A Novel Overcurrent Suppression Strategy during Reclosing Process of MMC-HVDC

• Main Authors: Bin Jiang, Yanfeng Gong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: modular multilevel converter (MMC); reclosing process; fault current limiter (FCL); short-circuit current calculation; reclosing current limiting resistance (RCLR)
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/9/1737

A modular multilevel converter based high-voltage DC (MMC-HVDC) system has been the most promising topology for HVDC. A reclosing scheme is usually configured because temporary faults often occur on transmission lines especially when overhead lines are used, which often brings about an overcurrent problem. In this paper, a new fault current limiter (FCL) based on reclosing current limiting resistance (RCLR) is proposed to solve the overcurrent problem during the reclosing process. Firstly, a mesh current method (MCM) based short-circuit current calculation method is newly proposed to solve the fault current calculation of a loop MMC-HVDC grid. Then the method to calculate the RCLR is proposed based on the arm current to limit the arm currents to a specified value during the reclosing process. Finally, a three-terminal loop MMC-HVDC test grid is constructed in the widely used electromagnetic transient simulation software PSCAD/EMTDC and the simulations prove the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.