UHVDC Converter Transformer Re-Usage for LCC to VSC Upgrade

Abstract

A voltage source converter (VSC) system of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system is disclosed. The system includes a number of line-commutated converter (LCC) transformers. Each LCC transformer is operable to transform alternate current (AC) voltage. A number of VSC converter units are connected in series and coupled to the plurality of LCC transformers. Each VSC converter unit is operable to convert between the AC voltage and direct current (DC) voltage. A bypass breaker is connected in parallel with at least one of the VSC converter units and operable to be closed to bypass the at least one VSC converter unit.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A voltage source converter (VSC) system of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system, the VSC system comprising: a plurality of line-commutated converter (LCC) transformers, each LCC transformer being operable to transform alternate current (AC) voltage; a plurality of VSC converter units connected in series and coupled to the plurality of LCC transformers, each VSC converter unit operable to convert between the AC voltage and direct current (DC) voltage; and a bypass breaker connected in parallel with at least one of the VSC converter units and operable to be closed to bypass the at least one VSC converter unit.

14. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the system includes a plurality of bypass breakers, wherein the number of bypass breakers is equal to the number of the plurality of VSC converter units, each bypass breaker being connected in parallel with a respective VSC converter unit.

15. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of VSC converter units include a plurality of six-pulse VSC converter units.

16. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of VSC converter units comprise a plurality of modular multi-level converter units.

17. The VSC system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of VSC converter units comprise a plurality of full-bridge modular multi-level converter units.

18. The VSC system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of VSC converter units comprise a plurality of half-bridge modular multi-level converter units, and wherein the VSC system of the HVDC system further comprises a plurality of diodes connected to the plurality of VSC converter units, respectively.

19. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of LCC transformers comprise a plurality of tap changers.

20. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of LCC transformers comprises a plurality of three-phase LCC transformers.

21. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of LCC transformers comprises a plurality of two-winding LCC transformers.

22. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of LCC transformers comprises a plurality of three-winding LCC transformers.

23. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the VSC system is part of a rectifier station.

24. The VSC system of claim 13, wherein the VSC system is part of an inverter station.

25. A voltage source converter (VSC) system of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system upgraded from a line-commutated converter (LCC) HVDC system, comprising: a plurality of LCC transformers of the LCC HVDC system, each LCC transformer being operable to transform alternate current voltage; a plurality of VSC converter units substituting LCC converter units of the LCC HVDC system, the plurality of VSC converter units being connected in series and coupled to the plurality of LCC transformers, each VSC converter unit operable to convert between the AC voltage and direct current (DC) voltage; and a bypass breaker connected in parallel with at least one of the VSC converter units and operable to be closed to bypass the at least one VSC converter unit.

26. The VSC system of claim 25, wherein the bypass breaker is reused from the LCC HVDC system.

27. The VSC system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of LCC transformers include a plurality of tap changers reused from the LCC HVDC system.

28. A method of upgrading a line-commutated converter (LCC) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system to a voltage source converter (VSC) HVDC system, the LCC HVDC system comprising a plurality of plurality of LCC transformers, a plurality of LCC converter units connected in series and coupled to the plurality of LCC transformers, and a bypass breaker connected in parallel with at least one of the LCC converter units, the method comprising: disconnecting the LCC converter units from the LCC transformers; removing the LCC converter units; replacing the removed LCC converter units with a plurality of VSC converter units; connecting the VSC converter units in series with each other; and connecting the VSC converter units to the plurality of LCC transformers, so that the VSC HVDC system comprises the plurality of VSC converter units connected in series and coupled to the plurality of LCC transformers.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising connecting at least one of the VSC converter units to the bypass breaker of the LCC HVDC system.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the LCC transformers of the LCC HVD system include a plurality of tap changers, the method comprising reusing the tap changers from the LCC HVDC system in the VSC HVDC system.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising replacing the bypass breaker.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of VSC converter units comprise a plurality of half-bridge modular multi-level converter units, the method further comprising connecting a plurality of diodes to the plurality of VSC converter units.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Through the following detailed descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above and other objectives, features and advantages of the example embodiments disclosed herein will become more comprehensible. In the drawings, several example embodiments disclosed herein will be illustrated in an example and in a non-limiting manner, wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of a LCC system;

[0021] FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic diagram of a VSC system in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic diagram of a VSC system in accordance with some other example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example VSC system in accordance with some other example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Throughout the drawings, the same or corresponding reference symbols refer to the same or corresponding parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The subject matter described herein will now be discussed with reference to several example embodiments. These embodiments are discussed only for the purpose of enabling those skilled persons in the art to better understand and thus implement the subject matter described herein, rather than suggesting any limitations on the scope of the subject matter.

