Minimum Short Circuit Ratio Requirement for MMC-HVDC Systems Based on Small-Signal Stability Analysis

Abstract

This paper determines the minimum short circuit ratio (SCR) requirement for a modular multilevel converter based high-voltage direct current (MMC-HVDC) transmission systems. Firstly, a simplified model of MMC is introduced; the MMC is represented by its AC and DC side equivalent circuit. Next, by linearizing the MMC subsystem and the DC network subsystem, the deduction of the small-signal models of MMC subsystem, the small-signal model of the DC network and MMC-HVDC are carried out successively. Thirdly, the procedure for determining the minimum SCR requirement of MMC-HVDC is described. Finally, case studies are performed on a two-terminal MMC-HVDC system under four typical control schemes. The results show that the restraint factors for the rectifier MMC is predominantly the voltage safety limit constraint, and the restraint factors for the inverter MMC are mainly the phase locked loop (PLL) or the outer reactive power controller. It is suggested that the minimum SCR requirement for the sending and the receiving systems should be 2.0 and 1.5 in the planning stage.

Keywords

• modular multilevel converter (MMC-HVDC)
• small signal stability
• minimum SCR
• control scheme