PRESENTATION ON

RECENT TRENDS IN POWER

SYSTEM
HVDC LIGHT

Presented by:
V.NARASIMHULU
SESHADRI.A
III E.C.E
CONTACT NO: 9052908467
9491311840
E-MAIL:simha.v20@gmail.com
:seshu.student1@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:
This paper describes the
updated form of HVDC known as
HVDC Light. The HVDC Light
technology is well suited to meet the
new markets and its demands and the
reasons for this are explained. HVDC
Light is the most interesting power
transmission system using high
voltage direct current. These may be
installed in existing AC grids for their
role in stabilizing power flow without
the additional short-circuit current.
This concept is called "HVDC Light"
which uses pulse width modulation. It
extends the economical power range of
HVDC transmission down to just a few
tens of megawatts (MW).
INTRODUCTION:
Nowadays there is a huge
competition in the electrical industry as
a means of achieving cost effective
outcomes. So most of the long AC
transmission lines in the world are
replaced by HVDC transmission lines
because of their economical properties.
Though HVDC transmission line has
many advantages there are some
limitations too. So, some of the HVDC
transmission lines are replaced by the
HVDC Light to meet the limitations of
HVDC.
HVDC:
HVDC transmission originated
in Germany during Second World
War. The first commercial line was
installed in Sweden in 1954. The use
of HVDC transmission lines has grown
steadily ever since. The growth was
accelerated when high voltage, high
current silicon control rectifiers were
developed to replace the bulkier, less
efficient mercury rectifiers that had
been used until that time.
The Fundamental process that
occurs in an HVDC system is the
conversion of electrical current from
AC to DC (rectifier) at the transmitting
end and from DC to AC (inverter) at
the receiving end. Normally we are
using thyristor as a voltage source
converter .Some of the specialties of
the HVDC
Transmission lines are:
• Lower investment and lower
losses for bulk power
transmission
• Asynchronous interconnections
• No contribution to Short circuit
power
• Improved transmission in
parallel AC circuits
 • Instant and precise power flow • Short delivery times
control • No special dc transformers

• 3 times more power in a ROW • No electrodes

than AC. • feeding of power in passive
HVDC LIGHT: networks(network without any
HVDC Light is the most interesting generation)
power transmission system using high • power quality control
voltage direct current. HVDC Light
• modular compact design
was introduced in 1997 by ABB
• unmanned operation
Manufacturers. It is an electric power
• robust against grid alternators
transmission technology which
PULSE WIDTH MODULATION:
employs the latest in power
The operation of the converter
semiconductor technology, the IGBT
is achieved by Pulse Width Modulation
based on voltage source converters
(PWM). With PWM it is possible to
with pulse width modulation and
create any phase angle and/or
modern HVDC cables. It has the
amplitude (up to a certain limit) by
potential of changing the way
changing the PWM pattern, which can
transmissions are built in the future.
be done almost instantaneously. Thus,
The HVDC Light system comprises
PWM offers the possibility to control
two (or more) converter stations at the
both active and reactive power
ends of the transmission, and an
independently. This makes the PWM
underground (or submarine) cable link
Voltage Source Converter a close to
between them. This characteristic is
ideal component in the transmission
well suited to meet the demands from
network.
the new markets.

What makes HVDC Light special?

• Underground polymer cables
• Easy permits
• Connection to passive loads
• Independent control of active
and reactive power flow
 which can be done almost instantly.
This offers the possibility to control
both active and reactive power
independently. As a consequence, no
HVDC LIGHT
CHARACTERISTICS: reactive power compensation

An HVDC Light converter is

Equipment is needed at the
easy to control. The power reversal
station, only an AC filter is installed.
without interruption is possible. It can
While the transmitted active power is
be start up dead AC network. There is
kept constant the reactive power
no increase in the short circuit currents
controller can automatically control the
and equal or longer service life than
voltage in the AC-network
XLPE AC cables. The Light converter
has a switching frequency of 2 kHz
VSC converter –single
that is 40 times faster compared to a phase circuit diagram
phase commutated converter operator
at 50Hz.

Continuous control of
Active and Reactive
Power:

The combined active and reactive

capabilities can most easily be seen in
a P-Q Diagram
CONTROL OF ACTIVE AND
REACTIVE POWER:
The control of active and
reactive power makes it possible to
create any phase angle or amplitude,
 A Light converter can feed
power into a passive network and
makes it very robust. It can easily
accommodate alterations in the AC-
grid to where it is connected. This is a
very valuable property in a deregulated
electricity market where AC-network
conditions in the future will change

more frequently than in a regulated

Modular compact design, factory
market.
pre-tested:
HVDC LIGHT CABLES:
Major electrical equipments are
delivered in enclosures and they are
tested at factory before shipment. This
eliminates the need of any buildings
and also makes the installation and
commissioning faster than for a
traditional converter. The heaviest
piece of equipment weights about 20
tons

The HVDC Light extruded cable

is the outcome of a comprehensive
development program. The HVDC
Light cable is made of polymeric
material. The most important material
property of the cables
• space charge accumulation
• resistivity
ROBUST AGAINST GRID
CONDITIONS: • Electrical breakdown strength.
These properties made the cables positive and the negative
with high mechanical strength, conductor cancel each other
high flexibility and low weight. out.
Due to the polymeric material it is
very strong and robust, as well as
being specifically adopted for
direct voltage. These DC
underground cables provide

Significant advantages compared

with overhead lines including:
• Reduced risk of damage from
natural causes such as storms,
icing, wind, earthquakes and
fire
• No need for constant trimming
and removal of re-growth
vegetation

• Considerable cost savings to

the community in terms of
amenity, property values and
possible health risks. In other
words, the installation of a DC
cable has little or no
environmental impact.

