3.1. Hybrid DC Multi-Infeed AC/DC Interconnected System Topology Structure
The constructed hybrid AC/DC interconnected system with multiple DC inputs, as shown in Fig. 1, features the transmitting end's DC section consisting of two distinct ±500kV hybrid DC transmission lines: a bipolar double-end line commutated converter-modular multilevel converter (LCC-MMC) transmission system and a pseudo-bipolar double-end LCC-VSC transmission system. The receiving end's AC section comprises a 230kV dual-source system, with M and N denoting the positions of the protection units on both sides of the line. rM represents the calculation reference point at end M, and rN represents the calculation reference point at end N, defining the protection scope from the protection installation point to the reference point on that side. The overlap of the protection scopes at both ends indicates the range for determining internal faults, denoted by the green area in Fig. 1. This study focuses primarily on the central section, MN, where f1 and f5 represent faults occurring outside the protection scope, f2 represents a fault occurring solely within the protection scope at end N but outside the reverse area, f3 represents a fault occurring within the protection scope at both ends M and N, and f4 represents a fault occurring solely within the protection scope at end M but outside the forward area.
In an LCC-VSC system, the rectifier side comprises two sets of twelve-pulse LCC converters connected in series. The rectifier side direct current is input into the constant current control circuit, which controls the α angle to regulate the rectifier-side converters. On the inverter side, low-cost and highly stable two-level VSC modules are employed. Through vector control, the modulated waves are input into the pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, which then produces the control signals.
In an LCC-MMC system, the rectifier side is similar to that of the LCC-VSC system, whereas the inverter side consists of two MMC modules connected in series. Input signals related to inverter-side power and current are sent to the inner and outer loop control circuits, and the output signals are directed to the bridge arms to control the inverter-side converters.
Figure 1.
Topology diagram of the hybrid DC multi-feed system.
Figure 1.
Topology diagram of the hybrid DC multi-feed system.
3.2. Reference Voltage Calculation and System Fault Characteristics
The similarity of the voltage waveforms between the measuring point and the reference point is calculated to determine if a fault has occurred, and the position of the reference point needs to be determined. The reference point is usually located outside the protection line to ensure sufficient sensitivity. Additionally, to reduce errors, the reference point should not be too far away; scholars both domestically and abroad typically position it within the range of 1.2 to 2.0 times the length of the protected line [
23]. After extensive simulation experiments, it has been found that placing the reference point at 1.3 times the length of the line can meet the experimental requirements outlined in this paper, while allowing for flexible adjustments within the range based on specific protection needs and interference considerations.
Compared to traditional purely AC lines, in a multi-infeed interconnected grid, significant non-periodic components are introduced into the DC system after a fault occurs. This results in a more complex variation of electrical quantities in the AC lines. Obtaining accurate voltage phasors through traditional Fourier algorithms no longer guarantees accuracy. Instead, this paper proposes using instantaneous measurement methods to calculate the reference voltage, taking the M-side as an example.
In Fig. 2 (a), ZSM and ZSN represent the equivalent system impedances on both sides of the AC line, Im and Um represent the instantaneous measured currents and voltages, and Ir and Ur represent the instantaneous reference currents and voltages. Due to the rectifying sides of the hybrid multi-infeed DC system using constant current control, and the inverting side voltage being determined by the receiving-end AC bus, both can be considered equivalent to a voltage-controlled current source controlled by the receiving end. ΔIdc.MMC and ΔIdc.VSC represent the equivalent fault component currents for the LCC-MMC and LCC-VSC hybrid DC systems, respectively.
Based on the situation of the completed and ongoing multi-infeed AC/DC hybrid power grid projects, this paper sets a total line length of 160 km, using an equivalent π-type line model considering the electric shunt, as depicted in Fig. 2(b). After measuring the instantaneous current value
Im and the instantaneous voltage
Um, the reference voltage
Ur can be obtained through the differential equation in Equation (12).
Figure 2.
Schematic diagram of system and line model (a) Simplify the system model; (b) Schematic diagram of system and line model.
Figure 2.
Schematic diagram of system and line model (a) Simplify the system model; (b) Schematic diagram of system and line model.
Under normal operation, the voltage waveforms at the measurement point and reference point are similar. To analyze the fault characteristics of the system at different locations, we take the occurrence of a ground fault as an example and analyze the measured voltage Um and the reference voltage Ur. Assuming the fault occurs at location k1 as illustrated in Fig. 2(a), which represents an external fault in the opposite direction of MrM, as shown in Fig. 3:
Figure 3.
Schematic diagram of out-of-reverse fault system.
Figure 3.
Schematic diagram of out-of-reverse fault system.
At this point in time, the actual current direction is opposite to the measured current direction during normal operation, hence Equation (12) can be rewritten as:
where
Rʹ
f,
Lʹ
f, and
Cʹ
frepresent the resistance, inductance, and capacitance values from measurement point
M to fault point
k1, respectively.
Rʹ
r,
Lʹ
r, and
Cʹ
r represent the resistance, inductance, and capacitance values from measurement point
M to reference point
rM, respectively. By comparing the two equations, it can be concluded that although there are differences in the amplitude of the measured voltage
Uʹ
m and the reference voltage
Uʹ
r, their variation trends are consistent. The computational relationship deduced from Equation (14) is identical to that of Equation (12), indicating that when an external fault occurs in the reverse direction area, the measured voltage and the reference voltage waveforms are similar.
Assuming that the fault occurs at position k3 as shown in Fig. 2 (a), i.e., an external fault in the positive direction of MrM, as illustrated in Fig. 4:
Figure 4.
Schematic diagram of out-of-zone fault system.
Figure 4.
Schematic diagram of out-of-zone fault system.
