Plant for transmitting electric power to remote facilities which have an electric motor load

• US 5,901,053 A
• Filed: 10/09/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Lindberg, Johan, Eriksson, Kjell
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/948,082
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 363/34, 363/35, 363/37, 363/40, 363/41
• US Class Current: 363/35
• 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 plant for transmitting electric power comprises a direct voltage network for High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and at least one alternating voltage network connected thereto through a first station. The station transmits electric power between the direct voltage network and the alternating voltage network and comprises at least one VSC converter. The VSC converter converts direct voltage into alternating voltage and, conversely, alternating voltage to direct voltage. The alternating voltage network is a weak alternating voltage network, or a network without any generation of its own, and a large part of a load connected to the alternating voltage network consists of one or more electric motors.

Claims

1. A plant for transmitting electric power to a remote location comprising:

a direct voltage network for High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC);

a weak alternating voltage network;

a power station having a VSC converter for connecting said weak alternating voltage network to said direct voltage network at a distance along said high voltage network remote from any other alternating voltage network, said VSC converter converting direct voltage from said direct voltage network to an alternating voltage, and converting alternating voltage from said weak alternating voltage network to direct voltage; and

a load connected to said weak alternating voltage network a substantial portion of which is provided by one or more electric motors.

2. The plant according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second alternating voltage network which generates power; and

a second station connecting said alternating voltage network to said direct voltage network, said station including a VSC Converter for converting direct voltage to an alternating voltage, and for converting direct voltage to an alternating voltage.

3. The plant according to claim 1 wherein said station includes means to supply power from said direct voltage network to a parallel load.

4. The plant according to claim 3 further comprising means for disconnecting said parallel load from receiving power from said direct voltage network when said motor is starting.

5. The plant according to claim 3 wherein said means is a second VSC voltage converter to independently supply alternating voltage from said direct voltage network to said parallel load.

6. The plant according to claim 5 wherein said motor is an asynchronous motor connected to said alternating voltage network.

7. The plant according to claim 1 wherein said VSC voltage converter includes an apparatus for controlling reactive power orders said converter to act as an SVC.