[0026] The term comprises or includes and its variants are to be read as open terms that mean includes, but is not limited to. The term or is to be read as and/or unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term based on is to be read as based at least in part on. The term being operable to is to mean a function, an action, a motion or a state can be achieved by an operation induced by a user or an external mechanism. The term one embodiment and an embodiment are to be read as at least one embodiment. The term another embodiment is to be read as at least one other embodiment.

[0027] Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms mounted, connected, supported, and coupled and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Furthermore, connected and coupled are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. In the description below, like reference numerals and labels are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the Figures. Other definitions, explicit and implicit, may be included below.

[0028] As mentioned above, it is desired to replace some line commutated converter (LCC) systems that have been deployed for High-voltage direct-current (HVDC) or ultra HVDC (UHVDC) systems with voltage-source converter (VSC) systems in order to solve problems existing in the LCC HVDC systems such as the multi-infeed problem.

[0029] However, building new VSC systems may be a time-consuming exercise with a high economic cost. The cost will be reduced if some equipment in the LCC systems can be reused. The inventors have found that LCC transformers are the most costly components in a LCC system (around half of the overall system cost). In addition, LCC transformers are of high quality due to the high harmonic content and high power rating requirements required by the LCC technology.

[0030] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is proposed a solution for building a VSC system of an HVDC system from a LCC system by reusing LCC transformers of a LCC HVDC system. The LCC HVDC system has been built and includes LCC systems at both rectifier and inverter stations. In addition to the LCC transformers reused from the LCC HVDC system, the VSC system also includes a plurality of VSC converter units coupled to the LCC transformers, the VSC converter units substitute LCC converter units of the LCC HVDC system. The VSC converter units are connected in series to convert between DC voltage and the AC voltage. One or more bypass breakers are further included in the VSC system, each of which is connected in parallel with at least one of the VSC converter units and operable to be closed to bypass the at least one VSC converter units. In this way, the costly LCC transformers in the LCC HVDC system can be reused for the VSC system of an HVDC system. With the introduction of the bypass breaker(s) in the VSC system, the VSC system can operate at full DC voltage when all the bypass breaker(s) are opened, or operate at lower DC voltage when one or more of the bypass breaker(s) are closed. Therefore, the VSC system can be built and work appropriately in a cost-effective way.

[0031] To better illustrate a VSC system with LCC transformers reused from a built LCC HVDC system as proposed in the present disclosure, an arrangement of a built LCC HVDC system is first introduced below. A LCC HVDC system includes LCC systems at both rectifier and inverter stations. A LCC system of the LCC HVDC system typically includes a plurality of LCC transformers and a plurality of LCC converter units coupled to the LCC transformers. FIG. 1 shows a part of an example typical LCC HVDC system 100. For illustration, one LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 is depicted in detail. The LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 has been built in a single-pole with two twelve-pulse configurations. In operation, if the LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 is applied at a rectifier station, AC electric power flows into the LCC system from an AC network. If the LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 is applied at an inverter station, DC electric power will flow from the LCC system into an AC network.

[0032] As shown, the LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 includes a plurality of LCC transformers 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and 110-4, which may be collectively or individually referred to as LCC transformers 110. The LCC transformers 110 are connected to an AC network and are operable to transform AC voltage input from or output to the AC network (depending on whether the LCC system is applied at the rectifier or inverter station). In the example of FIG. 1, the LCC transformers 110 are illustrated as three-phase two-winding transformers. In other examples, other types of LCC transformers may be utilized in the LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100, example of which may include three-phase three-winding transformers, single-phase two-winding transformers, single-phase three-winding transformers, and the like.

