VACON® NXP Grid Converter for Smart Grids

Intelligent power conversion

for smart grids

drives.danfoss.com
 Transformation of the power sector
The accelerating development of electrification, decentralization and digitalization is de-carbonizing
the global energy system to achieve climate goals.

The energy landscape is evolving to embrace renewables and energy storage.

Grid evolution
Traditionally, grids have been powered by centralized fossil fuel power plants.
The modern grid incorporates diverse power sources including renewables and energy storage.

Traditional grid Smart grid

n Few producers n Many producers
n Large inertial masses n Almost no inertia
n Unidirectional energy flow n Bidirectional energy flow
n “Clean grid” n “Dirty grid”
n Virtually no communication between actors n High degree of intercommunication

400 kV

400 kV
110 kV

110 kV
20/10 kV

20/10 kV
0,4 kV

0,4 kV

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Grid evolution challenges
400 kV
In order to achieve our climate goals,
the proportion of renewables in the
110 kV
energy mix is on the increase, placing
demands on the management of the
20/10 kV
grid.
0,4 kV
However the wind is not always
blowing and the sun is not always
shining. Therefore we use energy
storage to help ensure resilience and
flexible demand response in the grid.

Energy storage is the enabler of and backup power. These days, battery Smart grids support distributed energy
renewable power sources. It helps prices are falling and the technology is resources in bidirectional diversified
in overcoming the challenges of maturing. networks, to optimize efficiency and to
unpredictability in renewable power, minimize losses.
by facilitating peak shaving, time delay

What defines a smart grid?

Smart grids support climate goals via and renewables: for example, wind, battery energy storage systems (BESS),
renewable energy, electrification and solar, hydro, tidal, and geothermal. fuel cells, or compressed air energy
digitalization. The energy sources must comply with storage (CAES).
grid standards and regulations: safety,
A smart grid is characterized by EMC, and grid codes. Energy flow is bi-directional.
distributed power generation with
diverse energy sources feeding the Energy storage adds resilience and Advanced systems ensure a high level
grid. These energy sources include flexibility to the smart grid. Energy of compatibility and communication to
fossil based generators but also storage storage takes many forms, for example maintain a stable power supply.

LVDC Maximum Power LVDC LVDC Electric Vehicle LVDC

Feeder Station Point Tracking Substation Substation Charging Substation

LVDC

Battery LVDC
Management Substation

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 Grid code compliance demands
advanced power conversion
Smart grids support distributed Advanced power conversion
power generation in the grid with the systems and other features are required
help of grid codes, advanced systems n For performance optimization:
and bidirectional communication. - To remain coupled to the grid
during voltage dip
Grid codes force distributed - To supply reactive current to
generators to take responsibility support the voltage
for maintaining power quality and
availability of the grid. Therefore, they n For safety:
ask for different technical features - Anti-islanding protection
to support them. For instance, the disconnects the system during
DGs are normally required to remain grid blackouts
coupled to the grid in case some
voltage dip affects the grid, and
also, they may be required to supply
reactive current to support the voltage.

Peak shaving gives

more quality and less infrastructure
Traditional grid with
no energy storage
The consumer load creates peaks on
the supply network

Smart grid with energy storage

Battery storage removes the power
peaks on the supply network so the
consumer load causes virtually no
disturbance to the grid. The benefits:
n Good power quality
n Reduced scale and cost of
infrastructure

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Power conversion
applications in smart grid context

Wind Solar (PV, thermo)

Battery energy storage systems BESS Hydro

Fuel Cells Compressed air energy storage CAES

Tidal Geothermal

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 VACON® NXP Grid Converter for Smart Grids
Smart grid converters are devices Typical applications could be energy What Danfoss offers
which couple some type of energy storage, wind, solar, hydro, or fuel cells.
source to the electrical grid. As well Full scale products
as energy distribution, they facilitate a Benefits: Dedicated application software
broad range of services to be offered n C
onverts various energy sources to
to the grid operator. feed the power grid Wide range of certified grid code
n Complies with local grid codes and compliance
Some examples of features that safety regulations Safety certifications
authorities may ask for are frequency n Provides ancillary services
or voltage control, inertia emulation, or Converter simulation model
low-voltage ride through Comprehensive supporting
documentation

