Assessment of HVDC technologies for an offshore MTDC grid

Abstract

This thesis examines various HVDC converter technologies that could be used in offshore Multi-Terminal DC (MTDC) grids. MTDC grids rely on AC/DC converters to interface with AC systems and also for control services. Two AC/DC topologies were compared, the half-bridge Modular Multi-level Converter (MMC) and the Alternate Arm Converter (AAC). As new DC system voltages emerge the DC/DC converter could be an enabling technology for interconnection and future MTDC networks. As yet there is no consensus on DC/DC converter topology and a critical comparison of several potential designs was conducted. An MMC based DC/DC converter had distinct advantages compared with other designs. Several average value converter models of the converters were developed to allow efficient simulation of MTDC networks, while maintaining a high level of accuracy of the converter characteristics. These models were verified with full switching models for steady state and fault conditions. Two o shore MTDC networks were studied; a four-terminal network, and a MTDC network. The four-terminal network used a normally open point to connect two existing point-to-point links, allowing reconfiguration in the event of a DC fault. The MTDC network uses a DC/DC converter to interconnect a bipole HVDC link with the previously studied four-terminal network. Several simulation studies show how new converters can improve the operation of a MTDC and provide additional capabilities such as DC fault blocking.