FCL/B: An Integrated VSC-HVDC Fault Current Limiter/Breaker
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
Multi-terminal DC networks and meshed DC grids have been advocated by transmission utilities, industry and academe, as a potentially more cost effective means of integrating offshore renewable energy than point-to-point links. National Grid's Electricity Ten Year Statements and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity's Ten Year Network Development Plan as well as studies by The North Seas Countries' Offshore Grid Initiative all support this view.
To realize such HVDC networks, DC circuit breakers are necessary to isolate faulted DC sections. The unacceptable alternative would be to temporarily de-energise the whole DC network to then allow isolation of the faulted section. This is unacceptable because the resulting simultaneous loss of supply to the AC system would radically exceed onshore network design limits and would lead at least to severe disruption among consumers. For larger DC grids and power loss it would even cause widespread black-outs.
ABBs proactive HVDC circuit breaker comes close to the required efficiency and operational speed and indeed provides a solution for some cases. However it is fairly large, especially when the series 100mH inductor it requires to operate is considered. It is also appears to be targeted at a 5ms operating time, and commentators have indicated the need for protection against frequent faster events. The fastest such events have a rate of rise of current that requires breaking action in 2ms. A faster, smaller, cheaper solution is therefore still needed to enable offshore location of circuit breakers to allow offshore wind park integration.
This project will investigate novel designs integrating the circuit breaker with fault current limiter technology, which may thus be capable of achieving these size, speed and cost transformative targets.
To realize such HVDC networks, DC circuit breakers are necessary to isolate faulted DC sections. The unacceptable alternative would be to temporarily de-energise the whole DC network to then allow isolation of the faulted section. This is unacceptable because the resulting simultaneous loss of supply to the AC system would radically exceed onshore network design limits and would lead at least to severe disruption among consumers. For larger DC grids and power loss it would even cause widespread black-outs.
ABBs proactive HVDC circuit breaker comes close to the required efficiency and operational speed and indeed provides a solution for some cases. However it is fairly large, especially when the series 100mH inductor it requires to operate is considered. It is also appears to be targeted at a 5ms operating time, and commentators have indicated the need for protection against frequent faster events. The fastest such events have a rate of rise of current that requires breaking action in 2ms. A faster, smaller, cheaper solution is therefore still needed to enable offshore location of circuit breakers to allow offshore wind park integration.
This project will investigate novel designs integrating the circuit breaker with fault current limiter technology, which may thus be capable of achieving these size, speed and cost transformative targets.
Planned Impact
The principle impact of this project will be the thorough assessment of the capabilities and multi-physics limits of superconducting Fault Current Limiters and HVDC Circuit Breakers for VSC-HVDC systems. DC circuit breakers form a bottleneck in the development of HVDC offshore grids, and if suitable devices are not available, the construction of large integrated DC grids will not be possible and more expensive solutions will be required. This project's research will thus majorly shape the development of DC offshore networks. The research will accordingly influence investment decisions in future networks by transmission utilities and design decisions by manufacturers, as well as influencing grid code development and system regulation decisions.
The project is also expected to generate IP in the form of new DC circuit breaker/fault current limiter component inventions and designs. This will be protected and developed through the intellectual property management arm of the University of Manchester (UMIP) either in the form of licensing, or should sufficient novelty arise, as potentially a spin-out company in partnership with project sponsors.
The potential expenditure on offshore VSC-HVDC networks is up to £30billion in just the UK, and just in the foreseeable future. Savings of up to one third (Peter Jones, ABB) are possible for getting the system 'designed right.' Making the right network design decisions is important - this proposal aims to ensure that the appropriate research as regards DC protection is available to inform such decisions.
The project is also expected to generate IP in the form of new DC circuit breaker/fault current limiter component inventions and designs. This will be protected and developed through the intellectual property management arm of the University of Manchester (UMIP) either in the form of licensing, or should sufficient novelty arise, as potentially a spin-out company in partnership with project sponsors.
The potential expenditure on offshore VSC-HVDC networks is up to £30billion in just the UK, and just in the foreseeable future. Savings of up to one third (Peter Jones, ABB) are possible for getting the system 'designed right.' Making the right network design decisions is important - this proposal aims to ensure that the appropriate research as regards DC protection is available to inform such decisions.
Publications