Product Air Cooled Liquid Cooled

Enclosure size FI9 FI10 FI13 CH5 CH61 CH62 CH63 CH64

Grid code and safety certifications

The increasing integration of non- operator is responsible for establishing conventional groups already in service.
conventional sources in power systems those conditions and enforcing This ensures that the replacement
has forced the transmission and compliance. The grid codes take of a generation units in the system
distribution system operators (TSOs the electrical characteristics and the by others means no additional
and DSOs) to update and redesign network design as reference, and their risks in reliability. There is a close
their grid codes, in many countries. requirements are directly linked to the relationship between regulations, the
The grid codes are essentially sets non-dispatchable power present and consequences that these establish for
of connection and behavior rules expected penetration rate. manufacturers, and non-dispatchable
that generators in power systems With the new policy, the following energy penetration rate in the system.
must satisfy. The rules are different in goal is pursued: to equate the behavior
each country and the corresponding of renewable generation to the

Grid Codes
n IEC 62116:2014
n ENTSO-e (2016/631/EU)
n BDEW
n VDE-4110/4120
n AS4777.2:2015 Air cooled units
n IEEE 1547 (600VAC)
n Hawaii rule 14H
n California rule 21
n Thailand PEA 2013

Safety Regulation
n UL1741 (600VAC)
n IEC 62109-1 & IEC 62109-2
Air cooled units

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Dedicated smart grid application software
Integrated smart grid software provides
n Power quality
• Harmonics / Interharmonics / Flicker
• Switching operations
n Static grid support
• Frequency and active power control
• Voltage and reactive power control
n Dynamic grid support
• Low-voltage ride through (LVRT)
• High-voltage ride through (HVRT)
n Grid code compliance
n Immediate disconnection when unexpected
islanding mode is detected
n R
obustness against load unbalances and grid
disturbances
n High configuration versatility

AFE Island µGrid

Sharing the required

Bidirectional power Generating the grid
Power Flow load power with other
Flow and feeding the loads local units
Setting voltage and Drooping or
Grid topology Coupling to mains frequency isochronous modes
DC link control Yes No No

Grid code support Yes N/A N/A

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 How to size VACON® NXP Grid Converter
for Smart Grids to the application
Function Functionality Basis for sizing
Functionality Map
The VACON® NXP can be used in many AFE Keeping grid clean while Motor load with typical cos φ=1,
maintaining robust DC-link for meaning kVA~kW
functions, as shown in the functionality motor drive(s)
map. In this section we will explain Off-shore Grid Creating and maintaining the Grid apparent and active power,
how to size the drive for smart grid AC-grid with other generators. and fault current feeding capability
applications Smart Grid Keeping grid clean while Active power of the energy source,
(On-shore Grid) maintaining robust DC-link and Grid code compliance.
for generation applications. kVA≠kW
Controlling energy flow between
source and grid while ensuring grid
compliance.
Generator Controlling generator loading, Sized using the same method used
speed and braking-torque, to for motor drives or an AFE. Power
ensure the necessary power take options are decided case by case.
out while not overloading the Rated according to electrical values
generator. in “DC-link”.
DC/DC Used for bi-directional power flow Sized using the tool. Dependent on
between DC-link and DC-source. Usource/Udc-link ratio.
Controls source voltage and/or
current.
DCGuard Used to provide fast detection of DC power flow capability as per the
short circuit situation in DC-grid nominal AC-current rating.
and to separate the healthy part
from the affected part.

Simulation
model
The VACON® NXP Grid Converter
simulation model is a Simulink model
for Matlab/Simulink circuit simulator

The model comprises two parts:

Electrical main circuit model

n D
C terminals and AC (3-phase)
terminals
n LCL filter included in the model

Control unit
n Power conversion control
n Application software
n Line voltage (OPT-D7)
measurement unit

Application functionality with

relevant tunable parameters
includes:
n A
FE mode including grid code
functionality
n MicroGrid mode

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Grid compliance for on-shore grid applications
The VACON® NXP Grid Converter Technical information
for Smart Grids
is a good and easy choice for most Basic functions
process applications requiring stable n Robust DC-link regulation
DC-bus for inverter modules and n Low harmonic AC grid current
effortless interaction with grid. n Unity power factor
This drive ensures grid-friendly n Support for grid voltage feedback
harmonic content. It also facilitates option
energy recovery back to grid when n Power and current limitation
excess energy from process is available. n Paralleling with out without drive-
to-drive communication
The VACON® NXP Grid Converter for n Automatic AC grid synchronization
smart grids offers these features to
enhance smart grid performance User interface
n Changes to parameter naming
n Design for public grid functionality (alarm, faults, warnings, info)
n Grid code approvals n Changes to the parameter structure
n Grid harmonics below or in n Wizard support for startup and
accordance with grid standards parametrization
n Energy recovery back to grid when n Change of start-up screen
the process delivers regenerative
energy
n Maintains DC-link at a stable
level even under non-ideal grid
conditions

Grid voltage behavior creates the need for voltage ratings. Control margins and dynamic capabilities create the need
This requirement is due to varying low-voltage and high- for current ratings. Due to low-voltage ride through (LVRT)
voltage ride through (LVRT and HVRT) expectations in expectations, the drive needs to be able to catch the grid
different grid codes. short-circuit situation.

