Converter Station

• US 20090201702A1
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Power Grids Switzerland AG (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology Limited (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Juhlin, Lars-Erik, Radbrant, Ulf
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/35
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/05 with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements for logic circuits H03K19/003
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/26 Sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, e.g. for disconnecting a section on which a short-circuit, earth fault, or arc discharge has occured locating faults in cables G01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/36 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks via a high-tension dc link
• 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

A converter station for connecting an AC system to a bipolar HVDC transmission line. A DC neutral arrangement includes first DC breakers enabling breaking of a first current path from the neutral bus of one pole to the neutral bus of the other pole at bipolar operation of the station for changing to monopolar operation thereof for isolation of a faulty section of the system while establishing a current path to electrode line connecting members for diverting the current from the one pole thereto. A separate connecting member is provided for each of the electrode lines. A connector is configured to connect each neutral bus to an optional of the two electrode line connecting members.

Claims

1. A converter station for connecting an AC system to a bipolar HVDC transmission line, said converter station comprising:

two converters each having a DC-side thereof connected to a respective one of two poles of said transmission line on high potential and to a neutral bus for that pole of a DC neutral arrangement in common to the converters on zero potential by being earthed, and having an AC-side connected to said AC system,

said DC neutral arrangement having a member connecting to two electrode lines and the arrangement being provided with first DC breakers enabling breaking of a first current path from the neutral bus of one pole to the neutral bus of the other pole at bipolar operation of the station for changing to monopolar operation thereof,

a control device adapted to control a said changing from bipolar to monopolar operation by controlling a first DC breaker to open said current path between said two neutral buses and establish a current path to said electrode line connecting member for diverting the current from said one pole thereto,

wherein said neutral arrangement is provided with a separate said connecting member for each of said electrode lines and a connector configured to connect each neutral bus to an optional of said two electrode line connecting members.

2. The converter station according to claim 1, wherein said connector comprises for each said neutral bus in a first line separate from said first current path including said first DC breaker and connecting that bus to one of the electrode line connecting members associated with that bus at least one disconnector and/or DC breaker and in a second line interconnecting said two first lines closer to the respective bus than the location of said at least one disconnector and/or breaker at least one disconnector and DC breaker.

3. The converter station according to claim 2, wherein said interconnecting second line comprises a DC breaker connected in series with a disconnector on/each side thereof.

4. The converter station according to claim 2, wherein said connector comprises for each first line connecting a neutral bus to one of said electrode line connecting members a series connection of a DC breaker and a disconnector closer to the neutral bus in question than the point of connection of said interconnecting second line to this first line.

5. The converter station according to claim 1, wherein said DC neutral arrangement comprises an additional second DC breaker connected in series with said first DC breaker in said first current path between said two neutral buses for bipolar operation of the station.

6. The converter station according to claim 5, wherein a midpoint between said first and second DC breaker in said first current path is by a first disconnector connected to a midpoint of a line interconnecting said two poles of the HVDC transmission line, said first disconnector being adapted to be open at bi-polar operation of the station, wherein the line interconnecting said two poles is provided with a disconnector at both sides of said midpoint, and wherein said control device is adapted to control said first disconnector to close and a disconnector connecting to one of the poles to close for metallic return of the current from the other pole at monopolar operation of the station after trip of said one pole.

7. The A converter station according to claim 5, further comprising:

a grounding switch connected to said first current path between the two neutral buses at a point between said first DC breaker and said additional second DC breaker.

8. The converter station according to claim 4, said control device is adapted to control said DC breakers and disconnectors in each said first line and said interconnecting second line to close and establish a second current path between the two neutral buses through said first lines and said interconnecting second line for enabling maintenance of equipment, in said first current path at bipolar operation of the station.

9. The converter station according to claim 1, wherein the converter station is adapted for connecting an AC system to a bipolar HVDC transmission line adapted to have a voltage between each pole thereof and earth exceeding 200 kV.