realize such HVDC networks, DC circuit breakers are necessary to isolate faulted DC sections. The unacceptable alternative would be to temporarily de-energise the whole DC network to then allow isolation of the faulted section. This is unacceptable because the resulting simultaneous loss of supply to the AC system would radically exceed onshore network design limits and would lead at least to severe disruption among consumers. For larger DC grids and power loss it would even cause widespread black-outs.ABBs proactive HVDC circuit breaker comes close to the required efficiency and operational speed and indeed provides a solution for some cases. However it is fairly large, especially when the series 100mH inductor it requires to operate is considered. It is also appears to be targeted at a 5ms operating time, and commentators have indicated the need for protection against frequent faster events. The fastest such events have a rate of rise of current that requires breaking action in 2ms. A faster, smaller, cheaper solution is therefore still needed to enable offshore location of circuit breakers to allow offshore wind park integration.This project will investigate novel designs integrating the circuit breaker with fault current limiter technology, which may thus be capable of achieving these size, speed and cost transformative targets.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 29/10/14