• There is virtually no magnetic

radiation associated with the
bi-polar DC cable as the
magnetic fields from the
 • ABB’s HVDC Light cable
contains no insulating fluid
which means no leaking if the
cable is cut. The strength and
flexibility of these cables have
not only enabled the linking of
networks across very deep
waters, but also in areas where
the laying conditions might
otherwise cause damage.
• Combining both HVDC Light
and HVDC Light cable means
a system that is economically
viable, reliable and
environmental friendly.
• Since the cables are robust they
are small and can be installed
by plowing, making the
installation fast and
economical.
ADVANTAGES:
• The response time for a change
in voltage is 50ms i.e. for a step
order change in the bus voltage
the new setting is reached
within 50ms. With this speed of
response HVDC Light will be
able to control transients and
flicker up to around 3Hz,
thereby helping to keep the
AC bus voltage constant.
It has a standardized design, power
ratings up to 200 MW, short delivery
times and it is friendly to the
environment.
• HVDC Light is Grid friendly
and ecological technology
• Harmonics can be eliminated
easily using filters.
• Due to the bipolar arrangement
of cables magnetic field is
almost zero.
• It increases efficiency and
reduce the emissions.
• In the presence of a fault which
would normally lead to an AC
voltage decrease the converter
can be rapidly deblocked and
assist with voltage support to
avoid severe disturbances in
local industries that are
sensitive to voltage dips.
• HVDC Light can connect
various platforms with one
transmission link.
• HVDC Light needs no
synchronous condenser or local
generation, is smaller than
conventional HVDC, and is
adaptable to multi-terminal
 systems. Like classic HVDC, it
features a better than 99%
uptime for single transmission
with a scheduled two-day
maintenance shutdown once
every two years.
• A platform-to-shore setup
offers the opportunity to reduce
flaring or construct an offshore
power plant.
• It will be an excellent tool for
wind power into the networks
DISADVANTAGES:
The cost of an HVDC
transmission system depends on many
factors, such as power capacity to be
Transmitted, type
transmission medium,
Environmental conditions and
other safety, regulatory requirements
etc. Even when these are available, the
options available for optimal design
(different commutation techniques,
variety of filters, transformers etc.)
render it is difficult to give a cost
figure for an HVDC system.
APPLICATIONS:
The VSCs performance and
characteristics invite to many new
applications and concepts which
previous has not been considered due
to technical and economical
limitations. The major driving force is
the deregulation of the electricity
market, where short delivery times,
flexible systems and power ranges up
to 200 MW are frequency asked for.
The ability of the HVDC Light concept
to meet these new requirements will
certainly contribute to that many new
projects will be built.
Some examples of applications
are:
• Connecting Wind power farms
to the grid
• Distributed generation
of • Multi terminal DC-grid
• Interconnecting networks
• Utilizing existing Rights-Of-
Way
• Interconnecting networks
• Utilizing existing Rights-Of-
Way
WINDPOWER:
HVDC Light is flexible and can easily
be expanded by adding new units.
Wind farms are often enlarged after
just a few years, or joined by new
farms in adjacent locations. Many
suitable wind farm areas are located
remotely where the network is weak.
In these cases, the size of the wind
farm is often restricted by the short
circuit ratio. A wind farm connection
directly to the AC
Network requires a minimum short
circuit ratio around 10 for acceptable
performance. With an HVDC Light
connection the short circuit ratio is not
a restriction. Wind generators absorb
reactive power from the AC network
for magnetization. HVDC Light can
supply the reactive power to the wind
generators independently of the active
power it receives.
MULTITERMINAL AC GRID:
One feature of the HVDC Light
converter is that the polarity does not
change when the power flow changes.
Instead the current direction changes.
This makes it easy to use a converter
as a building block in a multi terminal
system. Any number of HVDC Light
converters can be connected to a DC
bus with fixed polarity, and by that, a
meshed DC system, with the same
topology as an AC system, can be
built.
INTERCONNECTING
NETWORKS:
It is well known that HVDC is well
suited for connection of asynchronous
as well as synchronous networks. With
HVDC light these interconnections can
be made smaller and still have a good
economy. Due to the robustness of the
VSC, the station can be placed where it
is best needed irrespective to network
conditions. Should there be a
difference in energy prices in the
networks trading is possible since we
have full control of power flow
between the stations.
OFFSHORE-HVDC Light:
 be available as a byproduct from oil
production.

CONCLUSIONS:
It is widely recognized that the role of
network services has changed as a
result of the introduction of
competitive power markets. HVDC
Light is a DC transmission technology
that has important advantages for
Using HVDC Light is
application in competitive markets.
one of the most economical ways to
These advantages include its
harness the power of the technology.
modularity, standardized design
The operator must consider a series of
leading to short delivery times, and
economic aspects to fully compare the
compact stations and cables reducing
upside of supplying electrical power
environment impacts and
from shore to offshore installations
controllability giving possibilities to
with that of local power generation.
match the power need and/or to control
Consumption of fuel for local
the voltage in the network. These
generation reduces the amount of fuel
features mean that HVDC Light
sold. On installations with no gas
facilities can be installed quickly in
export possibilities, however, gas may
response to competitive market signals.
.