A contribution to HVDC protection interoperability through components sizing margin evaluation

Abstract

To integrate remote renewable energy sources on a continental scale, Transmission System Operators are likely to build multi-terminal multi-vendor HVDC grids. However, the lack of standardized HVDC practices, especially in protection, may result in interoperability challenges. Different strategies and technologies, provided by different vendors, are likely to coexist within a grid expected to evolve over time. To address this challenge, one of the many topics to consider is the question of flexibility in the protection component design. This paper proposes a method to examine the interoperability of a protection device named Fault Neutralisation System (FNS), composed of a DC circuit breaker, its relay and a DC reactor in series. From a reference case scenario, empirical margin studies of FNS parameters are considered to identify interoperability issues. In the long run, the repetition of the method should lead to the definition of FNS interoperability classes.

Myriam RATAJCZYK, Alberto BERTINATO, Pascal TORWELLE, Bertrand RAISON

Presented at CIGRE 2024