Abstract: There is provided a method of configuring a closed-loop control system, the control system comprising a controller and a plant, the controller configured to provide an actuator signal to the plant, the controller configured to receive a reference signal (r) and a feedback signal (y), the feedback signal (y) derived from a state (x) of the plant, wherein a first state space representation of the control system includes at least one system delay, the method comprising the steps of: transforming the first state space representation of the control system into a second, augmented state space representation of the control system; configuring a control law (uT) based on the augmented state space representation of the control system, wherein the control law (uT) is configured to include at least one control term configured to compensate for at least one disturbance (d) to the control system, wherein the control law (uT) is configured to include a time-advanced or predicted reference signal (r) configured so that the

Abstract: Embodiments for a voltage source converter are disclosed.

Abstract: A power transmission network is disclosed, which includes an AC electrical network connected to a point of common coupling, the point of common coupling being connectable to a further electrical device; and a processing circuit configured to receive and process a voltage of the point of common coupling to determine a phase difference between the voltages of the AC electrical network and the point of common coupling during an exchange of power between the AC electrical network and the point of common coupling.

Abstract: A voltage source converter includes DC terminals, a plurality of single-phase limbs, and a controller. Each single-phase limb includes a phase element and switching elements. Each limb is connected between the DC terminals and is controllable to generate an AC voltage at the AC side of the corresponding phase element so as to draw a respective phase current from a multi-phase AC electrical network. The controller is configured to selectively generate a modified AC voltage demand for at least one limb in response to an imbalance in the phase currents and/or a change in electrical rating of at least one limb. The controller is configured to selectively control, in accordance with the or the respective modified AC voltage demand, the or each corresponding limb independently of the or each other limb to modify the voltage at the AC side of its phase element and thereby modify the corresponding phase current.

Abstract: In the field of high voltage direct current power transmission networks, a voltage source converter comprises first and second DC terminals for connection to a DC electrical network, and a plurality of single-phase limbs. Each single-phase limb includes a phase element, and each phase element includes at least one switching element configured to interconnect a DC voltage and an AC voltage. An AC side of each phase element is connectable to a respective phase of a multi-phase AC electrical network, and each single-phase limb is connected between the first and second DC terminals. The voltage source converter further comprises a controller configured to determine independently of one another an amount of active power (Pref) that the voltage source converter should exchange with the AC electrical network and an amount of reactive power (Qref) that the voltage source converter should exchange with the AC electrical network.

Abstract: In the field of high voltage direct current power transmission networks, a method of controlling a converter that includes at least one converter limb which corresponds to a respective phase of the converter, is described. The method includes obtaining a respective AC current demand phase waveform for each converter limb which the corresponding converter limb is required to track, and a DC current demand which each converter limb is also required to track. The method further determining a limb portion current for each limb portion that the limb portion must contribute to track the corresponding required AC current demand phase waveform and the required DC current demand, and providing a limb portion voltage source for each limb portion to achieve the corresponding limb portion current. The method carrying out mathematical optimization to determine one or more optimal limb portion currents and/or provide optimal limb portion voltage sources.

Abstract: A method of controlling a converter including DC terminals for connection to a DC network, the converter including a limb between the DC terminals, each limb including a phase element having switching elements and a AC terminal for connection to an AC network, the switching elements being configured to switch interconnecting a DC and AC side voltage; a sub-converter connected in series with the DC side of an electrical block and controllably become a first voltage source; and a sub-converter connected in parallel with the block, configured to controllably become a second voltage source. The method includes obtaining a DC side voltage and converter demand which the corresponding limb and converter track; determining a sub-converter voltage that each sub-converter must contribute to track the corresponding required DC side and converter voltage; controlling each sub-converter to achieve the corresponding determined voltage; and determining one or more optimal sub-converter voltages.

Abstract: A method of controlling a voltage source converter including a converter limb corresponding to a respective phase of the converter, each converter limb extending between first and second DC terminals and including first and second limb portions separated by an AC terminal and each limb portion including a chain-link converter which is operable to provide a stepped variable voltage source, includes the steps of obtaining a AC current demand phase waveform and a DC current demand for each corresponding converter limb is configured to track, and carrying out mathematical optimization to determine an optimal limb portion current for each limb portion must contribute to track the corresponding required AC current demand phase waveform and the required DC current demand while minimising current conduction losses within each limb portion and additionally managing the energy stored by each chain-link converter.

Abstract: Described is an electrical machine, including: a rotor having a magnetic flux source mounted thereto; a stator winding arrangement having a first set of electrical connections to provide a first output channel, and a second set of electrical connections to provide a second output channel, the first and second channels being electrically out of phase, wherein the stator winding arrangement is constructed from a plurality of winding portions which are connected in electrical series.

Abstract: One circuit includes first and second primary terminals for connection to first and second power transmission lines and a current transmission path extending between the primary terminals and having current transmission path portions separated by a third primary terminal. A first current transmission path portion includes at least one primary switching element connected in series between the first and third primary terminals, the second current transmission path portion includes an energy conversion block connected between the second and third primary terminals, and the energy conversion block includes at least one primary energy conversion element for removing energy from the power transmission lines. The control circuit further includes a converter limb connected across the second and third primary terminals that includes an auxiliary converter. The control circuit further includes a control unit which controls the auxiliary converter to selectively provide a voltage source.

Abstract: A voltage source converter for interconnecting first and second electrical networks, including first and second terminals for connection to the first electrical network, and a primary converter limb extending between the first and second terminals including first and second primary limb portions separated by a third terminal connectable to the second electrical network. The converter further including a second chain-link converter connected to the third terminal and a control unit configured to selectively operate one or more chain-link modules to generate a discontinuous pulse width modulation voltage waveform. The converter further including a controller configured to selectively operate each chain-link converter to control the configuration of a discontinuous pulse width modulation voltage waveform at the third terminal.

