Vsc-converter

• US 20040120166A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABB Power Grids Switzerland AG (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ABB Power Grids Switzerland AG (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bijlenga, Bo
• Application Number:
  US10/474,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20040120166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/37
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/36 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks via a high-tension dc link
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/12 Arrangements for reducing harmonics from ac input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/217 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/60 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks or generators via a high voltage DC link [HVCD]

Abstract

The invention relates to a VSC-converter for converting high-voltage direct voltage into alternating voltage and vice versa, which comprises a series connection of at least two current valves (2, 3) arranged between two poles (4, 5), a positive and a negative, of a direct voltage side of the converter, each of which current valves comprising a semiconductor element (9) of turn-off type and a rectifying member (10) connected in anti-parallel therewith, an alternating voltage phase line (12) being connected to a midpoint (11), denominated phase output, of the series connection between two current valves while dividing the series connection into two equal parts. According to the invention, the converter is provided with means for limitation of the voltage derivatives in relation to ground in the phase output (11), said means comprising one or several capacitive members (20, 22, 23, 24, 36, 37, 38), through which the phase output (11) is connected to ground, said capacitive member/members (20, 22, 23, 24, 36, 37, 38) being designed with a capacitance that is adapted for preventing undesiredly large voltage derivatives in relation to ground in the phase output (11). The invention also relates to a plant for transmitting electric power through a direct voltage network for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) comprising such a VSC-converter.

Claims

1. A VSC-converter for converting high-voltage direct voltage into alternating voltage and vice versa, which comprises a series connection of at least two current valves (2, 3) arranged between two poles (4, 5), a positive and a negative, of a direct voltage side of the converter, each of which current valves comprising a semiconductor element (9) of turn-off type and a rectifying member (10) connected in anti-parallel therewith, an alternating voltage phase link;

(12) being connected to a midpoint (11), denominated phase output, of the series connection between two current valves while dividing the series connection into two equal parts, characterized in that the converter is provided with means for limitation of the voltage derivatives in relation to ground in the phase output (11), said means comprising one or several capacitive members (20, 22, 23, 24, 36, 37, 38), through which the phase output (11) is connected to ground, said capacitive member/members (20, 22, 23, 24, 36, 37, 38) being designed with a capacitance that is adapted for preventing undesiredly large voltage derivatives in relation to ground in the phase output (11).

2. A VSC-converter according to claim 1, the converter having a casing (21) of conductive material, preferably of metal, which is connected to ground, characterized in that said capacitive member/members (20, 22, 23, 24, 36, 37, 38) is/are connected between the phase output (11) and the casing (21).

3. A VSC-converter according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of said capacitive members is a low-induction capacitor (23), which is connected directly between the phase output (11) and the casing (21).

4. A VSC-converter according to claim 2 or 3, the alternating voltage phase line (12) being arranged to extend through the casing (21) via a lead-through (14) arranged in the casing, characterized in that the lead-through (14) constitutes one of said capacitive members (24).

5. A VSC-converter according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the converter comprises a resonance circuit for recharging said capacitive member/members (36;

37, 38).

6. A VSC-converter according to claim 5, the converter having a series connection of at least two intermediate link capacitors (6, 7) on its direct voltage side between said poles (4, 5), characterized in that the resonance circuit is an ARCP-circuit (ARCP=Auxiliary Resonant Commutation Pole).

7. A VSC-converter according to claim 6, characterized in that the ARCP-circuit comprises an auxiliary valve (30) comprising at least one set of two series connected auxiliary valve circuits (31, 32), each of which comprising a semiconductor component (33) of turn-off type and a rectifying component (34) connected in anti-parallel therewith, the semiconductor components (33) of turn-off type of the two auxiliary valve circuits being arranged in opposite polarity in relation to each other, and that the ARCP-circuit further comprises an inductor (35) connected in series with said auxiliary valve ( ).

8. A VSC-converter according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of said capacitive members is a capacitor (36) that is connected in parallel with the series connection of auxiliary valve (30) and inductor (35) included in the ARCP-circuit.

9. A VSC-converter according to any of claims 7-8, characterized in that at least some of said capacitive members are capacitors (37, 38) that are connected in series with the series connection of auxiliary valve (30) and inductor (35) included in the ARCP-circuit and in parallel with a respective current valve (2, 3).

10. A VSC-converter according to any of the preceding claims, the converter having a series connection of at least two intermediate link capacitors (6, 7) on its direct voltage side between said poles (4, 5), characterized in that at least one of said capacitive members is a capacitor (20) that is connected between the phase output (11) and the midpoint (8) of said series connection of intermediate link capacitors (6, 7), the midpoint (8) of said series connection of intermediate link capacitors (6, 7) being connected to ground.

11. A VSC-converter according to any of claims 1-9, the converter having a series connection of at least two intermediate link capacitors (6, 7) on its direct voltage side between said poles (4, 5), characterized in that at least one of said capacitive members is a capacitor (22) that is connected between the midpoint (8) of said series connection of intermediate link capacitors (6, 7) and ground.

12. A VSC-converter according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the converter is controlled with PWM-technique.

13. A VSC-converter according to claim 12, characterized in that the resonance circuit and said capacitive member/members are adapted in such a way that the recharge time for said capacitive member/members corresponds to 1-10% of the PWM-period and preferably 1-5% of the PWM-period.

14. A plant for transmitting electric power through a direct voltage network for high-voltage direct current (HVDC), characterized in that the plant comprises a VSC-converter according to any of claims 1-13 for converting the electric power from the direct voltage network to an alternating voltage network, one (4) of the poles of the converter being connected to a first direct voltage cable included in the direct voltage network and the other pole (5) of the converter being connected to a second direct voltage cable included in the direct voltage network.