Abstract:
A protection device (100/300) includes a diode (102) having its forward direction in a normal power flow of a region of a DC collection system, a first switch (104) in parallel with the diode (102), a second switch (106) in series with the diode (102) and a control unit (108) for controlling the switches (104, 106). The first switch (104) can be opened so that current can flow through the diode (102) in the forward direction without the first switch (104) bypassing the diode (102), and closed if no current is flowing through the diode (102) in the forward direction and power is needed upstream of the diode (102). The second switch (106) can be closed so that current can flow through the diode (102) in the forward direction to an AC grid interface of the DC collection system, and opened if no current is flowing through the diode (102) in the forward direction due to a fault in a DC feeder ('Feeder 1', 'Feeder 2') to which the protection device (100/300) is coupled.
Abstract:
A DC connection system for renewable power generators includes a first monopole DC collection network (112), a second monopole DC collection network (114) and a first bipole transmission system (116). The first monopole DC collection network (112) aggregates positive-valued DC voltage outputs of a first cluster of renewable power generators (100) onto a positive terminal (Udc+) of the first monopole DC collection network (112). The second monopole DC collection network (114) aggregates negative-valued DC voltage outputs of a second cluster of renewable power generators (102) onto a negative terminal (Udc-) of the second monopole DC collection network (114). The first bipole transmission system (116) is coupled to the positive and negative terminals (Udc+, Udc-) of the monopole DC collection networks (112, 114), for transferring the aggregated power to a power grid substation (104).
Abstract:
An energy generation system includes a turbine (102), an electric generator (100), a step-up transformer (106), and a converter (104). The turbine (102) is operable to extract energy from a fluid flow and convert the extracted energy into mechanical energy. The electric generator (100) is operable to convert the mechanical energy from the turbine (102) into AC electrical energy. The step-up transformer (106) is operable to transfer the AC electrical energy at a lower voltage from the electric generator (100) to a higher voltage. The converter (104) is operable to convert the AC electrical energy at the higher voltage to DC electrical energy. The converter (104) includes a converter leg (110) for a phase of the AC electrical energy. The converter leg (110) has an upper arm with a first plurality of sub-modules (112) and a lower arm with a second plurality of sub-modules (114). Each sub-module (112, 114) is operable to function as a controlled voltage source.
Abstract:
The disclosed invention provides computer-implemented systems and methods for designing a power substation. The inventive method includes identifying functional requirements for the power substation and generating at least one substation design satisfying the functional requirements from a library of substation components. Additionally, functional preferences are identified and used to rank the generated substation designs.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for protecting a direct-current (DC) electric power distribution system that includes one or more AC/DC converters and/or one more DC/DC converters, and one or more loads, connected by DC buses. An example method, which is carried out in response to the detection of a fault somewhere in the system, begins with limiting an output current of each of one or more of the converters so that each of the limited converters outputs a limited DC current at or about a corresponding predetermined current level. After the current limiting of the one or more converters has taken place, one or more protection devices in the system are activated, where the activating at least partly depends on the limited DC currents being at or about the predetermined fault current levels.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for protecting a direct-current (DC) electric power distribution system that includes one or more AC/DC converters and/or one more DC/DC converters, and one or more loads, connected by DC buses. An example method, which is carried out in response to the detection of a fault somewhere in the system, begins with limiting an output current of each of one or more of the converters so that each of the limited converters outputs a limited DC current at or about a corresponding predetermined current level. After the current limiting of the one or more converters has taken place, one or more protection devices in the system are activated, where the activating at least partly depends on the limited DC currents being at or about the predetermined fault current levels.
Abstract:
According to one aspect of the teachings herein, a system for obtaining electricity from wind turbines provides advantageous operation with respect to offshore wind turbines where the size and weight of electricity generation and collection equipment are key considerations. The contemplated system includes an apparatus that is configured for collecting wind-generated electricity at a fixed low frequency and at a desired collection voltage, based on the advantageous configuration and use of a modular multilevel converter or MMC.
Abstract:
While transient current magnitudes at different locations within a DC distribution system themselves are not a reliable indicator of fault location, it is recognized herein that accumulating energy or pseudo energy values provides a reliable basis for tripping the protection element at a fault location. Thus, in one aspect of the teachings herein, pseudo energy values are accumulated independently during a fault condition, for each of one or more protected branch circuits and the protection element for each such branch circuit is tripped responsive to the accumulated pseudo energy values reaching a defined pseudo energy threshold. The pseudo energy thresholds are defined so that the protection element in the branch circuit where the fault is located will trip first.
Abstract:
An improved method of fault detection in a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission line (101 ) is provided. The fault detection is based on fault-induced travelling waves. The method comprises estimating an amplitude of fault-induced travelling waves at the fault location (1 07), and calculating a fault resistance (Rf) based on the estimated amplitude, an estimated pre-fault voltage at the fault location, and a surge impedance of the transmission line. The estimated fault amplitude and the estimated pre-fault voltage are calculated from voltage measurements performed at both ends (102, 1 03) of the transmission line. Further, a fault detection device (1 06) is provided.
Abstract:
An improved method of fault detection in a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission line (101 ) is provided. The fault detection is based on fault-induced travelling waves. The method comprises estimating an amplitude of fault-induced travelling waves at the fault location (1 07), and calculating a fault resistance (Rf) based on the estimated amplitude, an estimated pre-fault voltage at the fault location, and a surge impedance of the transmission line. The estimated fault amplitude and the estimated pre-fault voltage are calculated from voltage measurements performed at both ends (102, 1 03) of the transmission line. Further, a fault detection device (1 06) is provided.