Optimizing the roles of unit and non-unit protection methods within DC microgrids

The characteristic behavior of physically compact, multiterminal dc networks under electrical fault conditions can produce demanding protection requirements. This represents a significant barrier to more widespread adoption of dc power distribution for microgrid applications. Protection schemes have been proposed within literature for such networks based around the use of non-unit protection methods. This paper shows however that there are severe limitations to the effectiveness of such schemes when employed for more complex microgrid network architectures. Even current differential schemes, which offer a more effective, though costly, protection solution, must be carefully designed to meet the design requirements resulting from the unique fault characteristics of dc microgrids. This paper presents a detailed analysis of dc microgrid behavior under fault conditions, illustrating the challenging protection requirements and demonstrating the shortcomings of non-unit approaches for these applications. Whilst the performance requirements for the effective operation of differential schemes in dc microgrids are shown to be stringent, the authors show how these may be met using COTS technologies. The culmination of this work is the proposal of a flexible protection scheme design framework for dc microgrid applications which enables the required levels of fault discrimination to be achieved whilst minimizing the associated installation costs

Control and Protection of MMC-Based HVDC Systems: A Review

The voltage source converter (VSC) based HVDC (high voltage direct current system) offers the possibility to integrate other renewable energy sources (RES) into the electrical grid, and allows power flow reversal capability. These appealing features of VSC technology led to the further development of multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) systems. MTDC grids provide the possibility of interconnection between conventional power systems and other large-scale offshore sources like wind and solar systems. The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has become a popular technology in the development of the VSC-MTDC system due to its salient features such as modularity and scalability. Although, the employment of MMC converter in the MTDC system improves the overall system performance. However, there are some technical challenges related to its operation, control, modeling and protection that need to be addressed. This paper mainly provides a comprehensive review and investigation of the control and protection of the MMC-based MTDC system. In addition, the issues and challenges associated with the development of the MMC-MTDC system have been discussed in this paper. It majorly covers the control schemes that provide the AC system support and state-of-the-art relaying algorithm/ dc fault detection and location algorithms. Different types of dc fault detection and location algorithms presented in the literature have been reviewed, such as local measurement-based, communication-based, traveling wave-based and artificial intelligence-based. Characteristics of the protection techniques are compared and analyzed in terms of various scenarios such as implementation in CBs, system configuration, selectivity, and robustness. Finally, future challenges and issues regarding the development of the MTDC system have been discussed in detail

DC fault identification in multiterminal HVDC systems based on reactor voltage gradient

With the increasing number of renewable generations, the prospects of long-distance bulk power transmission impels the expansion of point-to-point High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) grid to an emerging Multi-terminal high-voltage Direct Current (MTDC) grid. The DC grid protection with faster selectivity enhances the operational continuity of the MTDC grid. Based on the reactor voltage gradient (RVG), this paper proposes a fast and reliable fault identification technique with precise discrimination of internal and external DC faults. Considering the voltage developed across the modular multilevel converter (MMC) reactor and DC terminal reactor, the RVG is formulated to characterise an internal and external DC fault. With a window of four RVG samples, the fault is detected and discriminated by the proposed main protection scheme amidst a period of five sampling intervals. Depending on the reactor current increment, a backup protection scheme is also proposed to enhance the protection reliability. The performance of the proposed scheme is validated in a four-terminal MTDC grid. The results under meaningful fault events show that the proposed scheme is capable to identify the DC fault within millisecond. Moreover, the evaluation of the protection sensitivity and robustness reveals that the proposed scheme is highly selective for a wide range of fault resistances and locations, higher sampling frequencies, and irrelevant transient events. Furthermore, the comparison results exhibit that the proposed RVG method improves the discrimination performance of the protection scheme and thereby, proves to be a better choice for future DC fault identification

Determination of protection system requirements for DC UAV electrical power networks for enhanced capability and survivability

A growing number of designs of future Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications utilise dc for the primary power distribution method. Such systems typically employ large numbers of power electronic converters as interfaces for novel loads and generators. The characteristic behaviour of these systems under electrical fault conditions, and in particular their natural response, can produce particularly demanding protection requirements. Whilst a number of protection methods for multi-terminal dc networks have been proposed in literature, these are not universally applicable and will not meet the specific protection challenges associated with the aerospace domain. Through extensive analysis, this paper seeks to determine the operating requirements of protection systems for compact dc networks proposed for future UAV applications, with particular emphasis on dealing with the issues of capacitive discharge in these compact networks. The capability of existing multi-terminal dc network protection methods and technologies are then assessed against these criteria in order to determine their suitability for UAV applications. Recommendations for best protection practice are then proposed and key inhibiting research challenges are discussed

System configuration, fault detection, location, isolation and restoration: a review on LVDC Microgrid protections