Abstract: A voltage source converter includes at least one limb connected between DC terminals, the or each limb including: a phase element including switching elements to interconnect a DC electrical network and an AC electrical network; an auxiliary sub-converter configured to be controllable to act as a waveform synthesizer to modify a first DC voltage presented to the DC electrical network; and a tertiary sub-converter connected in parallel with the electrical block and controllable to act as a waveform synthesizer to modify a second DC voltage presented to a DC side of the phase element, the tertiary sub-converter (39) including at least one energy storage device. The voltage source converter includes a controller configured to selectively control the or each tertiary sub-converter to synthesize at least one tertiary voltage component so as to transfer energy to or from that tertiary sub-converter and thereby regulate an energy level of that tertiary sub-converter.

Abstract: A voltage source converter comprises first and second DC terminals for connection to a DC network, and at least one limb connected between the first and second DC terminals. The or each limb includes: a phase element including two parallel-connected sets of series-connected switching elements connected in an H-bridge to define first and second diagonal switching pairs, a respective junction between each set of series-connected switching elements defining an AC terminal for connection to an AC network; and a sub-converter configured to be controllable to act as a voltage waveform synthesizer. The voltage source converter further includes a controller to operate the sub-converter to selectively synthesize a driving commutation voltage to modify a DC side current at a DC side of the H-bridge to minimize any differences in magnitude and direction between the DC side current and an AC side current at an AC side of the H-bridge.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a converter including at least one converter limb corresponding to a respective phase of the converter, the or each converter limb extending between first and second DC terminals and including first and second limb portions separated by an AC terminal, each limb portion including a converter arm, at least one of the limb portions including at least one director arm, the or each director arm including a director switch. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a respective AC current demand phase waveform for the or each converter limb, and a DC current demand, both of which the or each converter limb is required to track; determining a limb portion current; timing the current ramp profile of the determined director arm current for the director arm or the one of the director arms; and providing a limb portion voltage source for each limb portion.

Abstract: A power transmission network is disclosed, which includes an AC electrical network connected to a point of common coupling, the point of common coupling being connectable to a further electrical device; and a processing circuit configured to receive and process a voltage of the point of common coupling to determine a phase difference between the voltages of the AC electrical network and the point of common coupling during an exchange of power between the AC electrical network and the point of common coupling.

Abstract: A voltage source converter comprises first and second DC terminals for connection to a DC network, and at least one limb connected between the first and second DC terminals. The or each limb includes: a phase element including two parallel-connected sets of series-connected switching elements connected in an H-bridge to define first and second diagonal switching pairs, a respective junction between each set of series-connected switching elements defining an AC terminal for connection to an AC network; and a sub-converter configured to be controllable to act as a voltage waveform synthesizer. The voltage source converter further includes a controller to operate the sub-converter to selectively synthesize a driving commutation voltage to modify a DC side current at a DC side of the H-bridge to minimize any differences in magnitude and direction between the DC side current and an AC side current at an AC side of the H-bridge.

Abstract: In the field of high voltage direct current power transmission networks, a voltage source converter comprises first and second DC terminals for connection to a DC electrical network, and a plurality of single-phase limbs. Each single-phase limb includes a phase element, and each phase element includes at least one switching element configured to interconnect a DC voltage and an AC voltage. An AC side of each phase element is connectable to a respective phase of a multi-phase AC electrical network, and each single-phase limb is connected between the first and second DC terminals. The voltage source converter further comprises a controller configured to determine independently of one another an amount of active power (Pref ) that the voltage source converter should exchange with the AC electrical network and an amount of reactive power (Qref) that the voltage source converter should exchange with the AC electrical network.

Abstract: A voltage source converter for interconnecting first and second electrical networks, including first and second terminals for connection to the first electrical network, and a primary converter limb extending between the first and second terminals including first and second primary limb portions separated by a third terminal connectable to the second electrical network. The converter further including a second chain-link converter connected to the third terminal and a control unit configured to selectively operate one or more chain-link modules to generate a discontinuous pulse width modulation voltage waveform. The converter further including a controller configured to selectively operate each chain-link converter to control the configuration of a discontinuous pulse width modulation voltage waveform at the third terminal.

Abstract: In the field of high voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission, a converter comprises three converter limbs, each corresponding to a respective phase of the converter, each extending between first and second DC terminals and each including first and second limb portions separated by an AC terminal. Each limb portion that is operable to provide a stepped variable voltage source. The converter also includes a first controller that is programmed to selectively operate for one converter limb at a time the chain-link converter in each limb portion thereof to simultaneously adopt a current-conducting configuration and thereby define a fully-conducting converter limb to sequentially route via each said fully-conducting converter limb a DC current demand (IDC) between the first and second DC terminals.

Abstract: In the field of high voltage direct current power transmission networks, a method of controlling a converter that includes at least one converter limb which corresponds to a respective phase of the converter, is described. The method includes obtaining a respective AC current demand phase waveform for each converter limb which the corresponding converter limb is required to track, and a DC current demand which each converter limb is also required to track. The method further determining a limb portion current for each limb portion that the limb portion must contribute to track the corresponding required AC current demand phase waveform and the required DC current demand, and providing a limb portion voltage source for each limb portion to achieve the corresponding limb portion current. The method carrying out mathematical optimization to determine one or more optimal limb portion currents and/or provide optimal limb portion voltage sources.