[0033] The LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 further includes a plurality of LCC converter units 120-1, 120-2, 120-3, and 120-4, which may be collectively or individually referred to as LCC converter units 120. The LCC converter units 120 are coupled to the LCC transformers 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and 110-4, respectively, and are connected in series to a DC network. In the single-pole configuration, the LCC converter unit 120-1 is connected to a line 101 of negative or positive polarity and the LCC converter unit 120-4 is connected to a neutral line 102. The voltage between the lines 101 and 102 is the DC voltage input to or output from the DC network, depending on whether the LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 is applied at the rectifier or inverter station.

[0034] As an example, each LCC converter unit 120 may include a six-pulse valve group, and thus may be referred to as a six-pulse LCC converter unit. Thus, the LCC converter units 120-1 and 120-2 may form a 12-pulse valve group, and the LCC converter units 120-3 and 120-4 may form another 12-pulse valve group. The LCC converter units 120 may work together to convert the input AC voltage from the LCC transformers 110 to DC voltage for supplying to the DC network or to convert input DC voltage from the DC network to AC voltage for passing to the LCC transformers 110.

[0035] The LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 may further include one or more bypass breakers 130-1 and 130-2. The bypass breaker 130-1 is connected in parallel with the LCC converter units 120-1 and 120-2. Similarly, the bypass breaker 130-2 is connected in parallel with the LCC converter units 120-3 and 120-4. The bypass breakers 130-1 and 130-2 may be collectively or individually referred to as bypass breakers 130. By opening one of the bypass breakers 130-1 and 130-2 and closing the other one, the pair of LCC converter units 120-1 and 120-2 or the pair of LCC converter units 120-3 and 120-4 is bypassed and then the LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 may operate at fifty percentage of the full DC voltage. If both the bypass breakers 130-1 and 130-2 are opened, the LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 may operate at the full DC voltage.

[0036] A typical example of LCC system is described above with reference to FIG. 1. The LCC HVDC system 100 may include two LCC systems as shown in FIG. 1, each deployed at one of rectifier and inverter stations. It would be appreciated that other configurations of LCC systems may also be possible depending on the actual deployments. For example, a LCC system may have been built with a bipolar configuration, including an additional arrangement of LCC transformers, LCC converter units, and bypass breakers that is similar as the arrangement of the LCC transformers 110, LCC converter units 120, and bypass breakers 130.

[0037] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a new HVDC system can be upgraded from the LCC HVDC system 100. The LCC transformers 110 of the LCC system in the LCC HVDC system 100 can be reused for building a VSC system. FIG. 2A shows an example of a VSC system 200 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The upgraded HVDC system of the present disclosure may include two VSC systems 200 at both rectifier and inverter stations. In this case, the HVDC system may also be referred to as VSC HVDC system. In some other embodiments, the upgraded HVDC system may include a VSC system 200 at one of rectifier and inverter stations, and a LCC system at the other one of the rectifier and inverter stations. The detailed arrangement of the VSC system 200 will be discussed below.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2A, the VSC system 200 includes a plurality of LCC transformers 110 that are reused from a LCC system of the existing LCC HVDC system 100 as shown in FIG. 1. In the VSC system 200, the LCC transformers 110 can be connected to an AC network and operate to transform AC voltage that is supplied from or to the AC network. The VSC system 200 further includes a plurality of VSC converter units 220-1, 220-2, 220-3, and 220-4 to convert between the AC voltage and DC voltage using the VSC technology. The VSC converter units 220-1, 220-2, 220-3, and 220-4 may be collectively or individually referred to as VSC converter units 220. The VSC converter units 220 substitute the LCC converter units 120 of the LCC HVDC system 100 and are connected in series to a DC network and coupled to the LCC transformers 110. Specifically, each of the VSC converter units 220 is coupled to one of the LCC transformers 110.

[0039] The VSC converter units 220 are connected to a DC network. In a single-pole configuration, the VSC converter unit 220-1 is connected to a line 201 of negative or positive polarity and the VSC converter unit 220-4 is connected to a neutral line 202. The voltage between the lines 201 and 202 is the DC voltage delivered to or from the DC network, depending on whether the VSC system 200 is applied at the rectifier or inverter station. In operation, if AC electric power flows into the VSC system 200 from an AC network, the VSC converter units 220 are operable to convert AC voltage transformed by the LCC transformers 110 to DC voltage that is supplied to a DC network. If DC electric power flows from the VSC system 200 into an AC network, the VSC converter units 220 are operable to convert DC voltage to AC voltage and provide the AC voltage to the LCC transformers 110.

