VSC-HVDC Model Validation and Improvement (iCASE)

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
National Grid Electricity Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 September 2015

01 September 2019

48 months

£230,670

Power

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission

The project objectives are twofold: Construction of a highly reduced scale Modular Multi-Level Converter (MMC) VSC-HVDC converter Comparison of hardware vs. software models to assess the impact of telecommunications, internal voltage control loops and measurement on necessary model fidelity The project team anticipate one of the two potential outcomes: An updated model for both Detailed Equivalent Model (DEM) and Average Value Model (AVM) models (see Cigre brochure 604, “Guide for the Development of Models for HVDC Converters in a HVDC Grid” B4-57 working group). ORAn assessment that present DEM and AVM models are sufficient and telecommunications/ measurement / internal loops have negligible impact on the model.

Present modelling of the impact of Voltage Source Converters for High Voltage Direct Current transmission (VSC-HVDC) are idealised and do not account for the physical environment in which the equipment is operating. For example they use simplified representations of the converter which do not take into account the effect of telecommunications, some of the internal control loops for the output voltage control and measurement delays from the many sub-modules in 4th generation converters. The suitability of existing models need to be verified and possible solutions/model updates identified to de-risk future and reduce costs in future VSC-HVDC deployment and operation and in the AC equipment it is connected to. A reduced scale hardware model will be built in the laboratory in order to test the software simulations under conditions more closely resembling an operational environment. The hardware model will incorporate signalling, control hardware and measurement delays. The outcomes will be evaluated and used to assess the impact of full scale VSC-HVDC converters on operation of the transmission system.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

17/12/18