Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling a plurality of converter cells in a phase arm of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) in accordance with a main reference. The method includes dividing the main reference into a plurality of reference parts, and, by using a grouping of the plurality of converter cells into a plurality of groups, operating a plurality of modulators in parallel, each modulator controlling a respective one of the groups of converter cells in accordance with one of the reference parts. A phase arm controlled in accordance with such a method is also provided, as well as an MMC including at least one such phase arm, and a converter station including at least one such MMC.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method for controlling operation of a cell arranged in an arm of a voltage source converter, said arm being associated with a current phase in said voltage source converter. The cell may be a half-bridge or full-bridge cell. The method may comprise: upon detection of a predetermined fault type in the cell, depending on an average current in said arm during one period of fundamental frequency and on an operation mode of the voltage source converter, injecting a pre-defined circulating current into said arm; detecting a time period during which the arm current is in a negative arm current direction corresponding to a direction when arm current flows via a diode of a switch connected in parallel to a bypass switch, and controlling the bypass switch such that it closes within said time period. A control unit and voltage source converter are also provided.

Abstract: An energy supporting device for a high voltage direct current, HVDC, transmission system includes an energy supporting device for providing grid forming and/or virtual synchronous machine, VSM, capabilities to the HVDC transmission system. The energy supporting device comprises a plurality of cells configured to be connected to the HVDC transmission system, and a cell includes a full-bridge arrangement of power switches, an energy storage device electrically connected to the full-bridge arrangement, a resistor electrically connected between the plurality of cells and an electrical reference potential, and a bypass switch configured to allow the resistor to be bypassed. The energy supporting device is configured to be operated in a dissipation mode, in which the bypass switch is in an open state for allowing the resistor to dissipate electrical energy from the HVDC transmission system, and in which the energy storage devices of the plurality of cells are bypassed.

Abstract: An energy supporting device for a high voltage direct current, HVDC, transmission system is provided. The HVDC transmission system includes a first HVDC converter and a second HVDC converter connected to each other via an HVDC link. The energy supporting device comprises a plurality of cells configured to be connected in series to the HVDC link, a resistor electrically connected between the plurality of cells and an electrical reference potential, and a bypass switch configured to allow the resistor to be bypassed. A cell includes a full-bridge arrangement of power switches and an energy storage device electrically connected to the full-bridge arrangement.

Abstract: An energy supporting device for a high voltage direct current, HVDC, transmission system is provided. The HVDC transmission system includes a first HVDC converter and a second HVDC converter connected to each other via an HVDC link. The energy supporting device comprises a plurality of cells configured to be connected in series to the HVDC link, a resistor electrically connected between the plurality of cells and an electrical reference potential, and a bypass switch configured to allow the resistor to be bypassed. A cell includes a full-bridge arrangement of power switches and an energy storage device electrically connected to the full-bridge arrangement.

Abstract: A module (100) is specified, the module (100) comprising a first module connection (108), a second module connection (109), an energy store (105), a first electrical switch (101) and a second electrical switch (102), wherein a switchable bypass device (1) is arranged between the first module connection (108) and the second module connection (109) and wherein the switchable bypass device (1) is configured to remain in a bidirectional current conducting state in response to a single trigger pulse.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling a plurality of converter cells in a phase arm of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) in accordance with a main reference. The method includes dividing the main reference into a plurality of reference parts, and, by using a grouping of the plurality of converter cells into a plurality of groups, operating a plurality of modulators in parallel, each modulator controlling a respective one of the groups of converter cells in accordance with one of the reference parts. A phase arm controlled in accordance with such a method is also provided, as well as an MMC including at least one such phase arm, and a converter station including at least one such MMC.

Abstract: A first converter station is part of a high voltage direct current transmission system that includes a DC transmission link connected to the first converter station a second converter station. A DC current and a DC voltage of the DC transmission link are sensed by the first converter station. It is determined that the sensed DC current is equal to or larger than a threshold current value, that the sensed DC current is equal to or larger than the threshold current value, and that at least a partial recovery of the sensed DC voltage has occurred. On the basis that it is determined that the at least a partial recovery of the sensed DC voltage has occurred, it is determined that a phase-to-ground fault has occurred. In response to determining that a phase-to-ground fault has occurred, a power delivered by the first converter station can be reduced.

Abstract: A neutral arrangement is provided for a converter station of a direct current power transmission system that includes a first converter. The neutral arrangement includes surge arrestors and a group of neutral buses. Each surge arrestor is connected between a neutral bus and ground. The neutral arrangement includes a high voltage insulation zoom area having a first group of surge arrestors and a low voltage insulation zoom area having a second group of surge arrestors. The surge arrestors in the first group have a first arrestor reference voltage and the surge arrestors in the second group have a second arrestor reference voltage that is lower than the first arrestor reference voltage.

Abstract: Methods of energizing converters, and converter stations thereof, based on a mix of half-bridge (HB) converter cells and full-bridge (FB) converter cells are provided. According to one embodiment, a method for energizing a converter may include establishing a direct electrical connection between DC terminals of a converter, electrically connecting the converter to an AC power source via AC connectors and obtaining, from the AC power source and for a certain period of time, an AC voltage between two electrical phase lines for charging capacitors of the FB cells connected to the two electrical phase lines. Accordingly, the FB cells will be charged to a higher value and they may be controlled for charging capacitors of the HB submodules to at least a minimum voltage required to start switching devices of the HB submodules by drawing power from the AC power source.

Abstract: A first voltage source converter and converter station including such a first voltage source converter, as well as a method and computer program product for controlling the first voltage source converter are disclosed. The first voltage source converter has a DC side for connection to a DC system, has an AC side for connection to an AC system and is interconnected with an AC side of a second voltage source converter, which has a DC side connected to the DC system. The first voltage source converter includes a number of converter valve pairs, each being connected to a corresponding AC phase of the AC system and a control unit controlling the converter valves to generate at least one AC waveform and to reduce oscillations between the converters.

Abstract: A first converter station is part of a high voltage direct current transmission system that includes a DC transmission link connected to the first converter station a second converter station. A DC current and a DC voltage of the DC transmission link are sensed by the first converter station. It is determined that the sensed DC current is equal to or larger than a threshold current value, that the sensed DC current is equal to or larger than the threshold current value, and that at least a partial recovery of the sensed DC voltage has occurred. On the basis that it is determined that the at least a partial recovery of the sensed DC voltage has occurred, it is determined that a phase-to-ground fault has occurred. In response to determining that a phase-to-ground fault has occurred, a power delivered by the first converter station can be reduced.

Abstract: A neutral arrangement is provided for a converter station of a direct current power transmission system that includes a first converter. The neutral arrangement includes surge arrestors and a group of neutral buses. Each surge arrestor is connected between a neutral bus and ground. The neutral arrangement includes a high voltage insulation zoom area having a first group of surge arrestors and a low voltage insulation zoom area having a second group of surge arrestors. The surge arrestors in the first group have a first arrestor reference voltage and the surge arrestors in the second group have a second arrestor reference voltage that is lower than the first arrestor reference voltage.

Abstract: Methods of energizing converters, and converter stations thereof, based on a mix of half-bridge (HB) converter cells and full-bridge (FB) converter cells are provided. According to one embodiment, a method for energizing a converter may include establishing a direct electrical connection between DC terminals of a converter, electrically connecting the converter to an AC power source via AC connectors and obtaining, from the AC power source and for a certain period of time, an AC voltage between two electrical phase lines for charging capacitors of the FB cells connected to the two electrical phase lines. Accordingly, the FB cells will be charged to a higher value and they may be controlled for charging capacitors of the HB submodules to at least a minimum voltage required to start switching devices of the HB submodules by drawing power from the AC power source.

Abstract: A first voltage source converter and converter station including such a first voltage source converter, as well as a method and computer program product for controlling the first voltage source converter are disclosed. The first voltage source converter has a DC side for connection to a DC system, has an AC side for connection to an AC system and is interconnected with an AC side of a second voltage source converter, which has a DC side connected to the DC system. The first voltage source converter includes a number of converter valve pairs, each being connected to a corresponding AC phase of the AC system and a control unit controlling the converter valves to generate at least one AC waveform and to reduce oscillations between the converters.

Abstract: A control unit rod interface arrangement couples between AC and DC power systems. The interface includes at least two poles for coupling between the DC and AC power systems. Each of the poles includes a converter for conversion between AC and DC power. If a fault has occurred in one of the poles, a transient current, or fault current, may flow through a neutral bus line connected to the pole, the pole's converter and the location of the fault in the pole. Such a transient or fault current should preferably be damped out as quickly as possible, after which the pole may be electrically isolated from the other components of the interface arrangement.

Abstract: A control unit rod interface arrangement couples between AC and DC power systems. The interface includes at least two poles for coupling between the DC and AC power systems. Each of the poles includes a converter for conversion between AC and DC power. If a fault has occurred in one of the poles, a transient current, or fault current, may flow through a neutral bus line connected to the pole, the pole's converter and the location of the fault in the pole. Such a transient or fault current should preferably be damped out as quickly as possible, after which the pole may be electrically isolated from the other components of the interface arrangement.

Abstract: An arrangement, method and computer program product are provided for limiting circulating currents in a converter converting between AC and DC. The converter has a number of AC and DC terminals and includes a number of converter arms, where a first and a second converter arm are connected in parallel between a first DC terminal and a first AC terminal. Each converter arm includes a string of series-connected converter cells. The arrangement includes a control unit that obtains a current of the first converter arm and a current of the second converter arm, forms an average of the two converter arm currents, forms a first and a second voltage control signal based on the average and uses the first and second voltage control signal in the control of the voltage provided by the first and second converter arm.

Abstract: An arrangement, method and computer program product are provided for limiting circulating currents in a converter converting between AC and DC. The converter has a number of AC and DC terminals and includes a number of converter arms, where a first and a second converter arm are connected in parallel between a first DC terminal and a first AC terminal. Each converter arm includes a string of series-connected converter cells. The arrangement includes a control unit that obtains a current of the first converter arm and a current of the second converter arm, forms an average of the two converter arm currents, forms a first and a second voltage control signal based on the average and uses the first and second voltage control signal in the control of the voltage provided by the first and second converter arm.

Abstract: A method for controlling a first and a second reverse-conducting insulated gate bipolar transistor (RC-IGBT), electrically connected in series, is disclosed. A collector of the first RC-IGBT is electrically connected to a positive pole of a direct current voltage source, and an emitter of the second RC-IGBT is electrically connected to a negative pole of the DC voltage source. Further, an emitter of the first RC-IGBT is electrically connected to a collector of the second RC-IGBT to form an alternating current terminal. A gate voltage is applied to respective gates of the first and second RC-IGBTs, wherein the gate voltage is controlled based on a magnitude and a direction of an output current on the AC terminal and on a command signal alternating between a first and a second value.