[0040] Depending on the valve configuration in the LCC system of the LCC HVDC system 100 from which the LCC transformers 110 are reused, the VSC converter units 220 may be constructed with different valve configurations that can be connected to the LCC transformers 110. In some embodiments, the VSC converter units 220 may be selected as 6-pulse VSC converter units to replace the 6-pulse LCC converter units connected to the LCC transformers in the LCC HVDC system 100, where a 6-pulse VSC converter unit includes a 6-pulse valve group. In some other embodiments, the VSC converter units 220 may include 12-pulse VSC converter units to replace the corresponding LCC converter units 120 used in the built LCC HVDC system 100, where a 12-pulse VSC converter unit includes a 12-pulse valve group. The VSC converter units 220 may be constructed with other valve configurations depending on the configuration of the VSC system 100.

[0041] To support appropriate DC voltage in operation of the VSC converter units 220, as shown, the VSC system 200 further includes one or more bypass breakers 230-1, 230-2. Each of the bypass breakers 230-1 and 230-2 is connected in parallel with at least one of the VSC converter units 220. In the example of FIG. 2A, the bypass breaker 230-1 is connected in parallel with the VSC converter units 220-1 and 220-2, and the bypass breaker 230-2 is connected in parallel with the VSC converter units 220-3 and 220-4.

[0042] Each of the bypass breakers 230-1 and 230-2 is operable to be closed to bypass the group of VSC converter units 220 with which the bypass breaker 230-1 or 230-2 is connected in parallel. If the group of VSC converter units 220-1 and 220-2 or the group of VSC converter units 220-3 and 220-4 is bypassed, the VSC system 200 may operate at fifty percentage of the full DC voltage. If both the bypass breakers 230-1 and 230-2 are opened, the VSC system 200 may operate at the full DC voltage. In some embodiments, one or both of the bypass breakers 230-1 and 230-2 may be manually and locally operated to close to bypass the corresponding VSC converter units 220. Alternatively, one or both of the bypass breakers 230-1 and 230-2 may be operated remotely, for example, by one or more control signals.

[0043] In some cases, the voltage level at the transformer valve side may be too high to be directly used with the VSC converter units 220. In some other embodiments, when upgrading the VSC system 200 from the LCC HVDC system 100, a LCC valve group in the LCC HVDC system 100 may be split into two or more VSC valve group. FIG. 2B shows the VSC system 200 according to these embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2B, the VSC system 200 includes additional bypass breakers 230-3 and 230-4. Specifically, each of the bypass breakers 230-1, 230-2, 230-3, and 230-4 is connected in parallel with a respective one of the VSC converter units 220-1, 220-2, 220-3, and 220-4. As such, the two 12-pulse valve groups consisted of the LCC converter units 120 are changed and split as four 6-pulse valve groups, each of which includes one of the VSC converter units 220 in the VSC system 200.

[0044] In the example of FIG. 2B, each of the bypass breakers 230-1, 230-2, 230-3, and 230-4 is operable to be closed to bypass the corresponding VSC converter unit 220-1, 220-2, 220-3, or 220-4. In operation, by selectively closing one or more of the bypass breakers 230-1, 230-2, 230-3, and 230-4 and thus bypassing one or more of the VSC converter units 220-1, 220-2, 220-3, and 220-4, the VSC system 200 can operate at 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the full DC voltage. As such, the VSC system 200 can operate flexibly at either the full DC voltage or the reduced DC voltage to meet different DC voltage requirements.

[0045] The VSC converter units 220 in the VSC system 200 of FIGS. 2A and 2B may be selected from various converter units that can operate using the VSC technology. In some embodiments, the VSC converter units 220 may be implemented in a modular topology. For example, the VSC converter units 220 may include a plurality of modular multi-level converter (MMC) units. With the modular topology, the VSC system 200 can be constructed as compact and scalable to reach any number of voltage levels by a simple series connection of MMC converter units, resulting in higher reliability and easy maintenance.