Low voltage direct current (LVDC) distribution has gained the significant interest of research due to the advancements in power conversion technologies. However, the use of converters has given rise to several technical issues regarding their protections and controls of such devices under faulty conditions. Post-fault behaviour of converter-fed LVDC system involves both active converter control and passive circuit transient of similar time scale, which makes the protection for LVDC distribution significantly different and more challenging than low voltage AC. These protection and operational issues have handicapped the practical applications of DC distribution. This paper presents state-of-the-art protection schemes developed for DC Microgrids. With a close look at practical limitations such as the dependency on modelling accuracy, requirement on communications and so forth, a comprehensive evaluation is carried out on those system approaches in terms of system configurations， fault detection, location, isolation and restoration

Coordination of MMCs with hybrid DC circuit breakers for HVDC grid protection

A high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) grid protection strategy to suppress dc fault currents and prevent overcurrent in the arms of modular multi-level converters (MMCs) is proposed in this paper. The strategy is based on the coordination of half-bridge (HB) MMCs and hybrid dc circuit breakers (DCCBs). This is achieved by allowing MMC submodules (SMs) to be temporarily bypassed prior to the opening of the DCCBs. Once the fault is isolated by the DCCBs, the MMCs will restore to normal operation. The performance of the proposed method is assessed and compared to when MMCs are blocked and when no corrective action is taken. To achieve this, an algorithm for fault detection and discrimination is used and its impact on MMC bypassing is discussed. To assess its effectiveness, the proposed algorithm is demonstrated in PSCAD/EMTDC using a four-terminal HVDC system. Simulation results show that the coordination of MMCs and DCCBs can significantly reduce dc fault current and the absorbed current energy by more than 70 and 90% respectively, while keeping MMC arm currents small

Hybrid HVDC for integrating wind farms with special consideration on commutation failure

This paper presents the control and operation of a hybrid HVDC system comprising a wind farm side VSC rectifier and a grid side LCC inverter for integrating wind power. The configuration and operation principle of the hybrid HVDC system are described. Commutation failure in the LCC inverter during an AC network disturbance is considered and its impact on the hybrid system operation is analyzed. An enhanced control strategy for the LCC inverter at the grid side and an alternative MMC topology using mixed half-bridge and full-bridge modules considered for the rectifier at the wind farm side are proposed. Simulation results using Matlab/Simulink are presented to demonstrate the robust performance during LCC inverter commutation failure to validate the operation and recovery of the hybrid system with the proposed control strategy and MMC configuration

Protection of physically compact multiterminal DC power systems

The use of DC for primary power distribution has the potential to bring significant design, cost and efficiency benefits to microgrid, shipboard and aircraft applications. The integration of active converter technologies within these networks is a key enabler for these benefits to be realised, however their influence on an electrical network's fault response can lead to exceptionally demanding protection requirements. This represents a significant barrier to more widespread adoption of DC power distribution. The principle challenge within the field is to develop protection solutions which do not significantly detract from the advantages which DC networks offer. This objective leads the thesis to not only consider how the protection challenges may be overcome but also how this can be achieved in a manner which can benefit the overall design of a system, inclusive of various system design objectives. The thesis proposes that this objective can be achieved through the operation of network protection within the initial transient period following the occurrence of a fault. In seeking to achieve this aim, the work presented within this thesis makes a number of contributions. The thesis categorises converter type based on the components which influence their fault response and then presents an analysis of the natural fault response of compact multiterminal DC power distribution networks containing these converters. Key factors such as the peak magnitudes and formation times of fault current profiles are determined and quantified as a function of network parameters, enabling protection system operating requirements to be established. Secondary fault effects such as voltage transients are also identified and quantified to illustrate the impact of suboptimal protection system operation. The capabilities of different protection methods and technologies for achieving the proposed operating requirements are then analysed. Significant conclusions are: solid state breaking technologies are essential to achieving operating targets and severe limitations exist with the application of protection methods available within literature for this application. To overcome these shortfalls, novel fault detection approaches are proposed and analysed. These approaches enable fault detection time targets to be met as well as aid with the effective integration of future circuit breaking technologies

DC fault detection and location in meshed multi-terminal HVDC systems based on DC reactor voltage change rate

The change rate of the DC reactor voltage with predefined protection voltage thresholds is proposed to provide fast and accurate DC fault detection in a meshed multi-terminal HVDC system. This is equivalent to the measurement of the second derivative of the DC current but has better robustness in terms of EMI noise immunization. In addition to fast DC fault detection, the proposed scheme can also accurately discriminate the faulty branch from the healthy ones in a meshed DC network by considering the voltage polarities and amplitudes of the two DC reactors connected to the same converter DC terminal. Fast fault detection leads to lower fault current stresses on DC circuit breakers and converter equipment. The proposed method requires no telecommunication, is independent of power flow direction, and is robust to fault resistance variation. Simulation of a meshed three-terminal HVDC system demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed DC fault detection scheme