Multi-Terminal HVDC offshore networks: latest European experience in circuit breaker technology

#Multi-terminal #HVDC #offshore #wind

The transmission of a growing amount of renewable energy resources, offshore wind in particular, can be implemented effectively and efficiently by multi-terminal HVDC transmission grids. Protection of these grids will require the interruption of DC fault currents. Traditional AC circuit breakers require current zero crossings to interrupt fault currents. The absence of this periodic current zero in DC systems has led to the development of DC circuit breakers, and entirely different approach towards interrupting DC short-circuit currents. This presentation will explain the basic operating principles of HVDC circuit breakers and different ways of implementing them in HVDC grids. Based on that, the testing challenges along with a description of a sample test circuit capable of performing all relevant electrical stresses in a one-circuit one-shot test will be presented. Finally, laboratory test results of three different types of HVDC circuit breakers will be presented and discussed. The presented information is a result of the work done in an EU-funded project (Progress On Meshed Offshore HVDC Transmission Networks or PROMOTioN for short - www.promotion-offshore.net) and coordinated by DNV GL as a partner.