[0046] In some embodiments of the modular topology, the VSC converter units 220 may include full-bridge MMC (FB-MMC) units. In these embodiments, the VSC system is suitable to generate negative DC voltage. In another embodiment, the VSC converter units 220 may include half-bridge MMC (HB-MMC) units. In this embodiment, the VSC converter units 220 may be connected with respective diodes for DC fault clearing. FIG. 3 shows an example of the VSC system 200 with HB-MMC converter units. As shown, the VSC system 200 of FIG. 2B further includes a plurality of diodes 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, and 340-4 that are connected to the VSC converter units 220-1, 220-2, 220-3, and 220-4, respectively. In the example of FIG. 3, the VSC converter units 220 include HB-MMC converter units. With the topology of HB-MMC converter units and diodes in FIG. 3, the cost level and the level of power loss can be reduced as compared to the topology with FB-MMC converter units. In some embodiments, the VSC system 200 with the topology shown in FIG. 2A may also be implemented with a similar topology of HB-MMC converter units and diodes. In some other embodiments of the VSC system 200, other MMC converter units such as clamped double (CD) converter units may be alternatively utilized as the VSC converter units 220.

[0047] In addition to the LCC transformers 110, some other components in the built LCC HVDC system 100 may also be reused in the VSC system 200. In some embodiments, one or both of the bypass breakers 130-1 and 130-2 in the LCC HVDC system 100 may be reused as one or more of the bypass breakers 230-1, 230-2, 230-3, and 230-4 in the VSC system 200.

[0048] With the re-usage of the LCC transformers 110, the tap changer capability of the LCC transformers 110 can also be reused in the VSC system 200. Specifically, a plurality of tap changers included in the LCC transformers 110 are reused from the built LCC HVDC system 100. In this case, the tap changer range of the LCC transformers 110 remains consistent in the VSC system 200.

[0049] Typically, for the same DC voltage level, especially at the rectifier station, a 6-pulse LCC converter unit is typically works at a higher transformer AC voltage level than a corresponding 6-pulse VSC converter unit. Left unchanged, the AC voltage ratio may probably leave the LCC transformers 110 unusable in the VSC system 200. In embodiments of the present disclosure, with the reduced DC voltage requirements met by the bypass breakers, the tap changers at the LCC transformers 110 can significantly reduce the voltage level at the transformer valve side. As such, the VSC system 200 can work as required with the LCC transformers reused from the LCC HVDC system 100.

[0050] It would be appreciated that although two specific examples are given in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in some other examples, a different number of bypass breakers can be included in the VSC system 200, which may be operable to be closed to bypass one or more VSC converter units 220 so as to reduce the DC voltage level at which the VSC system 200 operates. For example, one or more of the bypass breakers 230-1, 230-2, 230-3, and 230-4 may be omitted from the VSC system 200 of FIG. 2B. In addition to those components shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the VSC system 200 may include additional components to implement the AC voltage transformation and DC-to-AC or AC-to-DC conversion and/or for other purposes.

[0051] It would also be appreciated that although the re-usage of the LCC transformers in a VSC system has been described above in the context of a single-pole and 12-pulse configuration, the LCC transformers in the built LCC systems with other configurations can also be reused for providing VSC systems. In embodiments where a VSC system is built from a LCC system with a different bipolar configuration, more bypass breakers may be introduced to connect in parallel with the VSC converter units. In some other embodiments, some but not all of the LCC transformers in the built LCC system can be reused for building a VSC system. For example, a VSC system with a single-pole configuration may be built from a LCC system with a bipolar configuration by reusing a half of LCC transformers in the LCC system.

[0052] In some embodiments, the VSC system 200 in any of FIGS. 2A and 2B can be included at a rectifier station of an HVDC system deployed at the side of power generation facilities. In this case, the VSC system 200 is operable to convert AC voltage generated by power generation facilities to DC voltage for transmission. In some embodiments, the VSC system 200 in any of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3 can be included at an inverter station of an HVDC system to convert DC voltage received from transmission links to AC voltage of a predetermined frequency and voltage amplitude for use.

[0053] While operations are depicted in a particular order in the above descriptions, it should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the subject matter described herein, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. On the other hand, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0054] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.