At this time, the actual current direction is the same as the measured current direction under normal operation, rewriting Equation (1) as follows:
where
Rʺ
f,
Lʺ
f, and
Cʺ
frepresent the resistance, inductance, and capacitance values from measurement point
M to fault point
k3, respectively.
Rʺ
r,
Lʺ
r, and
Cʺ
r respectively represent the resistance, inductance, and capacitance values from measurement point
M to reference point
rM. By comparing Equations (15) and (16), it can be observed that although there is a difference in the magnitude of the measured voltage
Uʺ
m and the reference voltage
Uʺ
r, their variation follows a consistent pattern. The computational relationship derived from Equation (16) is the same as Equation (12), indicating that when an external fault occurs, the measured voltage and the reference voltage waveforms are similar.
Suppose that the fault has occurred at k2 in the area of MrM, as shown in Fig. 2(a), depicting an internal fault in the MrM area, as illustrated in Fig. 5:
Figure 5.
Schematic diagram of fault system in the area.
Figure 5.
Schematic diagram of fault system in the area.
At this time, the fault branch between
Mr and
M is increased, and the line structure is disrupted. Based on the characteristic that the distance from measuring point
M to reference point
rM is greater than to the fault point during an internal fault, Equation (1) is modified as follows:
where
Rʺʹ
f,
Lʺʹ
f, and
Cʺʹ
frespectively represent the resistance value, inductance value, and capacitance value from measuring point
M to fault point
k2.
Rʺʹ
r,
Lʺʹ
r, and
Cʺʹ
r represent the resistance value, inductance value, and capacitance value from measuring point
M to reference point
rM. By comparing Equations (17) and (18), it can be inferred that although there are differences in the amplitude of the measured voltage
Uʺʹ
m and the reference voltage
Uʺʹ
r, their variation trends remain consistent. Equation (18) deduces an operational relationship opposite to that of Equation (12), indicating that when an internal fault occurs, the measured voltage and the reference voltage waveforms are dissimilar.
In summary, it can be concluded that during an internal fault, the measured voltage and the reference voltage waveforms are dissimilar, whereas during normal operation and external fault occurrence, the voltage waveforms are similar. This provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent use of voltage comprehensive waveform similarity.
3.3. Protection Action Criteria
By employing the calculation method in
Section 2.5, the comprehensive waveform similarity at both ends is obtained. From the computed results for the three phases, the maximum values are denoted as MAX(
DMφ) and MAX(
DNφ), and a threshold value
Dset is established. When the voltage comprehensive waveform similarity exceeds the threshold value, it indicates dissimilarity between the two voltage waveforms. Considering the topological structure and operational conditions of the AC/DC hybrid system, along with practical engineering requirements and a large volume of simulation data, the threshold value
Dset is chosen as 1.2. By comparing the relationship between MAX(
DMφ), MAX(
DNφ), and the protection threshold value
Dset, fault locations can be further determined.
When MAX(DMφ) < Dset and MAX(DNφ) > Dset, the fault occurs between protection device M and reference point rM, that is, the position f2 in Fig. 1 represents an external fault.
When MAX(DMφ) > Dset and MAX(DNφ) < Dset, the fault occurs between protection device N and the reference point rN, indicating that the fault location is external, as illustrated in position f4 in Fig. 1.
When MAX(DMφ) < Dset and MAX(DNφ) < Dset, the fault occurs in areas outside protection devices M and N, i.e., positions f1 and f5 in Fig. 1 indicate an external fault zone.
When MAX(DMφ) > Dset and MAX(DNφ) > Dset, the fault is determined to have occurred between the two protective devices, i.e., the location f3 in Fig. 1 indicates an internal fault, triggering the protective action.
When a fault occurs, the fault component of the current will increase or decrease. Based on the magnitude of this sudden change, protection initiation criteria can be established, and the fault component of the current can be extracted using the superposition theorem.
where
t denotes the sampling instant.
Is(
t) represents the actual current value at location
s at instant
t. Δ
Is(
t) stands for the fault component of the current extracted at location
s at instant
t for protection measurement.
T represents the selected pre-fault sampling instant. Considering the system's operational stability, typically the two sampling cycles before the fault are chosen. Based on the variation in the fault component of the current obtained from Equation (19), the initiation criterion can be obtained as follows:.
where Δ
IsMφ and Δ
IsNφ respectively denote the change in current fault components at the protection installation points on sides
M and
N. Here,
φ=A, B, C represents the phase sequence index,
k is the reliability factor, and
In stands for the rated line current. As long as any of the judgment conditions in Equations (20) and (21) are satisfied, the calculation of the comprehensive voltage waveform distance similarity can be initiated to further determine the fault area.
Based on the above fault analysis process and the introduction of the protection scheme, the overall protection process can be illustrated as shown in Fig. 6, with the specific steps outlined below:
(1) Run the system model, debug the protection measurement devices, collect electrical signal data, and extract the sampled values of voltage and current for the M and N ends of the AC transmission line using preset sensors.
(2) Extract transient changes in fault component from the sampled current values at ends M and N, and determine if a fault has occurred using a protection initiation criterion. When the criterion is met, it indicates a fault in the system.
(3) Calculate the reference voltages at both ends based on the sampled voltage and current values, and use the method of least squares to fit the waveform trend of the sampled and calculated values, thereby filtering out high-order harmonic interference.
(4) Derive the comprehensive waveform distance similarity metrics DMφ and DNφ between the measured voltage and the reference voltage at both ends of the line. Compare the maximum values of DMφ and DNφ with the protection set value Dset to determine the fault occurrence region.
When DMφ > Dset and DNφ > Dset, the fault is determined to occur between the two protective devices, indicating an internal fault, located at position f3 in Fig. 1; otherwise, it is determined to be an external fault.