This paper deals with the development of an accurate finite-element model of an arrester to investigate the electrothermal and mechanical stress during dc current interruption. The comprehensive analysis performed on a ZnO surge arrester is supported by experiments during high-voltage dc circuit breaker current interruption. The performed experimental analysis comprises three sequential 26 kV/10 kA direct current interruption tests carried out within a period of one hour. The dynamic temperature and current distribution of the surge arrester columns during current interruption are measured. The finite-element simulation results are in good agreement with the test results. The influence of the surge arrester temperature on the current distribution among the surge arrester columns is analyzed. The impact of the surge arrester temperature on ZnO electrical characteristics and mechanical stress inside the surge arrester are also investigated. The surge arrester finite-element model can be used with full success for parameter optimization of the surge arresters to prevent possible failures when dc circuit breakers performed multiple interruptions in short period of time. @en

In order to test protection performance of future multi-terminal HVDC grids where DC circuit breakers (DC CBs) play an important role, a DC CB model in real time test environment should be developed. It is well known that a DC CB needs to interrupt DC faults very quickly in order to avoid converter damages and to ensure security of supply. The total current interruption time consists of a fault detection time, which is needed for the DC protection to provide a trip command to the DC CB, and a DC CB interruption time. Thus, it is necessary to demonstrate the performance of associated protective devices through real time simulations, before these devices can be implemented and commissioned in practice. This paper presents a detailed modeling of the voltage source converter assisted resonant current DC circuit breaker (VARC DC CB) in real time simulation environment based on RTDS. The proposed model provides sufficient representation of the circuit breaker for system level studies. External current-voltage characteristics of the proposed VARC DC CB models replicate the ones of the device in the real world. The proposed model of the breaker is tested in a simple test circuit including a DC voltage source and a T-scheme HVDC cable. Additionally, a case study has been presented by making use of a protection algorithm in a multi-terminal HVDC grid with frequency dependent parameters of the HVDC cables to show both protection performance and current interruption.

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This paper deals with the modeling, hardware results and model validation by measurements of a VSC assisted resonant current (VARC) dc circuit breaker (CB) and the application within a future network by simulation. The newly emerging VARC dc CB can be used as a solution for the protection of offshore multi-terminal HVDC (MTDC) grids. In this paper, the proposed VARC dc CB is modeled in detail in a PSCAD environment, by taking into account dielectric strength of the vacuum gap, high-frequency current quenching ability and parasitic components. The PSCAD-model is then verified by data from the testing of a 27 kV VARC dc CB prototype with maximum current interruption capability of 10 kA. Additionally, the initial transient interruption voltage and current slope at zero-crossing during the interruption are analyzed. With respect to scaling to a higher voltage level, three types of series connected modules are presented and the performances are compared. The performance of the series connected modules is simulated in a model of a 4-terminal HVDC grid. The obtained results validate the VARC dc CB as a promising solution for the dc fault isolation in MTDC grids.

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The objective of this paper is to investigate the coordinative performance of different types of high voltage DC (HVDC) circuit breakers (CBs) in multi-terminal DC (MTDC) grids. Several different HVDC CB technologies are emerging as a solution for the protection of offshore MTDC grids. There is a need for coordinative operation between different types of DC CBs in the same network. In this paper, two typical types of DC CBs are modelled in detail and implemented in a 4terminal MTDC grid in PSCAD environment, by considering operation time, interruption capability and interruption characteristics. Since the requirement of the DC CBs depends on the magnitude of the interrupted current where they are implemented, the fault scenarios in all terminals are studied and the worst scenarios are selected to demonstrate the coordinative performance of different DC CBs. Four cases are defined and demonstrated by two different types of CBs at each terminal of the cable. DC CBs perform differently with the change of the operating time and the locations where they are implemented. The performances and energy absorption are compared and analyzed. The obtained results can be used as DC CB’s selection optimization methodology for future MTDC grids.@en

The main goal of the paper is the modeling of the mechanical circuit breaker (MCB) that can replicate the breaker characteristics in real time environment. The proposed MCB with active current injection is modelled for a system level, which provides adequate representation of the circuit breakers for system analysis studies. External current-voltage characteristics of the proposed MCB models replicate the ones of the devices in the real world. It is well known that the DC circuit breaker (DCCB) needs to interrupt DC faults very quickly in order to avoid converter damages. The total current interruption time consists of fault detection time, time needed for the DC protection to provide command to the DCCB, and DCCB arc clearing time. Thus, it is necessary to demonstrate the system performance of associated protective devices through real time simulation, before these devices can be implemented and commissioned in practice. This paper presents a detailed modeling of the mechanical DCCB in real time simulation environment based on RTDS. The performance of the model is verified by the simulations based on PSCAD and meaningful conclusions are drawn.

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The main goal of the paper is the modelling of the mechanical direct current circuit breaker (DC CB) with active current injection that includes different circuit breaker characteristics. System level models provide adequate representation of the circuit breakers for system analysis studies. The performance characteristics of the DC CB in those proposed models replicate the ones of the devices in practice. The developed mechanical circuit breaker model is realized for a 320 kV demonstration circuit in PSCAD environment and its limitations and robustness are analyzed. The performance of the model is investigated by different cases. The obtained results show that the DC CB model can be used with full success for both to simulate DC fault interruptions and to be used for different protection studies.

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The widely acknowledged high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology has now been accepted as a solution of connecting renewable energy sources. However, this technology is vulnerable when facing DC-side faults; due to the low DC impedance, the fault current can rise to an extremely high value in a short time. In addition, when building a multi-terminal DC (MTDC) system, the fault can make a worse failure or blackout of the system when it is not cleared or isolated in time. The urgent need to ensure reliable mentioned HVDC power system can be realized by making use of DC circuit breaker (DCCB). The vacuum CB, which is one division of active DCCBs, has its own operational limit; it can interrupt fault currents when the di/dt of injected current is lower than a critical value, otherwise the arc may reignite. Therefore, the designing and testing of a DCCB must consider this feature. On the other hand, because of the complex configuration of an MTDC system, one DC-side fault can result in different fault currents at faulty line’s terminals; thus, the DCCB needs to be calibrated based on its local fault information. This paper presents an algorithm to optimize the DCCB according to its critical di/dt and local fault current. Furthermore, the operational delay and chopping current of circuit breaker are also considered and modelled. The simulation results from PSCAD platform verify the effectiveness of the presented algorithm.@en