PART – D :

CONTROL,
PROTECTION &
OPERATION

1
 1.0 HVDC CONTROL AND PROTECTION
EQUIPMENT

1.1 General :
This chapter summarizes the control equipment hardware furnished for this
Project. The report is a supplement to the cubicle overview diagrams.
The system is fully computerized and built with the state of the art electronics,
microprocessors and digital signal processors, interconnected by high
performance industry standard busses and fiber optic communication links.
All critical parts of the system are designed with inherent parallel redundancy.
The design employs the same redundancy and switch over principles.
The cubicles are designed for high EMI immunity. This has been verified by
extensive tests according to the IEC EMC requirement.
All control Protection, Monitoring and Interface equipment delivered by M/s.
ABB for this Project are briefly described here.
Fig 1(a) & Fig 1(b) give an overview of the control cubicles and interconnections
which are delivered by M/s. ABB. In these overview diagrams each cubicle is
represented as a square. In total, 34 control cubicles are delivered to each
converter station and in addition a Local Station Mimic Board consisting of 16
panels per converter station are furnished as a backup to the SCADA System
delivered by M/s. BHEL. All control system parts having an impact on the
power transfer of the HVDC link are made redundant.
In the M/s. ABB’s control the Pole Control and Protection cubicles (PCP), the
Valve Control cubicles (VCY, VCD) and the Serial Remote Interface cubicle (SRI)
are provided with parallel redundancy.
The protection system includes protections for the HVDC equipment and HVDC
related AC equipment. The two protection categories both consist of primary
and backup protections. All DC protections excluding the DC filter protection
are located in the PCP cubicles. The DC filter protections are located in the DC
Yard Control (DYC) cubicles. The converter transformer protections (TRP) and
AC filter protections are located in separate protection cubicles (TRP1-2 and
AFP1-4 respectively).
It is important that the control equipment of an HVDC station has a very high
EMI immunity. To verify this a number of EMI tests according to the IEC
requirements have been carried out on the control and protection cubicles. The
EMI tests imposed on the cubicles are:
-IEC 255-4 E5High frequency disturbance test
-IEC 802-2 Electrostatic discharge
-IEC 801-3 Radio interference immunity test (partly)
-IEC 801-4 Electrical fast transient/burst
-IEC 801-5 Surge immunity 1.2/50

2
1.2 Cubicle Overview :
Cubicle overview diagrams Fig 1(a) & Fig 1(b) indicates arrangement at
Chandrapur and Padghe Converter Stations respectively.
1.2.1 Local Station Mimic (LSM) :
The LSM is the local operator interface for control of the HVDC link. The LSM
consists of mosaic panels. From these panels an operator can control the local ac
and dc yards as well as the power flow and control modes of the entire dc link.
1.2.2 Bipole Control and Protection (BCP) :
The cubicle locates equipment for the Electrode Line Impedance Supervision
(ELIS) and the Electrode Line Unbalance Supervision (ELUS). The units are
mounted in a rack with split motherboard and the units have independent power
supplies, power supervision, DCU (Distributed Control Unit) and FALMA (a
bitbus controller) boards. The bitbus repeater for the SCM bus communicates
with both ELIS and ELUS.
The Line Fault Locator (LFL) is also located in the BCP cubicle. Auxiliary power
to the LFL, ELIS and ELUS units is delivered by uninterrupted power sources
(UPS).
1.2.3 Pole Control and Protection (PCPA and PCPB) :
The redundant PCP cubicles include all the functions needed for the closed loop
control of the Pole, sequence control systems and the valve cooling control
(VCC).
Each of the two PCP cubicles also locates a complete primary (set 1) and a
backup (set 2) protection system for the converter Pole including the valve
cooling system protections. The two protection systems are separated with
respect to power supply and measured quantities and both systems in the active
cubicle are simultaneously on line.
Two cubicles, PCPA and PCPB are used to accommodate the redundant Pole
control and protection systems. All control functions are physically placed in a
controller rack, whereas the protections are placed in a protection rack with split
motherboard thus enabling separate power supply to each protection set (1 and
2).
1.2.4 Valve Control (VCY and VCD) :
The main objective of the valve control is to convert electrical control pulses (CP)
generated by the control pulse generator in the PCPA or PCPB cubicle into
optical firing pulses (FP) used to fire the individual thyristors in the valves via
light guides.
The valve control equipment, sometimes also called valve base electronics, may
be considered a fast, remote I/O to the control pulse generator of the firing
control system. The valve control is designed as redundant A and B systems,
hard wired to the higher level PCPA and PCPB systems.
The main functions of the thyristor monitoring system are inherent in the Valve
Control Units (VCU) which constitute an essential part of the valve control
system. These functions are consequently also redundant.

3
 The valve control equipment is physically placed in two cubicles, one for the
valves connected to the Y valve windings and one for the valves connected to the
D valve windings of the converter transformers. These cubicles are located
between the PCPA and PCPB cubicles in the control room.
1.2.5 DC Yard Control (DYC) :
The DYC cubicle mainly accommodated the dc filter and smoothing reactor
protections and a switch interface for the disconnectors and grounding switches
in the dc yard.
Like the valve control equipment the dc yard control equipment may be
considered an I/O system for the redundant PCP systems. In this case the switch
interface units for the dc yard apparatuses are interconnected to the sequence
controllers of the PCP systems via a duplicate remote controller in the DYC
cubicle.
1.2.6 Transformer Protection (TRP1, TRP2) :
The transformer protection cubicles accommodate the primary and backup
protection systems for the converter transformers and the converter ac bus
including switch interface for the converter ac circuit breaker. Furthermore,
remote I/O controllers for control of the breakers and the transformer tap
changers are included. The remote I/O is duplicated and controlled from the
controller rack of the PCP cubicles. A two cubicle combination with the primary
protections in one cubicle and the backup protections in the other cubicles is
used.
1.2.7 AC Filter Protection (AFP1, AFP2, AFP3, AFP4) :
In the AFP cubicles the primary and backup ac filter protections are located. The
cubicles also accommodate switch interface for the filter breaker.
Remote I/O controllers for the ac filter breakers are also included. The remote
I/O is duplicated and controlled from the controller rack of the PCP cubicles.
A four-cubicle combination with the primary protections in two cubicles and the
backup protections in the other two is used.
1.2.8 Remote Terminal Interface (RTI) :
An RTI cubicle is located in the 400kV control room at each site. The purpose
of the RTI cubicle is to collect indications and measuring values from the
400kV ac switchyard & communicate the signals to the converter control
equipment via. a bus link.
1.2.9 Data Collecting Unit (DCU) :
A DCU cubicle is provided in each station Pole. The cubicle accommodates
data acquisition equipment for the auxiliary power equipment and
communicates commands to and alarms and indications from auxiliary
power equipment on per station Pole basis.
1.2.10 Transient Fault Recorder (TFR) :
One TFR cubicle is provided in each pole control room. The transient fault
recorder provided is a type Hathaway DFR 16/32. The TFR cubicle
accommodates two Data Acquisition Units (DAU) providing the capacity of
recording up to 32 analog and 24 digital quantities per Pole.

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1.2.11 Master Transient Fault Recorder (MTFR) :
A PC based master TFR is provided at Padghe. The master TFR collects data
from the local TFR:s in each Pole control room and enables study and
comparison of simultaneous records from all TFR locations. Harmonic
analysis, scaling, highlighting etc. can be done by means of the master TFR.
1.2.12 Serial Remote Interface (SRI) and Station Front End (SFE) Cubicles :
The sequence of events recorder function and the alarm system functions are
provided by the SRI and SFE cubicles.
The system is built around three main functional parts :
- Distributed Control Units (DCU)
- Station Front End (SFE)
- Serial Remote Interface (SRI)
1.2.12.1 DCU System :
The data acquisition part, the DCU system, is in most cases integrated with
the HVDC Control System. Normally this is the place where all data enters
the system.
The DCUs time tag the events/alarms with an absolute time and store them
in individual internal queues until they have been collected by the Front End,
(FE). The DCU internal queue is a cyclic buffer and has a capacity of storing
1000 events. The polling speed from the FE is approximately one event per 10
ms.
These queues serve as a backup memory to the FE memory. In the case of an
FE failure the local queues will always keep the last 100 events. Shorter
interruptions in the FE is therefore not a problem.
The DCUs also provide the interface for all types of orders from the operators
to the HVDC control equipment and switchyard equipment.
1.2.12.2 Station Front End (SFE) :
The SFE system collects data and sends operator orders to the DCUs. The
SFE system which is duplicated runs in an active/standby configuration. At
a severe fault in the active system the standby system immediately takes over
all current tasks without loss of information.
1.2.12.3 Serial Remote Interface (SRI) :
The duplicated Gat Way Stations (GWS) in the SRI cubicle provide the
interface between the HVDC control equipment and the SCADA system.
1.2.13 Station LED Annunicator (SLA) and Pole LED Annunciator (PLA) :
The SLA and PLA cubicles contain the backup alarm systems for the SCADA.
Alarms are given by as displays on light emitting diode (LED) units and the
sound of a buzzer (Backup Audible Alarm).
The backup alarm system handles the events classified as “major” or
“warning” alarms. The LED include functions to latch in and display each
alarm until reset, either locally at the LED or from the SCADA or from the
Local Station Mimic (LSM).

5
 The SLA cubicle can display the status of 432 alarm signals and is located in
the station control room. The PLA cubicle can display the status of 880 alarm
signals and is located in the Pole control room.
1.2.14 AC Yard Measuring (AYM) :
The cubicle is equipped with two compatible meters for import/export of
active and reactive energy and one tape printer for half hourly recording of
active and reactive energy.
1.2.15 DC Yard Measuring (DYM) :
The electronic units associated with the various DC Current Transducers
(DCCT) are located in the DYM cubicles. One DYM cubicle is provided per
Pole and located in the respective Pole control room. Signals from four dc
current measuring points are routed via. each DYM cubicle. The four signals
are IDNC to PCPB, IDEL, IDGND and IDME to DYC.
The DYM cubicle also locates a backup panel (BUP) containing the necessary
operator controls for operating the Pole such as controls for operating
converter ac breaker, setting Pole current order and bipole power order etc.
Operation from the BUP follows the same procedures as when operating
from the LSM located in the station control room.
1.3 Communication :
The communication inside the converter station uses a hierarchy of serial
busses. In line with the strive for open systems, these all adhere to
international standards.
The communications inside the converter station uses a hierarchy of serial
busses. In line with the strive for open systems, these all adhere to
international standards.
1.3.1 Local Communication :
1.3.1.1 Field Busses :
The field busses used adhere to the standard IEEE 1118 and are run at 375
kbps. For short distances within the control equipment room, electrical
busses are used with screened cables and opto-isolated repeaters in each
cubicle. For longer distances or when passing noisy environments, fibre optic
modems are typically used.
The field bus is used in the three applications as described below.
i) Control bus :
One duplicated bus is used for remote I/O signals for the Pole control
and protection cubicles, tying those cubicles to the AFP1, AFP2, DYC,
RTI, TFR1 and TFR2 cubicles.
ii) Data Collection Bus (SCM bus) :
Another duplicated IEEE 1118 field bus is used to collect the event data
and analogue values for the SCM system. This bus is routed to all
cubicles to provide event and status information to the SCM system.
Together with this bus, a separate pair in the bus cable is used to
distribute the clock synchronizing pulses (once a second) from the

6
 master clock to the distributed control units in the control and
protection cubicles.
iii) VCU bus :
Two redundant field buses are used by the cooling control and
protection system, to collect cooling system data from remote I/O.
The main controllers of the cooling control and protection system are
placed in the duplicated Pole control and protection cubicles and are
consequently duplicated. The remote I/O system is also duplicated
and placed close to the main cooling system in the valve cooling room.
1.3.2 Local Area Networks (LAN) :
The LAN used is the well known IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) and the software used
is OSI compatible with ISO Transport 8073 class 4. This LAN is used to tie the
workstations to master SCM.
1.3.3 Inter-station Communication :
The station to station communication is handled by communication boards
included in the Pole Control and Protection cubicles. The communication is
synchronous and adheres to ISO 3309 (HDLC frames) for high security.

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1.4 Control System Description :
1.4.1 General :
The control system summary for one pole is illustrated in Figure 1(c). The
primary objective of the control system is to send out firing pulses to the
thyristor valves in order to keep the transmitted DC power or DC current at
the ordered level disregarding AC and DC disturbances. The power order is
set by the operator with possible contributions from various power
modulation functions. The power order goes through the Pole Power
Control, which calculates a current order and coordinates the two stations
through the telecommunication system. The current order is then sent to the
Converter Firing Control (CFC), which calculates the corresponding firing
angle (alpha, ) and sends out firing pulses. The CFC also ensures that the
firing is done within the limits of the thyristor valves.
Alpha (), the extinction angle Gamma () and Ud are also supervised and
controller to be within their respective design limits. This is achieved in the
voltage and Angle Reference Calculation (VARC) function which as outputs
gives a Gamma reference to the CFC and Ud, Alpha and Gamma references
to the Tap Changer Control (TCC). The TCC controls the tap changers on the
converter transformers in order to, within the limits of the design, follow the
Ud, Alpha and Gamma references.
The reactive power balance of the HVDC converter stations is controlled by
the Reactive Power Control (RPC), which switches AC filters in order to keep
the reactive power balance, as well as harmonics generated by the HVDC
stations, within design limits.
Furthermore, the pole sequences which are automatically coordinated
between the two stations are primarily for assisting the operator(s) in :
- Changing control modes.
- ensuring safe switching of DC disconnectors and DC breakers at
connection and disconnection of a pole.
- Changes of modes of operation e.g. Monopolar earth return/metallic
return.
1.4.2 Pole Power Control :
Two different modes exist, either power or current control mode. The main
purpose of the Pole Power control system is to calculate a current order and
thereby keep the transmitted DC power or DC current constant at the ordered
level, independently from AC and DC disturbances, while still maintaining
the stability of the DC system.
1.4.2.1 Power Control Mode :
The power control mode keeps the DC power transmitted equal to the power
order given by the operator. When a new power order is given by the
operator, a ramping rate is also given. The power order and the power ramp
are given to a stepping logic function, which ramps the power order. In order
to keep the power constant, variations in the DC voltage are compensated for

8
by adjusting the current order accordingly. To the power order obtained in
this way, different additional contributions can be added from various power
modulation functions. The current order is obtained by dividing the total
power order by the direct voltage response measured at the DC high voltage
driver. This is the main mode of operation.

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1.4.2.2 Current Control Mode :
The current control mode keeps the DC current transmitted equal to the
current order given by the operator. The current order and the current ramp
are given to a stepping logic function, which ramps the current order.
1.4.2.3 Back-up Synchronous Control :
In order to avoid the risk for loss of current margin, and consequential trip
during loss of the inter-station telecommunication system a back-up
synchronous control (BSC) is included which automatically synchronizes the
current orders in the two stations.
The BSC is active in both power and current control mode when the
telecommunication is not working or when “separate mode” is selected.
In case of telecommunication failure, BSC will be automatically selected to
handle the synchronization. The BSC serves as a back-up for the
synchronization unit in the Pole Power Control (PPC). In the rectifier the
synchronization is by-passed and the final current order is subject to a slower
rate of change limit. In the inverter the measured direct current is low-pass
filtered and used as the final current order (see figure 1(d) ).
If the current control is transferred from the rectifier to the inverter during
BSC, the current order will be frozen in both stations.
1.4.2.4 Overload Limiter :
The current order will be limited according to the minimum value of the
inherent overload capacity of the two stations. The overload capacity of the
transmission can thereby be fully utilized without risk for unwanted shut-
downs due to high thermal stresses on the equipment. Ambient temperature
measurements are used to determine the maximum allowed transmission
capacity. The power limitations are defined during the main circuit
design.
1.4.3 Power Modulations :
The inherent high speed power control capability of the HVDC transmission
system can be utilized for stabilization and/or frequency control of the
surrounding AC systems. The contribution from power modulation control
functions is therefore superimposed on the normal, operator set power order.
1. The Damping control will normally always be activated. The
Damping Control receives the AC frequency from both stations, and
gives a power contribution to the PPC in order to damp oscillations in
the AC network.
Damping control will be available in power control, normal power
direction but not in islanded operation.

2. The Frequency control is active while in inslanded operation. The

Frequency Control receives the AC frequency from both stations and
gives a power contribution to the PPC in order to maintain the
frequencies in both stations at islanded operation.

10
 Frequency control will be available in power control, normal power
direction and in islanded operation.

3. The Current Margin Regulator compensates for the loss in DC

current when the rectifier losses Current control (i.e. alpha is limited to
alpha min).

4. The Fast stop function will, when manually activated, stop the
HVDC transmission in a fast and safe way.
If the pole is in “joint” control, the DC power will first be ramped down with
a fast ramp rate. Then the Pole sequencing function (PSQ) will coordinate the
blocking of both converters. If the pole is not in joint control then Fast stop
will order a trip.
In case of emergency there is also an “Emergency Stop” provided. It trips the
converter breaker.
1.4.4 Reactive Power Control :
The purpose of the RPC is to control properties in the AC network connected
to the converter station. The quantity to be controlled is either AC bus
voltage or reactive power exchange with the AC system. The system should
also make sure that enough filters of different types are connected to prevent
excessive harmonics to enter into the AC system. The means used to perform
these tasks are switching of the different AC filters.
The task of the controller part of the RPC is to control AC bus voltage (U-
control) or reactive power exchange with the AC system (Q-control). In
Reactive power control the RPC will switch filter to keep the exchange with
the AC network to a set target value within specified limits. In Voltage
control the AC voltage will be controlled directly by the RPC filter switching.
Switch orders will be initiated if the controlled quantity exceeds the limits of
a deadband. The size of the deadband should be coordinated with the size of
the reactive banks and with the response properties of the AC network. The
design will allow for different levels of the deadband with different time
delays for the switching. This could be utilised to give a faster action on
major deviations, for example following on trip of a pole, and a slower
response for minor steady state deviations.
The harmonic filtering properties will be supervised by a Min filter function
in the RPC that monitors the number of different filters connected and
compares that number to the number required for the present operating
situation. To make sure that the filtering performance requirements are met
the amount of filters required of each type will depend on the operation
mode and on the DC power level. To avoid overloading the filters, a higher
priority function (Abs Minfilt) is included (see fig. 1(e) ).
To avoid over-voltages, two functions are implemented in the RPC, Q-
maximum and U-maximum. These functions disconnects filters to prevent
protections to act on over-voltages. These parts are active also in manual
mode. The Q-maximum acts to prevent over-voltages to occur at for instance
a pole trip, while the U-maximum disconnects filters to lower an already
exiting high voltage.

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The highest priority of the RPC functions is the (Abs Minfit) since it protects
from over-loading the filters and consequential filter and pole trips. Of
second and third priority are the U- and Q-maximum functions since they
protect against over-voltages. Fourth priority is (Min filter) and the control
functions have the least priority.
The QPC (Converter Reactive Power Control) will, if necessary increase the
converters consumption of reactive power to absorb the excess of reactive
power at filter switching. This is done by increasing the firing/extinction
angle.

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1.4.5 Voltage And Angle Reference Calculation (VARC) And Tap Changer
Control (TCC) :
The objective of the VARC is to ensure that the DC voltage, extinction angle
gamma, or firing angle alpha, will be within design limitations during steady
state conditions. This is done by calculating target values in DC voltage,
gamma and alpha reference which are then sent to the TCC. The DC voltage,
alpha and gamma reference target values will also be sent to the CFC (see fig.
1(f) ).
The DC voltage, common in both stations, except for the drop in the DC line
resistance, is controlled by the VARC. Telecommunication is used to
calculate, on line, the resistance. Since the DC voltage is controlled in one
station, the resistance is used to ensure proper voltage control. During
telecommunication outages the resistance value is frozen.
The Tap Changer Control (TCC) system is designed to control the Load Tap
Changer of the converter transformers. The objective of the TCC is to keep
ordered alpha, gamma and DC voltage to the target values determined by the
VARC.
Because of the stepwise character of the tap changers, alpha, gamma and Ud
control are provided with suitable deadbands to avoid hunting. A higher
priority criterion is to ensure that Udi0 is below it’s maximum limitation. The
control of the converter transformer tap changers is fully automatic, however
a manual control possibility, either jointly (three-phase) on or each
transformer separately, is provided.
1.4.6 Converter Firing Control (CFC) :
The CFC, receives a current order from the PPC and sends out firing pulses in
such a way that the ordered current is maintained. The dynamics of the
HVDC transmission system is determined primarily through the settings of
the Voltage Dependent Current Order Limiter, VDCOL, and the Current
Control Amplifier, CCA.
To assist the AC system in recovering from faults, the reactive power
consumed by the converters must often be limited. The Voltage Dependent
Current Order Limiter, VDCOL, accomplishes this by reducing the
transmitted current at low DC voltage.
The Current Control Amplifier, CCA, is principally, a P-I regulator, where the
proportional part executes instantaneous changes, while the integrator part
maintains the value of current during steady state conditions. The current
control amplifier has a high enough gain and suitable dynamics to reach the
demands regarding speed and stability.
The output signal from the current control amplifier is a reference for the
firing angle and used as an input order to the firing control system (see fig.
1(g) ).
1.4.7 Firing Control :
The objective of the firing control is to convert the ordered alpha into
corresponding firing pulses. The allowed changes of the firing angle are

13
 dependent upon the operation mode. An alpha rate of change Limiter is
therefore included in order to avoid too fast changes. Especially in regions
where the commutations may become unsuccessful, i.e. low gamma.
One important task of the Firing Control is to secure that the firing instant
does occur within the time limitations which are set with regard to design
limitations of the converter bridge and thyristor valves. This is accomplished
through the following features :
 The voltage has to reach a certain level (UMIN), corresponding to
approximately 5 degrees at normal voltages across the thyristor valve to
enable firing. For inverter operation, the value (ALPHA MIN) is set to
around 100 degrees in order to prevent reversed voltage, and thereby
reversed power.
 Predictive commutation margin (AMIN) control ensures that the
extinction angle, is kept above the minimum value, normally 17 degrees,
in order to minimize the risk for commutation failures (see fig. 1(g) ).
1.4.8 Conclusion :
The control system described as above gives the operation of the
Chandrapur-Padghe HVDC bipole the necessary flexibility, while permitting
accurate control of the desired quantities automatically. Further, the control
system takes the necessary actions to cope with disturbances in the systems
external to it.

14
 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR DC POWER
MODULATION SCHEME IN CHANDRAPUR-PADGHE
HVDC PROJECT

V.D. Ambekar S.M. Mujumdar

S.D. Shrouty S.S. Rajurkar

ABSTRACT
MSEB has planned Chandrapur-Padghe HVDC bipolar link rated for 500 kV,
1500 MW with about 750 Km length. This link is for evacuating power from Generation
Complex near Chandrapur to Western part of the state. Apart from other control
features, this HVDC link is being equipped with power modulation controller. For
design of the power modulation controller for DC links, it is necessary to conduct
system studies and evaluate the system performance.
This paper describes the design requirements for DC power modulation scheme.
It is also shown that the active power modulation damps the oscillations in the Western
Region Network and thus helps in improving the system stability.

Key Words : Wester Region Network, eigen value.

15
 revealed following Dispatch off Peak
1.0 Padghe. Apart
three patterns of (MEDOP),
from evacuation of
INTRODUCTION load/generation. Maximum Western
the power
Dispatch off Peak
In India, the generated at a) Maximum
(MWDOP) and
electrical grid is Chandrapur, this Eastern Dispatch
Maximum Western
divided into five link can also be (MED)
Dispatch off Peak
regions i.e. Eastern used to stabilize b) Maximum Export (MWDOPE)
region, Western 400 kV EHV Western Dispatch conditions.
region, Northern network in the (MWD)
region, North state. EHV Out of the five base
network of MSEB is c) Maximum cases, maximum
Easter and
shown in Exhibit-1. Western Reduced eastern generation,
Southern region.
The back-to-back Dispatch in which maximum
The Western
Region converter station in (MW RD) power transfer in
interconnected Chandrapur is the AC lines from
system is made up being established Under each of the east to west is
of six areas. Gujrat, by Power Grid above dispatch realized, has been
Maharashtra, Corporation of condition generally selected. The
Madhya Pradesh India Ltd. for two types of load maximum possible
and Goa are the connecting Western scenario i.e. peak import from back
provincial Region with load and off peak to back HVDC
networks. The 5th Southern Region. load need to be station i.e. 1100
Zone, NTPC is a considered. MW is also
2.0 considered. This
generating
In each of the stresses the
company owned by OPERATING possible network transmission
the Govt. of India CONDITIONS configuration system to
and does not own
While designing import/export maximum extent,
transmission
the major network through HVDC thus considering
network. Zone 6
for the Region, it is back to back system the worst
consists of
necessary to study between Western conditions in terms
transmission
the behviour of the and Southern of stability.
projects which are
system for all the networks are also
common to 3.0
possible operating needed to be
provincial and/or
conditions. considered.
central power REQUIREMENTS
utilities. However, network OF THE STUDY
The operating
designed
The existing Wester conditions of loads It is well known
considering
Region network has in Western region fact that power
extreme operating
its major generating network are then modulation of DC
conditions can
plants in its eastern defined by five link can be used to
sustain different
area and major base cases e.g. enhance the
operating
loads in Western Maximum Eastern stability of the
conditions. The
area. MSEB has Dispatch Peak power system, and
review of operating
establishing  500 (MEDP), Maximum several HVDC
conditions in
kV, 1500 MW Eastern Dispatch schemes in
western region, in
HVDC link Peak Import operation are
particular in
between (MEDPI), utilized to provide
Maharashtra
Chandrapur to Maximum Eastern additional damping

16
to the power value in response found out. The The frequency
system. Therefore, to AC system time simulations of analysis carried out
the requirements of stabilizing control network behaviour in the frequency
the HVDC link signals. Such at serious network range of 0.1 Hz to
from the point of signals should have disturbances are 3.0 Hz and give the
view of modulation no steady state done to check the frequencies for
controller are first effect i.e. stabilizing performance of the resonance peaks for
decided which are signal should modulation angles at some
as follows : decrease to zero in controller for interesting nodes
the steady state. HVDC converters. and generators in
The HVDC system
Full use of the All these relation to the
would be capable
available short time investigations are reference machine.
of operating in all
overload capability carried out with the
modes and at all It is well
in the converters help of the ABB
transmitted power established that
should be made for network analysis
levels except above eigen value
the purpose of AC digital computer
the five seconds analysis is a
stabilization. program SIMPOW
overload rating (i.e. powerful tool for
(Release 9.3 version
33.3% greater than Small signal analysing
DVSADI Revision
continuous power modulation should oscillatory stability
017).
level) with a power be allowed even for large power
modulation of when HVDC 5.0 LINEAR systems, and in
required value telecontrol facilities ANALYSIS recent years,
above and below are not in service. several programs
The configuration
the mean operated However, in such for computing the
and parameters of
transmitted power event the power eigen structure of
the power
level. modulation large power
modulation
capability should systems have
The equipment for controller can be
be at least 5% of the evolved. The real
AC system determined from
continuous rating. part of the eigen
stabilization analytical studies
modulation will 4.0 using linear value ()
have a feature to analysis. The initial corresponding to
provide positive METHODOLOGY investigation of an interesting mode
damping of AC FOR STUDIES Western Region of oscillation
network Network Stability determines the
To get an stability of the
oscillations over the understanding of has been carried
range 0.1 Hz to 3 out by using linear system, if () is
network behaviour, positive, the system
Hz. linear analysis analysis. This
incorporates is unstable. It is of
The converter (including interest to
frequency analysis, frequency analysis,
controls should investigate how a
eigen value eigen value
utilise fast control control action
analysis and modal calculations and
action to suitably affects the eigen
analysis) is carried modal analysis. In
stabilize the system value. The results
out. From the the linear analysis
by rapidly the eigen value.
system behaviour the system is
increasing or
the frequency of linearised around The results of the
decreasing the
oscillations, mode the operating point eigen value
power flow
of oscillations and at the prevailing analysis are shown
transiently above or
the eigen values are load condition. in Table 1.
below the ordered

17
Modal analysis frequency around frequencies around Power Line Carrier
indicates the 1.1 Hz, the 1.1. – 1.4 Hz, when (PLC) system as
participation of east/west the Chandrapur back-up. The
oscillations with generators oscillate generators are maximum delay in
respect to angle against those in the involved, the the
and amplitude for central area, where frequency telecommunication
each frequency for also the information on the is negligible for the
some interesting Chandrapur converter AC bus fibre optic system
generators. generators are in Chandrapur will and around 90
involved. At be used. Thus the millisecond for the
Thus from the
around 1.4 Hz two signals are PLC system. The
above, we come to
several areas of added (with proper transfer function of
know the buses
generators oscillate polarity) and used the proposed
which are taking
against each other as input signal to modulations
part in oscillations,
in irregular the modulation controller is
their frequencies of
patterns. controller. defined by the
oscillations, the
block diagram in
damping present in 6.0 The Chandrapur-
Fig. 1. The block
the system. From Padghe HVDC
MODULATOR diagram of the
the oscillations of system is designed
DESIGN frequency measure
the buses, the for current (power)
regulator used for
buses/ generators The input signal for control in the
modulation
in various areas an HVDC system rectifier
controller is shown
will follow the modulation (Chandrapur).
in Fig. 2.
mode of controller is the Thus in the design
oscillations. These converter AC bus of the modulation 7.0 CASES
oscillating frequency which is controller for the INVESTIGATED
frequencies are easily available HVDC system, To check the proper
slightly different within the telecommunication functioning of
for different converter is required to modulation
operating equipment. transmit the 0.7 Hz
controller for this
conditions. oscillation signal
The conclusion of project, a number
from Padghe to
The frequencies of the linear analysis of cases are studied
Chandrapur. It will
oscillations are is that the with time
then influence the
found as 0.7 Hz, 1.1 dominant stimulation of the
performance of the
Hz and 1.4 Hz. At resonance complete system
stabiliser both at
around 0.7 Hz, the frequency (around behaviour at
transmitting the
generators in 0.7 Hz) can only be certain severe
frequency
western area are damped by disturbances. Some
information (0.7 Hz
oscillating against utilizing the in conjunction with
case) and for the
those in eastern information from line/generator
current order. The
area. In this the oscillation outages. The
telecommunication
oscillation mode, available in the network stability
system for the
the generators in Padghe end, as the without the HVDC
Chandrapur-
the central part, Chandrapur system is done and
Padghe
including the generators are not also with HVDC
transmission is
Chandrapur active in this system withstand
based on a fibre
machines are not oscillation. without
optic system with a
active. At the However, for the modulation

18
controller. The frequencies in the ACKNOWLEDGE
investigations are range of 0.1-3.0 Hz. MENT
tabulated in Table The presence of the The authors wish to
2. HVDC thank management
transmission link
8.0 of MSEB and M/s.
provides a ABB Power
OBSERVATIONS considerable Systems AB for
improvement in
The major task of permission to use
respect of damping
the modulation the results of
of these oscillations
controller is to investigations
by unloading the
control the 0.7 Hz carried out and
AC lines.
oscillations which permission to
are apparent in the The most present this paper.
Padghe end only of predominant of the REFERENCES
Chandrapur- resonance
frequencies, around i) T Smed, G
Padghe HVDC
0.7 Hz, is well Andersson :
transmission. Thus
damped by the “Utilizing
the modulation
action of the HVDC HVDC to
controller of the
link modulation Damp Power
Chandrapur-
controller sensing Oscillations”.
Padghe HVDC
the Padghe bus IEEE
system takes the
frequency. This Transactions
input as the
action depends on on Power
frequency of 400
the presence of at Delivery, Vol. 8
KV bus at Padghe
least the PLC based No. 2 April,
and sends it to the
telecommunication 1993.
controller through
the system. The ii) HVDC Power
telecommunication damping of the Transmission
link. The main remaining higher System by
telecommunication resonance
frequencies of 1.1 K.R. Padiyar.
system is fibre optic
system and if it is Hz and 1.4 Hz even
out of service then if not so
PLC system is to be pronounced is also
used, a slight shown.
decrease in the The back to back
performance can be converters have
observed. negligible impact
9.0 on the oscillations
as they are
CONCLUSION connected to a
point in the
The investigation of network where the
Western Region dominating
Network has oscillation mode
identified three does not appear.
resonance

19
 Table 1 : Linear Analysis

CASE HVDC (MW) BTB (MW) Modulation EIGEN VALUE

Controller
 Hz
MEDPI 0 1100 NO +0.043211 0.66265

0 1100 NO -0.11765 1.1007

0 1100 NO -0.40835 1.3387

1500 1100 NO +0.0049715 0.69508

1500 1100 NO -0.15612 1.1211

1500 1100 NO -0.18076 1.4288

1500 1100 YES -0.10737 0.70213

1500 1100 YES -0.19557 1.1262

1500 1100 YES -0.18842 1.4298

MEDP 1500 0 YES -0.10255 0.70078

1500 0 YES -0.31310 1.1005

1500 0 YES -0.19338 1.4447

MWDOP 1500 0 YES

1500 0 YES

1500 0 YES

Table 2 : Time simulation of dynamic behaviour

Case Contingencies Comments

Faults Outages
after fault

MEDPI without 3-ph. to ground fault at None The oscillations in the system can
HVDC link Chandrapur bus for 5 not be damped and the oscillations
cycles. in power flow on the major lines
and Generators are increasing
trend.

MEDPI with HVDC 3-ph. to ground fault at None The oscillations in the systems are
link without Chandrapur bus for 5 reduced slowly up to some extent.
modulation controller cycles.

MEDPI with HVDC 3-ph. to ground fault at The oscillations in the system are
link with modulation Chandrapur bus for 5 reduced fastly and the system
controller (M.C.) cycles. normalised (in @ 15 seconds).

20
MEDPI with HVDC 3-ph. to ground fault at The oscillations in the system are
link with M.C. but no Chandrapur bus for 5 reduced slowly with respect to
fibre optic cycles. Case 3 & the system takes
communication. comparatively more time to get
Delay of 90 ms stabilised.

MEDPI with HVDC --do-- The oscillations in the system are

link and BTB reduced fastly with respect to Case
modeled with 3.
controller

MEDPI --do-- 400 kV This system gets normalised.

Chandrap
ur-Koradi
circuit line
outage

--do-- --do-- 400 kV In the remaining Chandrapur-Parli

Chandrap Ckt.3 power flow variations are
ur- Parli more as compared to Case 3 and
all the oscillations in the system
D/C line are damped out.
outage

--do-- --do-- 400 kV The power flow variations in 400

Koradi- kV Chandrapur-Koradi are more
as compared to Case 3 and all the
Bhilai Ckt.
oscillations are damped out.
line outage

--do-- --do-- 400 kV The oscillations in the system are

Padghe- less severe with respect to Case 3
and are damped out.
Babhalesh
war

--do-- DC fault in one Pole One pole The control parameters in HVDC
outage system i.e. dc voltage, current
orders & firing angles are varying
fast as compared to case 3 & get
stabilised after some time.

MEDP 3-ph. to ground fault at None Less oscillations in the system with
Chandrapur bus for 5 respect to Case 3 and system gets
cycles. normalised earlier.

MWDOP --do-- None Comparatively less oscillations in

the sys- tem with respect to case 10
and system gets normalised
earlier.

21
 INTERACTION BETWEEN HVDC BIPOLE AND HVDC :
BACK-TO-BACK LINKS PLANNED AT CHANDRAPUR
V.D. Ambekar S.M. Mujumdar M. Ahfaz
Supdt. Engineer Exe. Engineer Dy.E.E., (Tr.Plg.)

ABSTRACT : Multiple-Infeed Converters (MIC) system are expected to become more

common as the AC/DC systems become integrated. In this paper, the details of MIC and
expected problems to be addressed with regard to interaction and coordination for the first
Multiple-Infeed Converter System, comprising of 1500 MW HVDC bipole transmission of
M.S.E.B. and 2 x 500 MW back-to-back link of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. at
Chandrapur have been discussed. The details of the design, dynamic performance study
and the tests to be carried out have also been discussed.

1.0 INTRODUCTION located at Chandrapur end of the existing 400

kV double circuit ac line between Chandrapur
In many utilities HVDC systems embedded (PGCIL’s) substation and Ramagundum
within ac systems are in operation. With the (NTPC) substation of Southern Region.
further growth of HVDC systems and their Please refer fig.1.
integration in ac system, it is likely that there
The physical distance between the 400 kV ac
may be several converters on the same ac bus
buses of MSEB’s Chandrapur substation (for
or on ac buses in close proximity to each
bipolar link) and PGCIL’s Chandrapur
other. Few of such schemes are in operation.
substation (for back-to-back) is approx. 20
The system performance of the Multiple-
kms. A 400 kV double circuit line connects
Infeed Converter however, is more complex
the above mentioned buses of two HVDC
and careful design of the same is necessary.
links.
Though it will still be closely dependent on
the characteristics mentioned above, There is no existing HVDC system where two
additional parameters would have to be taken separate dc systems of large and comparable
into account due to the presence of more than ratings (i.e. bipole : 1500 MW and back-to-
one converters in close proximity. back : 1000 MW) are located as electrically
close as it being constructed simultaneously at
2.0 MULTIPLE-INFEED CONVERTER
Chandrapur.
SYSTEM AT CHANDRAPUR
3.0 MODE OF CHANDRPAUR MIC SYSTEM
M.S.E.B. has planned to commission a 1500
OPERATION
MW ± 500 kV Bipole HVDC transmission
link of 750 Kms. from Chandrapur to Padghe The MIC system at Chandrapur will be of
(Mumbai) in order to evacuate the power mixed category i.e. converters of both bipole
generated at Chandrapur Thermal Power and back-to-back link may be operated either
Station and so also the power share of as rectifier or inverter. hence following four
Maharashtra and Goa in Korba Power Station modes of operation are possible :
of N.T.P.C.
i) Bipole converter as Rectifier
The Chandrapur-Padghe HVDC link is Back-to-back converter as Rectifier
planned as a part of the MSEB transmission ii) Bipole converter as Rectifier
system which, in turn is a part of Western Back-to-back converter as Inverter
Regional Power System. It is connected to
the 400 kV bus at Chandrapur. The Power iii) Bipole converter as Inverter
Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) has Back-to-back converter as Rectifier
planned 2 x 500 MW back-to-back (BTB) link iv) Bipole converter as Inverter
at its own substation near Chandrapur to Back-to-back converter as Inverter
interconnect the power systems of the Western
In view of present and future generation
and Southern Regions. This BTB link will be
capacity additions/generation, despatch

22
 pattern and load growth scenario, the first and 5.0 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS DUE TO
second modes will be most common modes of MIC SYSTEM
operation. The third mode, though feasible
5.1 Effective Short Circuit Ratio :
may be very rare one. The fourth mode is
infeasible and is practically ruled out. The short circuit MVA at the converter ac bus
gives the idea of ac system strength. An index
4.0 PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS OF
called Effective Short Circuit Ratio (ESCR) is
CHANDRAPUR MIC SYSTEM
used to assess the performance of single-feed
converter at a bus. It is defined as::
4..1 Concurrent Establishment of two Projects :

MIC HVDC system at Chandrapur, has many

ESCR =
potentially problematic aspects vis-à-vis the System S.C. MVA – Capacitive MVAr
other existing MIC systems of comparable DC Power of converter (MW)
sizes such as Nelson River HVDC System Typical values of ESCR range from 2 (weak
(Canada), Itaipu HVDC System (Brazil) and system) to 4 (strong system). The definition
Pacific HVDC Intertie (USA). In each of the of ESCR may still be valid for MIC system at
above cases the entire dc system is owned, Chandrapur only when both bipole and back-
planned, specified, built and operated by the to-back converters at Chandrapur are
same utility. Also one of the HVDC links was operating as rectifiers.
already existing before these projects were
converted into MIC systems and hence all the For mixed type of MIC system i.e.
parameters of the existing system are known. combination of rectifier and inverter at
Contrary to this, it should be noted that Chandrapur, ESCR index is not meaningful,
neither of the HVDC link as on today exists at as this operation mode is much more
Chandrapur. Their design, erection and complex. An index which is more
commissioning schedules have almost meaningful to MIC system of mixed type has
identical, time frames resulting in the non- to be considered and is called Voltage
availability of each other’s actual/complete Stability Factor (VSF), defined as the
data at design and engineering stage, thus incremental change of voltage due to change
making it difficult to take into account in infeed reactive power supply at the
correctly the effect of steady state/ dynamic common converter bus, at specific dc power
interactions. For this purpose, the data as transmission levels.
given in Technical Specification or that 5.2 Design of filters
available after preliminary engineering studies
has been used. The design of filters should be done to avoid
the harmonic interaction between the two
4.2 Different Ownerships of Projects : HVDC links. The harmonic interaction may
The links are owned and would be operated give rise to the following problems which
by different utilities namely MSEB and should be considered from filter design point
PGCIL which would require a clear division of view :
of responsibilities in the operation period of  the resonance between the ac system and ac
MIC system. Also there should be a clear filters (of both converters) resulting into
understanding for cost sharing for the increased ac voltage distortions which may
additional funding for retrofit solutions cause HVDC controls malfunctioning.
required. If any, for mitigating the impact of
adverse interaction between the two HVDC  interference to the Converter Controls by the
links. transferred harmonics, particularly the non-
characteristics one on the relatively easy path
4.3 Different Agencies Executing the Projects : between the converters.
The work for these HVDC links are being  increased filter rating requirement in case of
executed by two different contractors namely filter outages at either of the converter.
ABB/BHEL for Bipole and GEC/ALSTHOM
for back-to-back. They may have different  harmonic currents, contributed by both
philosophies for equipment designs, control converters entering generators at Chandrapur
and protection features and insulation and need for proper sharing and limitation of
coordination etc.

23
 the harmonic current by the bipole and back- recovery periods following faults,
to-back filters. comprehensive Dynamic Performance Studies
(DPS) will be carried out on analogue HVDC
5.3 Design of Lighting Arresters (LAs) :
simulator. The actual controls for Bipole and
For designing the LAs the presence of total back-to-back converters as proposed to be
capacitor quantum at Chandrapur has been used. The aim of this study is to confirm that
considered. Dynamic interaction between there is no adverse interaction between the
filters and ac system may result in the two HVDC links under various operating
amplification of Dynamic Over Voltages conditions/modes, to find solution to the
(DOV) at certain resonant frequencies, giving coordination problem detected during the
rise to the increased energy handling study and to arrive at an optimal operation,
requirement of LAs. control and protection strategy. The
5.4 Control of DOV due to Bipole / BTB equivalent to be used for DPS is shown in fig.
Blocking: 2.

When both the converters of MIC system at 8.0 DETAILS OF TESTS TO BE

Chandrapur are operating as rectifiers, PERFORMED DURING DPS :
blocking of either bipole or back-to-back link The tests shall be carried out for the first two
on clearance of faults may give rise to DOV operating modes of MIC system as elaborated
due to huge quantum of capacitors at ac buses earlier and under various selected system
at Chandrapur. Some special remedial operating conditions. The details of proposed
measures like increased firing Angle Control tests to be performed during DPS are given
operation of both converters to consume part below :
of surplus reactive power have to be taken to
 Steady state operation to the equivalent MIDC
control the DOV within specified limit.
system to ensure stable operation without
negative interaction between the two HVDC
5.5 Design of Modulation Controls : links.

The modulation controls of the two HVDC  Normal start-up, ramping of DC power
links need to be properly coordinated so that (separately and simultaneously) and shut
the two links do not modulate power in down to ensure satisfactory stable operation
coordination to the modulation requirements of both HVDC links.
of their respective regions and also the  Energisation and de-energisation and also
amount of power to be modulated does not protective tripping of filter banks to verify
cause unnecessary swings in the system which that the reactive power exchange and step
otherwise would have been stable. change in voltage are within specified limit.
6.0 EXCHANGE OF DESIGN DATA  Energisation of converter transformer of one
Exchange of design data have been done pole of each link while the other pole and the
between contractors of the two projects other link are operating at selected power
throughout the engineering and design stages. levels.
But due to almost parallel design activity of  Switching of specified 400 kV ac transmission
the two projects, the design data available for lines represented within the equivalent ac
one project at any given point of time have circuit to ensure stable operating of HVDC
been used for engineering and design studies links.
of the other. Hence many studies for both
 Single and three phase ac system faults will
projects have been carried out using some of
be applied to ensure satisfactory operation of
the data assumed ones to account for the
both HVDC links.
influence of one HVDC link on another.
 Selected load rejection and run back
7.0 DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE STUDY
conditions to verify the satisfactory operation
FOR BIPOLE AND BACK-TO-BACK
of both HVDC links.
CO-ORDINATION
 Tripping of one or both poles/blocks on
In order to ensure that the bipole and back-to-
HVDC bipole/BTB link and DC line faults
back ink operate in a stable and logical
on bipole link in monopolar and bipolar
manner during steady state and during
operation and observing the responsible of

24
 remaining pole/block on respective HVDC DPS in order to arrive at a coordinated
links. recovery strategy.
9.0 NEED FOR COMMUNICATION 11.0 CONCLUSION
BETWEEN HVDC LINKS
The 1500 MW, ± 500 kV Bipole of MSEB
The details of communication need have not and 2 x 500 MW back-to-back link of PGCIL
been specified in the Technical Specifications planned and under execution at Chandrapur
of the two projects and the coordination would constitute the first MIC HVDC system
between the two links is to be achieved, as far when commissioned.
as possible, without any signal/data transfer
As for these two projects, most of the
between links.
activities related to design and engineering
However, some of the design and engineering were performed in almost identical time frame
studies show the need for communication of the actual data required for taking into
certain signals between the links. In the account the influence of one HVDC link on
proposed joint DPS for coordination of the the other were either not available or partially
projects, the requirement of communication available at the require point of design stage.
channels for exchange of signal/data such as Hence during the design stage, some assumed
power order changes, status of a.c. network data for each others project were required to
etc. in real time mode will be identified and be used.
clearly defined.
A comprehensive Dynamic Performance
10.0 OPERATIONAL STRATEGY FOR MIC Study is proposed to be carried out for
The details of operational strategy, both for verifying the stable and logical operation
steady state and dynamic operation would be of Chandrapur MIC, identifying the
finally worked out on the basis of the results coordination problems of the MIC,
of DPS. At present the broad outline of finding remedial measures and evolving a
operational strategy can be described keeping coordinated steady state and dynamic
in mind the purpose of building the HVDC operating strategy under various ac system
bipole and back-to-back link. conditions and operating modes so that
The MSEB bipole transmission is expected to both HVDC bipole and back-to- back link
play a major role in the East-West power play their envisaged roles without adverse
transfer i.e. from Chandrapur to Mumbai area interaction from each other.
in the Maharashtra integrated AC/DC system.
Hence the strategy should be so evolved that
unnecessary operational constraints are not
inadvertently imposed on the power transfer
capabilities of integrated system due to
proximity of back-to-back link.
The same reasoning is true for the back-to-
back operation as this link is expected to
function as an important asynchronous inter-
regional tie to assist in the economic
integrated operation of the Western and
Southern Regions.
As far as the strategy for the recovery of the
HVDC links after the clearing of the fault at
Chandrapur is concerned, it can be said that
recoveries for both links have to be staggered,
as the simultaneous recovery will not be
possible or very difficult. For the two normal
modes of operation of the MIC system at
Chandrapur as elaborated earlier, the priority
of recovery of one HVDC link over the other
would be clearly defined for different
operating conditions/modes in the proposed

25
26
 2.0 HVDC PROTECTION SYSTEM

2.1. General :
The purpose of the HVDC Protection System is to cause the prompt removal
from service of any element of the transmission system, when it suffers a short
circuit or when it starts to operate in any abnormal manner that might cause
damage or otherwise interfere with the effective operation of the rest of the
system. The protective system is aided in this task by the A.C. circuit breaker that
are capable to de-energize the converter transformer and by this action reducing
the direct current and direct voltage. An attempt to keep the system in service in
case of a control failure is made by using the facility of a switch over function
which will change over the control to a redundant control system when
available.
The HVDC Protections are broadly classified as;
- DC Side Protections
- AC Side Protections
- Over Voltage and Surge Protections,
2.2 D.C. Side Protection :
2.2.1 General Protection Philosophy :
The HVDC Control and Protection System is divided into two Redundant
Systems A and B, based on an Active and Standby concept. Both systems include
a complete set of control and protection systems. Each protection system consists
of both set-1 and set-2 protections.
The Protective Scheme is designed to meet the following General requirements.
a. Fault condition or other abnormal conditions that might expose
equipment to hazard as well as conditions that will cause unacceptable
disturbance to operation is detected and the faulty or over-stressed
equipment is taken out of service or relieved of stresses in a controlled
way.
b. The aim of the protection design is to detect every condition according to
above with at least two protections.
c. The protection is arranged in to overlapping zones. For each fault case
there should be fast main protection with a limited protective zone. The
main protection is normally supported with a slower or less sensitive
backup protection. The back-up protection is based on a different
measuring principle and when applicable with a more extended
protective zone.
d. The protection is so arranged that testing and maintenance can be carried
out without affecting the operation of the pole.
e. Auxiliary Power supplies to primary and back up protection are separate
so that outage on one does not affect the function of other.
f. Tripping paths to the breaker are redundant and fed by two different
auxiliary voltage supplies.

2.2.2 General Description of Protection :

The HVDC Protections are realized in general purpose Single Board
Computers (SBC) and are all based on software adjusted different
applications. In some protection it is necessary to increase the analog
signal processing capability to be able to process signals with higher
frequency. In these case a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) board is added
to the SBC.
While designing the most recent version of computer boards emphasis
has been put on minimizing maintenance requirement and maximizing
self supervision functions. To achieve this, the board is designed with a
separate micro controller that handles all settings on the board, thus
eliminating all strappings on the board. This micro-controller also
performs a very extensive built-in self test (BIST) at every start up of the
Board. During execution of the software the checksum of the software is
checked and if any change of the checksum is found, execution is stopped
and alarm is sent . The programme for the main processor is stored in
FLASH PROMS that are programmed on board and therefore all software
changes needed to be done can be done without removing the Board. The
computer is generally run with a cycle time of 1 (one) milliseconds which
makes a sampling frequency of 1 kHz.
The Digital Signal Processor is used in the HVDC projects for a number of
protection functions. The DSP is totally controlled from the Single Board
Computer. The DSP’s cycle time is less than 100 micro seconds which
makes a sampling frequency of at least 10 kHz. However, due to the
sampling frequency and anti-alias filtering, signals up to 3 kHz can be
detected and processed.
Most application functions are produced using a full graphics code
generating tool named Hidraw, developed by M/s. ABB.
The code generating program can be run on any industry standard IBM
compatible PC, and is very easy to use as it is based on the easiest possible
pick, drag and place method. It is designed to produce high level code, so
for functions that are not available in the comprehensive library it is very
easy to design a new block, written in PL/M or ANSI standard C, and link
this to the schematic with a simple name reference.
The program includes a first on screen reasonability check of the drawn
schematic and then allows cycle time and priority assignments, automatic
cross reference generation and produces a “make” file ready to be
processed.
The final step is to run this make file on the same PC and finally the
necessary compilers and link locate programs are called (these are usually
 obtained from the chip manufacturers for example Intel and Motorola).
The final result is a file that is ready to be down loaded by a serial link
from the PC to the target and stored in the Flash PROMs of the single
board computer.
All protection give selective alarms in order to facilitate trouble-shooting.
Alarms are also generated for conditions that may lead to an outage i.e.
component overloading conditions. The software designed protections
are provided with “ Last Trip Information (LTI) ”. It is a function which
continuously save 25 input values in a rotating buffer. At a trip the
values in this buffer are transferred into printout buffer and after data
transfer, the input buffer starts to read new values again. The print out
buffer is saved until another trip occurs or until the board is restarted.
The operator may print out detailed information about the last 25 analog
or digital input values before the trip. This function is very valuable for
analysis of occurrence.
2.2.3 DC SIDE PROTECTION :
DC Side protections are divided into;
i) Converter & DC Pole Protection
ii) DC Switch Yard Protection
2.2.3.1 Converter & DC Pole Protection :
2.2.3.1.1 These are located in redundant pole control and protection cubicles
(PCPA and PCPB). Each cubicle i.e. PCPA and PCPB, contains both a
protection set-1 and a protection set-2. The protection sets are physically
located in the same frame work, the electrical back plane divide in two
parts with separate power supply for each protection set.
A protection in set 2 is named Back-up since the protection has different
detection principle or get an input from different measuring source other
than protection in set 1.
The protection set-2 is named redundant protection; because the
protection has the same detection principle as the corresponding
protection in set-1. One of the two redundant PCPA (B) cubicles is always
ACTIVE and other is in STANDBY mode. The standby mode cubicle is
ready to takeover the entire control and protective functions if a failure
occur in the ACTIVE system.
2.2.3.1.2 The various current and voltage measurements for DC protections are
show in fig. 2(a). The protection setup in each pole control and protection
cubicles is presented in the figs. 2(b),(c),(d).
2.2.3.1.3 Protective Functions :
Each protective function is briefly described herein regarding detection
principles and primary objective.
a. Valve Short Circuit Protection :- The protection detects valve short
circuits and other phase to phase short circuits on DC side of the converter
 transformer. The protective function uses the converter transformer AC
currents, the DC pole line and neutral bus direct currents.
b. Commutation Failure Protection :- It detects commutation failure in the
12 pulse converter due to abnormal commutation conditions by means of
using the AC currents IVY and IVD in combination with DC currents IDL
and IDNE. During commutation failure the direct current is higher than
the A.C. current, this condition is detected by the protection.
c. D.C. Differential Protection :- The protective zone of this protection is
from secondary side of the converter transformer to the DC current
measurement on the high and low voltage side IDL and IDNE on the
converter. This protection uses IDL and IDNE in combination with AC
currents from surge arrester and DC filter to detect earth faults in the
protective zone.
d. DC Over Current Protection :- It protects the valves and the converter
equipment by means of measuring the neutral direct current and the
cooling water temperature. It contains two parts, one over-current
protection and other is thyristor over-temperature protection.
e. Electrode line open circuit protection :- It protects the neutral bus
equipment from dielectric stresses due to electrode line open circuit. This
is done by monitoring neutral bus direct voltage and current. The
electrode line is considered as open circuit when voltage is high in
combination with low neutral bus current.
f. Low A.C. Voltage Detection :- The low A.C. voltage detection given a
signal to some DC protections to prevent DC protections from operating
due to AC side faults. This is done by measuring and detecting the level
of the AC voltage.
g. Voltage Stress Protection :- It protects the equipment exposed to AC
voltage from dielectric stress by means of monitoring the UDIO and the
AC voltage.
h. Excessive delay angle protection :- This protects the resistors in the
thyristor snubber circuit from over heating. It detects overheating of
resistors by measuring  and , Udio and frequency.
i. DC Harmonic Protection :- It detects abnormal harmonics in the converter
current which are generated at valve disturbances, AC network
disturbances and at control equipment malfunction.
j. DC line ground fault protection :- It detects ground faults on DC line.
The protection initiate control action to extinguish the fault current, and if
condition permits, restore Power Transmissions after the fault has been
cleared within stipulated time. The no. of restart attempts configured in
this protection are 3 no. at full DC line voltage and one is at reduced
voltage (i.e. 400 kV DC). It is done by means of measuring the level of the
DC line voltage and the derivative of the direct line voltage and line
current. This is only enabled at Rectifier end.
 k. Reverse Power Protection :- It detects sudden power reversals due to
control failure. Detection criteria is a reversed power direction within a
preset time window with power exceeding a preset level.
l. Backup DC Harmonic Protection :- It detects abnormal harmonics in the
converter current which are generated at valve disturbances. AC network
disturbances and at control equipment mal function.
m. DC abnormal voltage protection :- It detects over and under voltage on
the DC line by means of measuring the direct voltage in combination with
the direct current and the firing angle. Protection zone is, all equipment
exposed to the DC voltage and thyristor valves at by-pass pair firing in the
inverter.
n. Open line test fault protection :- Protective zone is DC line, 12 pulse
converters and DC Switchyard during Open Line Test. It detects ground
faults and phase to phase short circuits within the converter or in the DC
switchyard during Open Line Test by measuring the direct current, firing
angle, direct voltage and a calculated direct voltage.
2.2.3.2 Switchyard Protection :
2.2.3.2.1 The DC switchyard interface and protection for the DC Yard are housed in
DC yard control and protection cubicle (DYC) and it is located in
respective pole control rooms.
Configuration and various current measurements at DC Bipole
switchyard is presented at fig. 2(e). The setup of DC yard protections is
presented fig. 2(f),(g).

2.2.3.2.2 Protective Functions :

The various protections for the DC yard are briefly described here under
regarding its primary objective and detection principle.
a. Neutral Differential Protection :- The direct current is measured in the
electrode line and neutral Bus. A differential current exceeding a reference
level indicates ground fault within a protective zone. This protection is
disabled in metallic return operating mode.
b. Metallic Return Conductor Ground Fault :- It detects ground faults by
means of measuring the ground current in the Inverter. When station is
grounded via the electrode, the two electrode currents are used and when
station grounded via the earthing switch the IDGND is used. It will detect
a ground fault on return conductor. This is used only at Inverter.
c. Electrode Line Unbalance Supervision :- The direct current in each
electrode line conductor (IDEL 1 & 2) is measured. When there is a open
circuit or ground fault on one of the electrode lines, the difference between
the two measured currents exceeds reference level. The reference level
has one fixed part and one part proportional to IDNE. When unbalance
criteria is fulfilled Y-block is given. There is also an over current part
 which gives a runback when the current in either of the electrode line
conductors is too high.
d. Transfer breaker protection :- To protect the transfer breaker in case the
commutation of current fails while switching.
e. Station Ground Over Current protection :- This protection measures
electrode line currents IDEL 1 & 2, and metallic return ground path
IDME and neutral bus.
f. DC Filter Over Load Protection :- The protection detects overload on the
filter components by means of measuring the two filter currents T1 and
T2. It calculates the heating in the resistor and reactors caused by these
currents and initiates control actions to avoid further heating.
g. Arrester protection at Z1.DC Filter :- It measures current through arrester
with current T3. The protection calculates the maximum energy capability
by integrating the power with respect to the thermal rating of the
component.
h. Electrode line Impedance Supervision :- The impedance to earth is
measured by means of injecting high frequency signal on the electrode
line between the blocking filters and from response from the line, the
impedance is calculated. This function is located in BCP cubicle.
i. Smoothing Reactor Protection Relays :
Smoothing Reactor is provided with various protections for detecting the
abnormal working conditions.
i) Pump and fan motor protection :- It detects overload or supply
failure to pump and fans.
ii) Oil level Indicator :- It detects abnormal oil level in the smoothing
reactor conservator tank.
iii) Gas Detector Relays :- These relays detect internal faults in the
smoothing reactor.
iv) Top oil Temperature Indicator :- It detects overheating as a
consequence of overload or disturbance in the cooling system.
v) Pressure Relief Valve :- It protects the reactor vessel from over
pressure caused by internal faults.
2.2.4 Fault Clearing Actions :
The switching actions, that is utilized to clear DC faults and DC Breaker
failure are as follows :
a. Transfer to redundant control and protection system
b. Order down of the converter
c. Retard and blocking of the converters
d. Tripping of AC circuit breaker
e. Start breaker failure protection
f. Set lockout relay for AC circuit breaker
g. Re-close of respective breaker
 h. Close neutral bus ground switch
I. Re-close transfer breaker
j. Pole balancing
Fig. 2(h) indicates the typical fault clearing actions for different events by
each DC Side Protections, with selective alarms generated.

2.2.4.1 Transfer to redundant control and protection system :

A protection action may be the result of an error in some part of the active
control system, such as a measurement failure, i.e. an over-current or over-
voltage situation may depend on a failure in the control system. To avoid
unnecessary trips at control failures some protections order a change over to
the other Pole Control and Protection cubicle as the first action.
If a control failure is reason for the protection action the trip condition will
disappear since the whole control is changed to a healthy system.
At the same time as the change over is executed (the other cubicle will be
active) the cubicle that did initiate the change over will be set in a not
Standby condition and by this it is not possible to automatically order this
cubicle to active mode again. A manual action is taken to put the cubicle
back in Standby mode. If a cubicle is in service with no alarm but not set in
Stand-by mode, an alarm is given to the operator.
The Pole Control and Protection cubicle that is in Stand-by mode is
continuously supervised and a detected failure will set the cubicle in not
Stand-by mode and thus a change over to this system is prevented.
An example of the change over function is presented at fig. 2(i).
2.2.4.2 Retarding of the convertor :
This is normally performed in the rectifier which normally operates with
firing angles around 15 electrical degrees. Retarding means that as soon as it
has been ordered, the next control pulses are delayed with respect to the
previous one. This increases the firing angle until the full inverter operation
that constitutes the limit for the firing angles has been achieved.
The retarding will reverse the polarity of the rectifier converter voltage and
thereby extinguish the direct current. The inverter will decrease gamma in
order to make the extinguishing of the current more efficient.
2.2.4.3 Order down to the rectifier :
An order down means retarding of the converter and after the retard
keeping the firing angle at minimum extinction angle until the ORDER
DOWN is released. When the order down is released the converter firing
angle are decreased until normal operation is reached.
2.2.4.4 Blocking of the converters :
Blocking means removing the control pulses from the thyristors. When this
is done the valves stop conducting as soon as the current reaches zero.
 When blocking it is at some events desirable to provide a current path for the
DC side current. If so, the bypass pairs (two opposite valves within the same
six pulse group connected to the same AC phase) are simultaneously fired.
This provides a by pass across the converter and is normally employed when
permanent ground faults are detected.
Fig. 2(j) indicates current path at BYPASS PAIR FIRING.
The protective blocking actions can be categorized as X, Y or Z type blocking
A X-blocking always implies a blocking without simultaneous firing of by-
pass pairs. A Z-blocking always implies a blocking with simultaneous firing
of by-pass pairs. A Y-blocking is conditional and implies blocking without
by-pass pairs in the rectifier and with by-pass pairs in the inverter.
All converter blocking orders are redundant and have redundant signal
paths to the converter blocking sequences.
2.2.4.4.1 Type X-blocking :
A category X-blocking is used during valve faults and is mainly ordered by
protections which are initiated for a short circuit across a valve. Also for
faults in the firing circuits where a correct selection of by-pass pairs cannot
be achieved, a category X-blocking will be used.
In rectifier operation a valve short circuit gives rise to an initial large short
circuit current through a healthy valve in the three pulse valve group
accommodating the short circuited valve. To limit the over-current to one
pulse only the fault detection must be fast and the converter must be blocked
without firing of by-pass pair.
In inverter operation a valve short circuit does not give rise to a large initial
short circuit current. Therefore it is not necessary to immediately block the
converter. In order to limit the amplitudes of the short circuit currents the
converter is retarded, i.e. kept at minimum commutation margin angle until
the converter is blocked.
The complete X-blocking fault clearing sequence can be summarized as
follows :
Rectifier :
- Immediate retarding of the converter.
- Subsequent blocking of the converter without firing of by-pass pairs.
- Tripping of AC circuit breakers feeding the converter-II.

Inverter :
- Immediate retarding of the converter.
- Tripping of AC circuit breaker
- Blocking of the converter with by-pass pair when the AC breaker has
opened.
2.2..4.4.2 Type Y-blocking :
 Generally used for DC side faults which do not expose the equipment to
serious stresses, AC faults and manual blocking of the pole.
- Immediate retarding of the converter.
- The converter is blocked directly with by-pass pair in the inverter and
resembles therefore a category Z-blocking. In the rectifier the order to
block is delayed to bring about extinction of the current before
blocking. The blocking is made without by-pass pairs in the rectifier if
the DC current is below a voltage dependent limit. Otherwise the
converter is blocked with by-pass pairs.
2.2.4.4.3 Type Z-blocking :
The Z-blocking is generally used for ground faults or over-currents related to
the DC side.
The Z-blocking always implies a blocking with simultaneous firing of by
pass pairs.
2.2.4.5 AC Circuit Breaker Trip :
This disconnects the AC side of the converter transformers from the AC
power source. By doing this the AC system, which primarily is a constant
voltage source, is prevented from feeding a fault on the valve side of the
converter transformer. Also removing AC voltages from the valves avoids
unnecessary voltage stresses especially when the valves have performed
severe current stresses.
All protective trip orders to the AC circuit breakers will energize both trip
coils in the breakers via two different trip devices. The redundant trip orders
will also be fed by two redundant auxiliary power suppliers.
Fig. 2(k) indicates the trip circuit overviews.
2.2.4.6 Start Breaker failure protection :
When a trip order to the AC-breaker is sent, at the same time an order to
start the breaker failure protection is generated. If the breaker doesn't
succeed with the opening, the breaker failure protection trips the next
breaker further out.
2.2.4.7 Set lockout relay for AC circuit breaker :
If a protection trip order is sent to the AC breaker, an order to the lockout
relay is sent to prevent the breaker to close before the operator has checked
the cause of the trip. The lockout relay is manually reset by the operator.
2.2.5 System Supervision :
The HVDC Control and Protection System is primarily designed to minimize
the need for a periodic maintenance.
For the protection system this means, that all parts of the protection system
are continuously supervised and the need for the manual checks is
completely eliminated.
All computing elements incorporated are well proven supervisory techniques,
such as :
“ Program execution control ” (stall alarm or watch dog alarms), which will
check that calculations are executed normally. In combination with the
predictable cyclic execution and the HiDraw function block programme
development tool, it gives an excellent supervision of the individual
microprocessors that makes up the HVDC Control and Protection System.
“Memory checks”
Flash PROM memories are checked by a checksum calculation. This makes it
possible to check that both the program code and all protection settings remain
unchanged.
Static RAMs are checked at regular intervals by writing and reading special test
patterns to each memory cell.
Dynamic RAM memories are checked by either continuous parity check or by
ECC (Error Correction Code) techniques.
These techniques ensure that all computers used for protections will behave
correctly and that the setting are intact.
To ensure that the measuring elements are not faulty, all measurements are made
with two electronic measuring circuits (aux. CTs or OCTs, input amplifiers, S &
H circuits, A/D converters etc.) Although, only one of these measurements is
used for a particular protection, both measurements should always show
reasonably similar values, if no part of the system is faulty. When applicable, an
additional comparison is made with the results from other locations measuring
the same parameter. The control and protection system is automatically
monitoring all measurement and an alarm is generated if an error is detected and
an alarm is generated on detecting an error.
Indication from breakers and disconnectors are supervised with the normal
double point technique (one closing and one opening contact) but those are also
read by two independent switch control units.
All indications and trip signals are transferred by redundant field busses, where
all units on the bus and all segments are continuously monitored with "alive
messages".
To verify that a tripping signal is able to trip the breaker, the corresponding
switch control unit will perform an automatic check of the output circuitry and
the breaker tripping coil by energizing one side of the trip coil at a time.
When a manual opening of the breaker is performed the protection system
alternates between the two trip coils every other time. This means, that as long as
a breaker is opened a separate trip test from the protections is not needed and in
the rare case where a breaker is never operated, a "trip test" is easily performed
by twice opening and closing the breaker from the SCM system.
In conclusion, the supervision of the control and protection system is thus
regarded as completely automatic. This means not only a remarkable
 improvement of the overall reliability of the system but also a total elimination of
both the test switches and handles.

2.3 AC SIDE PROTECTIONS :

2.3.1 This section covers description and principle of operation of AC Side
Protection. General philosophy is same as that of DC Side Protection
System.
AC side protections are divided into following parts :
- Converter a.c. bus and transformer protections
- AC filter protections
- AC filter bus protections
The complete description of these protections is summarized in the table
annexed as Annexure.
2.3.2 Fault clearing switching actions :
The switching actions utilized to clear converter a.c. bus and transformer
faults are :
a. Tripping a.c. circuit breakers and tie breaker
b. Retarding i.e. forcing the firing control system of the
converters to operate at a firing angle corresponding to full inverter
operation.
c. Blocking of the converters.
The following switching action is utilized for the a.c. filters.
- Trip of own circuit breaker.
2.3.2.1 Tripping paths and lockout schemes :
The protections specified to order trip of the converter will energize both
trip coils in the circuit breakers on the AC side of the converter. If the a.c.
breakers are tripped from a protection a lockout device is set to prevent
re-closing of the breakers. The lockout device has to be manually reset.
The breaker failure protection is initiated when the trip order is given.
The same trip and lockout principle is applied on the breakers feeding the
a.c. filters.
The converter is blocked directly by block orders from each protection.
The supervision of the tripping circuits is performed by a computerized
breaker interface board. Detailed information about this circuit board is
available together with the overall plant information for the converter
stations.

Operating restrictions for the HVDC System :

Operation of a HVDC block without any filter is not allowed.

Such an operating condition is detected and the converter is ordered to
block.

To achieve this, the current in each phase of the HP12 filter branches is
measured and a QHLA 510 computer is operating as a minimum current
detection. When two out of three phases indicate low current level, the
filter is indicated as out of service. If no HP12 filter branch is available,
the converter station is blocked via the station sequence control.
2.4 OVER VOLTAGE AND SURGE PROTECTIONS :
Insulation levels comprises selection of the electrical strength of
equipment and its application in relation to the voltages which can appear
on the system taking into account the characteristics of the protective
devices.
This section summarizes the requirements on the insulation for
Chandrapur and Padghe converter stations.
The Protective devices employed for over voltage protections are ZnO
arresters of non-gaped type. In this section, the selection of arrester
protective levels and its base are explained.
Arrester stresses are caused either by external sources such as AC
transient voltages lighting surges or by internal sources such as ground
faults. Ground faults within the valve hall are averted by the shielded
(indoors) design and the controlled atmosphere.
The base for insulation co-ordination is the arrester protection scheme
shown in fig. 2(n).
The arrester protective levels indicated in this section are used for
determination of insulation levels of equipment.
Arrester data are based on the transient over-voltage studies for the DC
and AC sides.
2.4.2 DC Side Over-Voltage Protection :
2.4.2.1 General :
A DC bus can be directly protected by an arrester connected between the
point to be protected and ground. A DC bus can also be protected by two
or more arresters connected in series, where the individual arrester also
gives protection for converter unit, e.g. a valve.
When protective levels for buses, protected by series connected arresters
are determined, the normal design procedure is to add the protective
levels of the series connected arresters. The individual arresters are rated
for the surge currents and energy stresses occurring at the worst fault
events or disturbances. The maximum surge currents for each of the
series connected arresters in general do not occur at the same instants or
fault events. Therefore the used procedure for definition of protective
levels is conservative and introduces extra margins to the insulation
design.
2.4.2.2 The Insulation Across The Thyrister Valves :
The insulation across each thyristor valve is protected by an arrester
connected in parallel with it.
2.4.2.2.1 Switching Surges :
The valve arresters may be exposed to switching surges entering from the
AC system through the transformer. These stresses depend upon the
 operating conditions, the AC system characteristics and the AC filter
configuration.

Following are the worst fault cases for valve insulation :

1. Ground fault on a connection between valve and transformer in the
upper three pulse group. This will discharge the line and DC filter and
cause a few cycles of mainly fundamental frequency over-voltage
across the valves.
2. Clearing of an AC bus bar fault in the converter stations at minimum
short circuit power level of the AC system. This will cause transient
over-voltages on the AC bus which transferred to the valve side will
stress the valve arresters for a few cycles.
The duration in which the stresses are imposed upon the equipment is
determined by the delay of the converters to pick up the load after fault
clearing.
The AC & DC over-voltage studies have shown that the worst valve
arrester stresses occur for case (1) above. The coordinating current for
Switching Impulse protective level is 2.2 KA.
2.4.2.2.2 Lightning & Steep Front Type Surges :
Lightning surges from the AC side penetrating through the stray
capacitances in the converter transformer may cause currents in the valve
arresters. These are however low and 1 kA is sufficient for determination
of the arrester Lightning Impulse Protective Level (LIPL).
Close-in direct lightning strokes will be reduced in the DC and AC
switchyard by shielding. The over-voltages that may arise due to low
current direct lightning strokes will be reduced by arresters on the buses.
Direct lightning in the connection between the smoothing reactor and the
valves is not possible, as the smoothing reactor bushing passes through
the valve hall wall. The same applies also for direct lightning in the
connections between the converter transformers and the valves.
Steep front over-voltages may be the result of a flashover to ground. The
equipment that can be exposed to such a voltage is the valves and the
valve arresters, especially in the high voltage 3-pulse bridge. The reason
for that is that following a ground fault, from a point between the valves
in the high voltage 6-pulse bridge, the stray capacitance between the high
voltage terminal and earth of the 12-pulse bridge will discharge through
the high voltage 3-pulse bridge valve arresters. As shown in the DC over-
voltage study, a coordinating current of 3 kA will be enough for FWPL
calculation. The equipment current of 3 kA will be enough for FWPL
calculation. The equipments are designed to withstand these over-
voltages.
2.4.2.2.3 Protective Firing :
The thyristor valves are also provided with protective firing in the
forward blocking direction.
The valve protective firing has been set at a level not less than 110% of
valve arrester SIPL, in accordance with the Technical Specification which
states that the protective firing shall not be the main valve protective for
over-voltages.
2.4.2.2.4 Thyristor Valve, Test Voltage :
It should be noted that for both stations, the arrester protective levels
obtained for the maximum arrester surge currents are used as a base for
the air clearances and for the valve test voltages in the reverse direction.
2.4.2.3 The Neutral Bus :
The neutral bus equipment in the Converter Station are protected by the
neutral bus arresters. One arrester is installed inside the valve hall E1
and one close to the neutral bus switch E2. The lightning shielding
protection of the neutral bus will limit the lightning surges to a maximum
of 4.0 kA and the LIPL of the neutral bus arresters was calculated for a
coordinating current of 5.0 kA.

2.4.2.4 The DC Bus At The Line Side Of The DC Reactor :

The switchyard equipment on the DC bus are protected by the DC pole
arresters. Three DC bus arresters are installed, one at the line side of
smoothing reactor (DBIA), one at the DC filter connection line side (DBIB)
and one at the line PLC filter, line side (DB2).
With the line isolator open the arrester at the line entrance (DB2) may be
exposed to higher currents and 22 kA (twice the maximum lighting surge
current at the DC line) is used as the arrester coordinating current for the
equipment directly connected to the DC line.
With the line isolator closed the surges from the dc line are intercepted
also by the 2nd harmonic DC filter branch, which is permanently
connected. A coordinating current of 13 kA for the line arrester (DB2) and
of 6.5 kA for the remaining arresters (DBIA and DBIB) is enough for the
equipment of the dc bus not directly connected to the dc line. The
lightning shielding protection limits the lightning surges at the dc bus to a
maximum of 6.4 kA.
2.4.2.5 The DC Bus At The Valve Side Of The DC Reactor :
The LIPL and SIPL of the DC bus between the valve bridge and the DC
reactor is defined by one valve arrester in series with the 6-pulse valve
arrester (V and M in Figure 2(n) for surges of lightning and switching
impulse character. This level is selected since the highest voltage that can
occur across an operating 6-pulse bridge is the protective level of one
valve arrester (V).
2.4.2.6 The 250 kVBus Between The Six Pulse Bridge :
The 250 kV DC bus between the six pulse bridge is protected by the 6-
pulse group arrester (M in Fig.2(n) ).
2.4.2.7 Between Terminals Of The DC Reactor :
The insulation level across the reactor is based on the sum of the
maximum continuous operating DC voltage and the LIPL of the DC bus
arrester (DIBA).
2.4.2.8 The Valve Side Phase – To – Ground Insulation Of The YD Transformer
:
The valve side phase-to-ground insulation of the YD transformer winding
is protected by the 6-pulse group arrester (M) in series with one arrester
across valve (V).
2.4.2.9 The Valve Side Phase To Ground Insulation Of The YY Transformer :
The valve side phase to ground insulation of the YY transformer winding
is protected by one valve arrester V in series with the neutral bus arrester
(V and E in Fig.2(n) ).
2.4.2.10 The Valve Side Phase To Phase Insulation :
When valves in the valve bridge are are conducting, the phase-to-phase
insulation is protected by one arrester across valve (V) as explained in
2.4.2.5 above.
The only source of switching surge over-voltages stressting the phase-to-
phase insulation consisits of switching surge over-voltages transmitted
from the AC bus. Phase-to-phase over-voltages compared to the phase-to-
phase over-voltages in the three phase systems is calculated to 1.6 p.u. For
switching surges and power frequency phenomena the phase-to-phase
voltages on the valve side is a reflection of the phase-to-phase AC bus
voltages for the YY-transformer and the phase-to-phase minus the zero
sequence AC bus voltages for the YD-transformer. A conservative criteria
for the switching surge phase-to-phase insulation is therefore to base the
design on √3 times the protective level of the AC bus phase-to-ground
arresters, transferred to the valve side by the turns ratio of the converter
transformers at minimum tap position (A’).
2.4.2.11 The Neutral Of The YY-Transformer, Valve Side :
The protective level for switching surges of the neutral of the YY-
transformer, valve side is the sum of the AC bus protective level
transferred to the valve side (A’) plus the neutral bus arrester (E2).
The neutral point Y connection is made outside the valve hall. However,
very unprobable, low current direct lightning strokes cannot be excluded
and the equipment is protected by one arrester (YYO) with a coordinating
current of
1 kA. The lightning shielding protection limits the lighting surges at the
neutral of the YY-transformer to a maximum of 0.8 kA.
2.4.2.12 The Electrode Line :
 The equipment at the electrode line entrance are protected by one arrester
(EL) with a coordinating current of 7 kA.The lightning shielding
protection limits the lightning surges at the electrode line entrance to a
maximum of 5.1 kA.
2.4.2.13 The Metallic Return Bus :
The metallic return bus is protected by an arrester (MR-Ch in Chandrapur
and MR-Pa in Padghe). The metallic return transfer bus arrester in
Chandrapur (MR-Ch) is designed to take all energy during discharges at
DC line ground faults during metallic return operation. Thus it have a
lower characteristic than the neutral bus arresters.
In Padghe the neutral bus is always grounded via either the electrode line
or the local ground and consequently the metallic return arrester (MR-Pa)
is not subjected to switching stresses. Switching stresses are taken by
arrester E2, which has a lower characteristic.
The lightning shielding protection limits the lightning surges at the
metallic return bus of both stations to a maximum of 5.1 kA.
2.4.3 AC SIDE OVER-VOLTAGE PROTECTION :
2.4.3.1 AC Bus Arresters :
To ensure a reliable protection scheme for the AC bus equipment,
arresters are connected at :
- the converter transformers (1 set of arresters per unit)
- the AC buses, line side (1 set of arresters per bus)
- the HP3 filters, 400 kV side (1 set of arresters per unit)
All AC bus arresters have identical rated voltages and are matched to get
a proper energy distribution. The AC side of the converter transformer is
protected by the arrester connected close to its terminals.
SIPL is determined by switching surges caused by clearing of AC system
faults and SIPL was calculated for a coordinating current of 4 kA per pole
at Chandrapur and 3 kA per pole at Padghe.
LPL is determined by lightning surges from AC lines and was calculated
for a coordinating current of 10 kA. The lightning shielding protection of
the AC buses is designed for a maximum lightning surge of 8.7 kA.
2.4.3.2 Coordination With The Existing Ac Arresters :
All conventional SiC arresters in the MSEB’s Chandrapur 400 kV AC
switchyard, which are listed in the Technical Specification, Table 4.4.1, i.e.
arresters type A and A1 are replaced by metal oxide (ZnO) gapless
arresters.
2.4.3.3 Converter Transformer AC Neutral Point Arrester :
This arrester will protect the neutral point in the converter transformer in
the rare case of lightning strokes directly on the top of a close AC
switchyard tower. A lightning stroke of very high amplitude in
conjunction with long connection buses from the neutral bushing to
 ground (due to the single phase transformers used, with some distance
between the phases) may induce steep voltages between the 400 kV Y-
winding neutral bushing and the transformer tank. This is prevented by a
small arrester connected between the tank and the bushing. An arrester
with LIPL=15 kV and a coordination current of 10 kA is chosen.
2.4.4 Insulation Levels :
2.4.4.1 General :
The insulation of equipment expressed as Lightning Impulse Withstand
Level (LIWL) and Switching Impulse Withstand Level (SIWL) is chosen on
the basis of the predicted over-voltages at the equipment locations, based
either on arrester LIPL and SIPL or on the indirectly defined protection
levels, as described above. The insulation margin between the maximum
over-voltage to be expected at the equipment location and the LIWL or
SIWL determines a safety factor that should not be less than the specified
value.
2.4.4.2 Insulation Margins & Insulation Levels :
The arrester data and protective levels for surge arresters at Chandrapur
and Padghe Stations are presented in Table 1 and 2 respectively.