Control, Fault Ride-through, Protection and Stability of HVDC Converters and Systems

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to anounce the launch of a new Special Issue on the timely topic of “Control, Fault Ride-Through, Protection and Stability of HVDC Converters and Systems”.

In the last two decades, steady advancements in power semiconductor technologies, control and converter topologies for line and self-commutated HVDC systems have led to rapid growth in the numbers and rated powers of the deployed point-to-point and multiterminal HVDC transmission systems worldwide. The line commutated current source converter-based UHVDC transmission systems, rated for DC voltages and powers up to 1100 kV and 12000 MW, are primarily employed as long-distance power highways to bypass congested and weak areas; however, injection of such large powers into an AC grid presents significant stability and protection challenges. By contrast, the global spread in the use of self-commutated voltage source converter-based point-to-point and multiterminal HVDC transmission systems is largely driven by the need to reinforce weak and aging national and transnational power grids and connection of large offshore windfarms. The increased use of these systems in critical power corridors that play pivotal roles in the decarbonisation of electricity grids call for new control and protection methods capable of ensuring system stability during internal and external faults. The emerging trend of hybrid multiterminal HVDC systems that use both voltage and current source converters side-by-side demands a more sophisticated control and protection scheme to ensure safe and control operation under normal and abnormal conditions. 

Fast decarbonisation of power grids, in which conventional power plants with large inertias and controllable active power outputs are being replaced by power electronics interfaced renewable energy generations that depend largely on the availability of wind and solar energies, will pose significant risks to the stability of decarbonised power grids. Low inertias, lack of spinning reserve to quickly nullify active power mismatch between demand and supply and insufficient fault current for correct operation of AC protection and inability to source or sink large active powers in weak and remote parts of the DC grids are examples of the challenges of the highly decarbonised AC grids. The highlighted challenges call for new technologies and power electronics solutions to enable safe and reliable operation of future power systems, with increased integration of renewable power generations at medium and high voltage AC or DC distribution and transmission systems; novel strategies for handling AC and DC faults; and enhanced stability and protection of AC and DC grids and provision of ancillary services from the energy storage systems. This Special Issue aims to foster and document the latest research in HVDC converters and systems and power electronics that address these challenges. Prospective authors are invited to submit original contributions and visionary papers in the above areas. Topics of interest of this Special Issue include but are not limited to:

• Emerging HVDC converter topologies;
• Advances in control of HVDC systems;
• Protection and fault-tolerant operation of HVDC systems;
• Provision of ancillary services from HVDC systems and energy storage systems;
• New control and AC and DC fault ride-through methods and protection strategies for safe and reliable operation of point-to-point and multiterminal HVDC transmission systems for offshore wind power plants;
• Novel AC and DC side energisation methods for point-to-point and multiterminal HVDC systems;
• New control, and AC and DC fault handling in hybrid multiterminal HVDC grids;
• New emerging control strategies of grid-forming HVDC converters;
• Stability and interaction assessments between offshore converter and multitudes of wind-turbine-generators of the windfarm, and between co-located HVDC converters.

Dr. Grain Philip Adam
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• HVDC converter topologies
• Control systems
• Fault protection
• Ancillary services
• Offshore wind power plants
• AC and DC side energisation
• Hybrid multiterminal HVDC grids
• Grid forming HVDC converters
• Stability and interaction assessments