AFE DC u DC u LCL u AFE AFE AC

e30bh274.10

u AFE
= ratio
u GRID
Vgrid u AFE u GRID

u DC u GRID
U
U DC max.

90% U DC ref.

UDC min. ∆U DC-AC

U HVRT

U +Tol

50% U Nom
U -Tol

20%

0 0V 0% LVRT

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 Time [s]

Danfoss Drives · DKDD.PB.924.A1.02 9

 Dimensioning example
Wind turbine application Calculation of safe range Selection
In a wind turbine application, the grid For a 690 VAC grid voltage plus 10%, The possible selections in the VACON®
converter controls the DC link to a we can have 759 V AC at the secondary NXP Grid Converter rating tables are:
specific voltage. The higher the voltage, side. n Air-cooled NXA_0920 6
the less current is needed for the same This translates to 1.575 x 759 = 1195 V n Liquid-cooled NXA_0750 6
power. Therefore, the required hardware DC, which is far above the1100 V DC Due to the HVRT requirements
can be smaller. If HVRT is required, limit. and control margin, the 690 V AC
investigate whether the maximum AC The value 1.575 comes from the ratio Grid Converter for this Smart Grid
voltage which can be reached in an 1.5 (√2 + control margin) between application has been rated at 600 VAC
HVRT translates to a DC level within the the DC link and INU side, plus 5% filter nominal voltage.
safe range. losses. The system is required to withstand
0% LVRT. Depending on system-level
Dimensioning data: Calculate maximum AC voltage characteristics such as the type of
n 600 kW wind turbine What is the highest possible AC generator, control, and pitch system,
n Must comply with grid codes voltage at the secondary side, which it may be necessary to install a brake
n HVRT = 110% does not lead to exceeding the chopper to control the turbine to
n LVRT = 0% maximum DC voltage of the DC link? ensure no overspeed.
n Grid voltage = 690 V AC ±10% Maximum V AC ≤ 1100/1.575 = 698 V
n Must be able to provide 0.95 cos phi AC.
This corresponds to an AC voltage
level with +10% voltage tolerance
and +10% if there is an HVRT episode,
so the nominal AC voltage should
correspond to:
Nominal V AC = 698/1.21 = 577 V AC.
Therefore a 690/577 V AC transformer
must be installed.

Calculate current rating

The wind turbine must export
the nominal power under all grid
conditions, so to calculate the current
rating, we must use the nominal AC
voltage with -10% tolerance, that is,

V=520 V AC.
P = 600 kW
= √3 × V × I × cos φ
= √3 × 520 V × I × 0.95
Therefore, the current rating I = 700 A

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Ratings
Unit (NXI) NXA Rated current for Grid
connected AFE inverters
Unit (NXI) Unit (AFE/Grid Cooling type Enclosure size NXI High NXI Low NXA Rated NXA Rated
Support) Overload Overload current for current for
IH [A] IL [A] Grid connected Grid support
AFE inverters inverters [A]
[A]
NXI_0168 5 NXA_0168 5 Air FI9 140 170 170 140
NXI_0205 5 NXA_0205 5 Air FI9 170 205 205 170
NXI_0261 5 NXA_0261 5 Air FI9 205 261 261 205
NXI_0385 5 NXA_0385 5 Air FI10 300 385 385 300
NXI_0460 5 NXA_0460 5 Air FI10 385 460 460 385
NXI_1150 5 NXA_1150 5 Air FI13 1030 1150 1150 1030
NXI_1300 5 NXA_1300 5 Air FI13 1150 1300 1300 1150
NXI_0125 6 NXA_0125 6 Air FI9 100 125 125 100
NXI_0144 6 NXA_0144 6 Air FI9 125 144 144 125
NXI_0170 6 NXA_0170 6 Air FI9 144 170 170 144
NXI_0261 6 NXA_0261 6 Air FI10 208 261 261 208
NXI_0325 6 NXA_0325 6 Air FI10 261 325 325 261
NXI_0920 6 NXA_0920 6 Air FI13 820 920 920 820
NXI_1030 6 NXA_1030 6 Air FI13 920 1030 1030 920
NXI_0168 5 NXA_0168 5 Liquid CH5 112 153 153 140
NXI_0205 5 NXA_0205 5 Liquid CH5 137 186 186 168
NXI_0261 5 NXA_0261 5 Liquid CH5 174 237 237 205
NXA_0300 5 NXA_0300 5 Liquid CH61 200 273 273 261
NXA_0385 5 NXA_0385 5 Liquid CH61 257 350 350 300
NXA_0460 5 NXA_0460 5 Liquid CH62 307 418 418 385
NXA_0520 5 NXA_0520 5 Liquid CH62 347 473 473 460
NXA_0590 5 NXA_0590 5 Liquid CH62 393 536 536 520
NXA_0650 5 NXA_0650 5 Liquid CH62 433 591 591 590
NXA_0730 5 NXA_0730 5 Liquid CH62 487 664 664 650
NXA_0820 5 NXA_0820 5 Liquid CH63 547 745 745 730
NXA_0920 5 NXA_0920 5 Liquid CH63 613 836 836 820
NXA_1030 5 NXA_1030 5 Liquid CH63 687 936 936 920
NXA_1150 5 NXA_1150 5 Liquid CH63 766 1045 1045 1030
NXA_1370 5 NXA_1370 5 Liquid CH64 913 1245 1245 1150
NXA_1640 5 NXA_1640 5 Liquid CH64 1093 1491 1491 1370
NXA_2060 5 NXA_2060 5 Liquid CH64 1373 1873 1873 1640
NXA_2300 5 NXA_2300 5 Liquid CH64 1533 2091 2091 2060
NXA_0170 6 NXA_0170 6 Liquid CH61 113 155 155 144
NXA_0208 6 NXA_0208 6 Liquid CH61 139 189 189 170
NXA_0261 6 NXA_0261 6 Liquid CH61 174 237 237 208
NXA_0325 6 NXA_0325 6 Liquid CH62 217 295 295 261
NXA_0385 6 NXA_0385 6 Liquid CH62 257 350 350 325
NXA_0416 6 NXA_0416 6 Liquid CH62 277 378 378 385
NXA_0460 6 NXA_0460 6 Liquid CH62 307 418 418 416
NXA_0502 6 NXA_0502 6 Liquid CH62 335 456 456 460
NXA_0590 6 NXA_0590 6 Liquid CH63 393 536 536 502
NXA_0650 6 NXA_0650 6 Liquid CH63 433 591 591 590
NXA_0750 6 NXA_0750 6 Liquid CH63 500 682 682 650
NXA_0820 6 NXA_0820 6 Liquid CH64 547 745 745 750
NXA_0920 6 NXA_0920 6 Liquid CH64 613 836 836 820
NXA_01030 6 NXA_01030 6 Liquid CH64 687 936 936 920
NXA_01180 6 NXA_01180 6 Liquid CH64 787 1073 1073 1030
NXA_01300 6 NXA_01300 6 Liquid CH64 867 1182 1182 1180
NXA_01500 6 NXA_01500 6 Liquid CH64 1000 1364 1364 1300
NXA_01700 6 NXA_01700 6 Liquid CH64 1133 1545 1545 1500

Danfoss Drives · DKDD.PB.924.A1.02 11

A better tomorrow is driven by drives
Danfoss Drives is a world leader in electrification and variable speed
control of electric motors.
We offer you unparalleled competitive edge through quality, application-optimized
products and a comprehensive range of product lifecycle services.
You can rely on us to share your goals. Striving for the best You will find it easy to do business with us. Online, and locally
possible performance in your applications is our focus. in more than 50 countries, our experts are never far away,
We achieve this by providing the innovative products and reacting fast when you need them.
application know-how required to optimize efficiency,
enhance usability, and reduce complexity. You gain the benefit of decades of experience, since 1968.
Our low-voltage and medium-voltage AC drives are used
From supplying individual drive components to planning in diverse facets of electrification, and with all major motor
and delivering complete drive systems; our experts are ready brands and technologies in power sizes from small to large.
to support you all the way.

For more information visit our website

DKDD.PB.924.A1.02 © Copyright Danfoss Drives | 2019.12