Barnes M
(2020)
HVDC Circuit Breakers-A Review
in IEEE Access

Chang B
(2016)
Impact of Fault Current Limiter on VSC-HVDC DC Protection

Cwikowski O
(2018)
Operating DC Circuit Breakers With MMC
in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery

Cwikowski O
(2018)
Integrated HVDC Circuit Breakers With Current Flow Control Capability
in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery

Cwikowski O
(2018)
Modular Multilevel Converter DC Fault Protection
in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery

D Vilchis-Rodriguez
(2018)
Performance of a high power Thomson Coil actuator excited by a current pulse train



Pei X
(2017)
AC Losses Measurement and Analysis for a 2G YBCO Coil in Metallic Containment Vessels
in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity
Description | Large DC grids are being developed as a solution to integrate large amounts of low-carbon renewable energy into the power network, and to connect to other countries. As such networks develop, DC protection (DC breakers) will be required. This proposal investigates a new category of ultra-fast breaker and its components and use. Extensive new knowledge on innovating faster mechanical breakers, superconducting fault current limiter / breaker designs, powering such systems and their interaction with the remaining HVDC system has been generated. This has resulted in a large amount of papers and considerable interest from allied fields (e.g. marine systems). |
Exploitation Route | Manufacturers of HVDC equipment are all developing DC breaker technology and this first large scale grid requiring such breakers is being constructed in China (Zhangbei). We are in discussion with manufacturers in electrical power networks and marine / aerospace on how to develop our findings further. However in the few years a lack clarity on the development of the UK generation system arisen, meaning plans for large DC grids, and therefore the need for HVDC breakers, have become less urgent. This is changing, albeit slowly. |
Sectors | Energy |
Description | The research in this project received considerable industrial interest including discussion with the manufacturer SciBreak. However since the project was committed to another industrial partner, GE, this did not develop beyond broad initial discussions. Since completion of the project the work has been extended in further discussion with utilities and some initial scoping work for further projects and discussions with organisations like HSE to try and help shape work on standards and policy. However until recently (the multiterminal Zhangbei project Beijing Winter Olympics) HVDC breakers have been less of a priority than expected when this project was conceptualised. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Energy |
Impact Types | Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | GE |
Organisation | Alstom |
Department | Alstom UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Reports and research relevant to company business. |
Collaborator Contribution | Technical advice, engineering time, case studies. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | SSE |
Organisation | Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Research advice on day-to-day and future technical aspects of SSE's business. |
Collaborator Contribution | Engineering time, advice and case studies. |
Impact | None at this point. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | UNSW - Placement |
Organisation | University of New South Wales |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We worked with research team at UNSW to trial out HVDC breaker ideas out on the Real Time Simulator and test interaction with the HVDC converter and the formulation of supervisory control. A PDRA spent 3 months in their labs, and the PI visited UNSW also and was in contact through regular Skype calls. |
Collaborator Contribution | The UNSW team provided technical guidance and access to their world-leading real-time simulation facility. |
Impact | This work was fully report in a journal paper. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Keynote at the IEEE PEDS Conference in Sydney Australia 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote given at conference on research in this project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Presentation to Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation to the Engineering Department at Canterbury. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Presentation to Cigre B4-72 Working group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Description of research to study group on multiterminal grids comprising international academics and industrialists from the UK, Europe, N America, China and Brazil. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Presentation to the University of New South Wales, Australia on research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presentation to research group at UNSW. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | VSC HVDC Newsletter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This is a newsletter which goes to industry, utility, academia and government providing monthly updates on VSC HVDC research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |