2016 IEEE 8th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (IPEMC-ECCE Asia)

Pole-to-Ground Fault Analysis in Transmission

Line of DC Grids Based on VSC

Yi Wang，Ziguang Zhang，Yuan Fu，Yang Hei，Xiangyu Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Source
North China Electric Power University
Baoding, China

Abstract—The DC transmission lines have become one of the system. The corresponding protection strategy of DC short-
components with high fault probability as DC transmission circuit fault is put forward in [15], through analyzing the fault.
technology based on VSC is often used for long distance The fault location method is proposed based on DC pole-to-
transmission in which system most of faults are pole-to-ground ground fault model in [16, 17], but its fault characteristics are
fault. Therefore, with pole-to-ground fault of DC lines being a not analyzed in detail. Both characteristics of short-circuit fault
typical fault of DC grids transmission system, a detailed analysis and pole-to-ground fault are analyzed in [18], however it has
of the fault characteristics is of great practical significance for not proposed the corresponding protection strategy.
fault detecting and protection design. According to the
characteristics of the fault current circuit when the pole-to- This paper is organized as follows. In Section II, the fault
ground fault occurs, the three stages of fault process were process is divided into DC-side capacitor discharge , grid-side
presented in detail. Firstly, the voltage of capacitor and fault current feeding and voltage recovery three stages. The time
current expressions of DC-side capacitor discharge stage were domain expressions of DC-side capacitor voltage and discharge
derived. Secondly, the state equation of grid-side current feeding current in each fault process also are derived, according to the
stage was listed. Thirdly, the distribution of DC-side capacitor transient characteristics of different grounding impedance.
voltage in voltage recovery stage was analyzed. Moreover, for Then, the method improves the overflow capacity of converter
different grounding resistance, the fault characteristics of the station by increasing the line damping. At the same time,
system in each stage were analyzed, which was divided into
through the analysis of voltage distribution at the voltage
under-damping and over-damping. Finally, the accuracy and
recovery stage, it is concluded that the non fault pole capacitor
effectiveness of the fault analysis was validated through a two-
terminal DC transmission system which was established in
will independently maintain the stability of the system DC
Simulink. voltage. In Section III, the accuracy and effectiveness of the
fault analysis was validated through a two-terminal DC
Keywords—HVDC transmission; DC line fault; pole-to-ground transmission system which was established in Simulink.
fault; fault characteristic; fault analysis Finally, concluding remarks are given in Section IV.

I. INTRODUCTION II. ANALYSIS OF POLE-TO-GROUND

Compared to traditional CSC-based DC transmission The equivalent circuit of the DC grids transmission line
technology, VSC-based DC transmission technology is more with the pole-to-ground fault is shown in Fig. 1, where Rd and
flexible and more suitable for the construction of multiterminal Ld are the π-model equivalent resistance and inductance of the
DC transmission and DC grids [1], therefore it has broad fault line from the VSC to the location of the fault point, while
application prospects in the fileds of the integration of Rf and Lf are respectively indicated the grounding resistance
renewable energy sources with the grid, the interconnection of and inductance.
urban electric grid and so on. Beacause of its large capacity and Usually, the grounding points in a DC network include the
high voltage transmission characteristics, it is often used for neutral-ground link of the transformer and the midpoint of DC-
long distance transmission, the DC lines become one of the
components with high failure probability in the system [2], and id Rd Ld
most of faults are pole-to-ground fault. The analysis of its fault
D1 D3 D5 + Rf
charateristics is of practical significance for the protection of
power system security operation [3]. L C Lf
Transformer ia
The researches on HVDC transmission system mainly ib udc
focuses on the establishment of mathematical model and ic
system simulation [4-7], control strategy [8-10] and the C
integration of wind power [11-13] which have obtained a series D4 D6 D2 -
of achievements. In [14], it summarized the current research
status of DC distribution protection in our country, and mainly
introduced the fault location and isolation of DC distribution
Fig. 1 DC grids transmission line with positive cable ground fault diagram
Project Supported by National 863 Program (2015AA050101) and the
National Nature Science Foundation of China (51277072).
978-1-5090-1210-7/16/$31.00©2016 IEEE

978-1-5090-1210-7/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE

 2016 IEEE 8th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (IPEMC-ECCE Asia)

side capacitor. A ground loop will be formed among the udp = D1er1t + D2er2t (4)
grounding points when the fault occurs. The IGBTs can be
blocked for self-protection owing to the fault current rising dudp
sharply, leaving reverse diodes exposed to overflow. In the id = −C = −C ( D1r1e r1t + D2 r2e r2t ) (5)
dt
initial phase, due to the DC voltage higher than AC phase
voltage, the current contribution from AC-side transformer is Rd + R f Rd + R f 1
only freewheeling contribution from the AC reactor. The DC Where r1 = − + ( )2 − ,
short-circuit current is mostly the DC-side capacitor discharge 2( Ld + L f ) 2 Ld + 2 L f ( Ld + L f )C
current. The system will enter the grid-side current feeding Rd + R f Rd + R f 1
stage when the DC voltage drops below the AC phase voltage. r2 = − − ( )2 − ,
2( Ld + L f ) 2 Ld + 2 L f ( Ld + L f )C
The AC power will charge the fault pole capacitor through the
freewheeling diodes. This stage will not end until the DC V0 ( Rd + R f )V0C − 2( Ld + L f ) I 0
voltage becomes higher than AC phase voltage again. The fault D1 = + ,
2 2 ( R + R ) 2 C 2 − 4( L + L )C
pole capacitor voltage drops and non fault pole capacitor d f d f

voltage rising with the capacitor discharging. The DC voltage V0 ( Rd + R f )V0C − 2( Ld + L f ) I 0

D2 = −
gradually restores, so the system enter the voltage recovery 2 2 ( R + R ) 2 C 2 − 4( L + L )C .
stage. d f d f

(3) and(5) show that rise rate and peak of the fault current
A. DC-Side Capacitor Discharge Stage id1 after the failure depends on the grounding resistance and
The fault process starts from the capacitor discharging. A grounding inductance. The smaller grounding impedance is,
discharge circuit is formed among the fault pole capacitor and the greater oscillation amplitude of fault current is. The
fault impedance through the fault line. After the fault occurs, oscillation amplitude of the DC-side capacitor voltage udp is
the system, firstly, experiences the DC-side capacitor discharge also related to the grounding impedance. If the grounding
stage, and the equivalent circuit is shown in Fig. 2. impedance is large, the voltage changing slowly.
According to the circuit theory,
B. Grid-Side Current Feeding Stage
d 2udp dudp With the DC-side capacitor discharging, the DC voltage
( Ld + L f )C + ( Rd + R f )C + udp = 0 (1)
dt 2 dt drops constantly. Then, the system will experience the grid-
side current feeding stage when the DC voltage drops to below
Under the condition Rd + R f < 2 ( Ld + L f ) / C , this second- any grid phase voltage. The equivalent circuit is shown in Fig.
order circuit belongs to under-damping oscillation condition. 3.
Assuming that the fault happens at time t0, the solution of the A current circuit is formed among the neutral-ground link
(1) under the initial conditions of udp (t0 ) = V0 and id 1 (t0 ) = I 0 is of the transformer and grounding point of fault line through the
freewheeling diodes of IGBTs which were blocked for self-
udp = eat (C1 cos bt + C2 sin bt ) (2) protection. The grid-side current will flow to the DC side
through this circuit. This stage will not end until the DC
id 1 = −Ce at [(C2 a − C1b) sin bt + (C1a + C2b) cos bt ] (3) voltage becomes higher than AC phase voltage again. This
transient phase can be expressed by the following three
Rd + R f 1 Rd + R f 2 equations of state.
Where a = − ,b = −( ) ,
2( Ld + L f ) ( Ld + L f )C 2 Ld + 2 L f dudp
C = −id 2 + ia,b,c (6)
dt
( Rd + R f )V0C − 2( Ld + L f ) I 0
C1 = V0 , C2 = .
4( Ld + L f )C − ( Rd + R f ) 2 C 2 id2 Rd Ld

Under the condition Rd + R f > 2 ( Ld + L f ) / C , this second- ia,b,c + Rf

order circuit belongs to over-damping condition. Then the
solution of the (1) under the same initial conditions is Ls udp C
Lf
Rd Ld id1 -
Vsa,b,c
+ Rf
Lf
C udp

-
Fig. 3: Equivalent circuit of grid-side current feeding stage

Fig. 2 Equivalent circuit of DC-side capacitor discharge stage

 2016 IEEE 8th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (IPEMC-ECCE Asia)

did 2 P1 Id P2
( Ld + L f ) = udp − ( Rd + R f )id 2 (7)
dt
B1 X1 T1 L1 C1 C3 L2 T2 X2 B2
dia ,b,c Ud
Ls = −udp + Vsa,b,c (8) C2 C4
dt
Where ia,b,c and Vsa,b,c are respectively indicated AC-side Fig. 5: The simulation model of DC transmission system
linear current and phase voltage.
TABLE I THE SYSTEM PARAMETERS
This stage is the process of the DC-side capacitor being
charged through the fault line by the AC power. The duration Parameters Values
of this process is short and the current is small. If the control AC
Vs 220kV
system can be a timely response, the DC voltage would avoid f 50Hz
dropping to below the AC phase voltage. Then the fault C 0.2mF
process will skip this stage. Udc 300kV
DC Distance 75km
C. Voltage Recovery Stage Per-meter resistance 0.0139Ω/km
Per-meter inductance 0.159mH/km
The fault pole capacitor voltage drops and non fault pole
capacitor voltage rising with the capacitor discharging. The DC
voltage gradually restores, so the system enter the voltage
recovery stage. As is shown in Fig. 4, the equivalent circuit of difference between Rd + R f and 2 ( Ld + L f ) / C , the capacitor
the stage have a forced response. A circuit for charging non- discharge circuit exhibits different characteristics. So Rf is set
fault pole capacitor connected with grounding point of fault 2Ω and 20Ω respectively corresponding to under-damping
line. With the fault pole capacitor continuously discharging, the circuit and over-damping circuit, and then the fault
charging current provided by the AC current can charge the characteristics of the system are studied.
non-fault pole capacitor through this circuit.
A. Simulation of Under-Damping Condition
When the system belongs to under-damping condition, the
voltage of fault pole capacitor drops to nearly zero, while the When Rf equals 2Ω, the discharge circuit belongs to under-
voltage of non-fault pole capacitor increases to Udc which is the damping condition. The response of capacitor voltage, AC
normal DC voltage of the system without fault after the end of voltage and capacitor current during fault process is shown in
the capacitor discharge. The DC network is not affected and Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8.
the system will enter the steady state, but it will produce stress As is shown in Fig.6, when the pole-to-ground fault occurs,
on the electrode of this pole. When the system belongs to over- the positive voltage of system can not be maintained in that
damping condition, the DC voltage and current change slowly. positive capacitor discharge rapidly. Then, the system is
If the voltage of non-fault pole capacitor increases to Udc which converted to a unipolar transmission system which is supported
is the normal DC voltage of the system without fault, the DC independently by non-fault pole capacitor. Fig.7 shows that the
voltage will not drop to below the AC phase voltage. Then the system will experience the grid-side current feeding stage when
system will directly enter the voltage recovery stage. the DC voltage drops to below any grid phase voltage.
However , the DC voltage gradually restores with the non-fault
III. VERIFICATION pole capacitor voltage rising, then the system enter the voltage
A two-terminal DC transmission system which was recovery stage.
established in simulink is shown in Fig. 5. System parameters 1.5 Fault time
are shown in Table I. 1
V(pu)

Simulation sets pole-to-ground fault at the positive pole of 0.5

Udc

DC transmission line to simulate the grounding fault of DC bus. Udn

0
Fault occurs at 1s, and the fault duration is greater than the Udp
simulation time to simulate the permanent fault. Due to the -0.5
1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
t/s
id3 Rd Ld

D1 D3 D5 + Rf Fig. 6 Voltage of the capacitor waveforms when Rf equals 2Ω

L Lf
Transformer ia Vdc
300 Vsa,b,c
ib udc 100
V(kV)

ic
-100
C -300 Stage1
St age3
D4 D6 D2 - St age2
0.98 0.99 1 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04
t/s
Fig. 4: Equivalent circuit of voltage recovery stage
Fig. 7 Schematic diagram of fault process when Rf equals 2Ω
 2016 IEEE 8th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (IPEMC-ECCE Asia)

TABLE II THE VOLTAGE AND DISCHARGE CURRENT OF FAULT POLE

（a）Current of the positive capacitor CAPACITY WHEN t EQUALS 0.005S
20
10 udp id1
I(pu)

0 calculated value 21.955kV 732.05A

-10 simulated value 21.946kV 733.12A
-20 relative error 0.041% 0.146%
（b）Current of the negative capacitor
8 1.5 Fault time
4 1
I(pu)

0 Udc

V(pu)
0.5 Udn
-4
-8 0 Udp
1 1.04 1.08 1.12 -0.5
t/s 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
t/s
Fig.8 Current of the capacitor waveforms when Rf equals 2Ω
Fig. 10 Voltage of the capacitor waveforms when Rf equals 20Ω
4 Vd c
300 Vsa,b,c
2
100

V(kV)
I(pu)

0
-100
-2
-300 Stage1 St age3
-4
0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 0.98 0.99 1 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04
t/s t/s

Fig. 9 AC current waveforms when Rf equals 2Ω Fig. 11 Schematic diagram of fault process when Rf equals 20Ω
As is shown in Fig.10, when the pole-to-ground fault
When Rd + R f < 2 ( Ld + L f ) / C , the positive capacitor occurs, the positive voltage of system can not be maintained in
discharge exhibits the characteristics of oscillation attenuation. that positive capacitor discharge rapidly. However,due to the
Besides, the negative capacitor is also inspired by the AC large grounding impedance at this time, the oscillation
power. So the positive capacitor exhibits free response while amplitude of the positive capacitor voltage is decreased and the
the negative capacitor exhibits forced response, shown in Fig.8. change is slow. Then the DC voltage gradually restores with
the rising of the negative capacitor voltage and the fault
When the fault occurs, the positive voltage can not be process enters the voltage recovery stage. The DC voltage
maintained which lead to a sudden decline in DC voltage. Then, gradually increases because of the rapid regulation of the
the output active power of the AC side is reduced, which control system. The DC voltage is not lower than that of the
causes the transient over current of the AC side, shown in Fig. AC side in the whole process. Therefore, the fault process skips
9. grid-side current feeding stage. The system enters the voltage
In normal operation, the DC voltage and current are recovery stage directly after the capacitor discharge is over and
respectively 300kV and 1kA. The expression of the positive be converted to a unipolar transmission system which is
capacitor voltage and discharge current at capacitor discharge supported independently by non fault pole capacitor, shown in
stage can be got from (2) and (3). Fig. 11.

udp (t ) = e −375.515t (150000 cos1232.9t （a）Current of the positive capacitor

(9) 8
+ 45686 sin 1232.9t ) 4
I(pu)

id 1 (t ) = 40419e −375.515t sin 1232.9t

(10) 0
The capacitor voltage and discharge current were verified -4
when the simulation time is 1.005s that is t=0.005s in (9) and -8
(10). The calculated and simulated values of the fault pole （b）Current of the negative capacitor
capacitor voltage udp and discharge current id1 are shown in 4
Table II. 2
I(pu)

0
B. Simulation of Over-Damping Condition -2
When Rf equals 20Ω, the discharge circuit belongs to -4
under-damping condition. The response of capacitor voltage, 1 1.04 1.08 1.12
t/s
AC voltage and capacitor current during fault process is shown
in Fig. 10, Fig. 11 and Fig. 12.
Fig.12 Current of the capacitor waveforms when Rf equals 20Ω
 2016 IEEE 8th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (IPEMC-ECCE Asia)

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