Latest Control and Protection Innovations Applied to the Basslink

HVDC Interconnector

t
Dr. M. Davies*, A. Kolz*, M. Kuhn*, D. Monkhouse , J. Strauss*

* Siemens AG, Power Transmission and Distribution, Freyeslebenstr. 1,91058 Erlangen, Germany;

davies.mark@siemens.com;andreas.koelz@siemens.com; matthias.kuhn@siemens.com;john.strauss@siemens.com
t National Grid, Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick CV34 6DA, UK, david.monkhouse@uk.ngrid.com

Keywords: HVDC Transmission, Basslink, HVDC Control already in operation for other industrial applications e.g. for
and Protection, Win-TDC drive controls. Win-TDC will complete its first HVDC
application when the Basslink Interconnector comes into
Abstract commercial operation.

This paper describes the control and protection (C&P) system 2.1 Design Considerations
of the Basslink HVDC Interconnector project and in
particular Win-TDC, the latest innovation from Siemens in Based on well established and widely used industry process
the field of HVDC controls. The key aspects of the C&P controllers, Win-TDC realizes a high degree of reliability and
structure and its redundancy are addressed. Reviews of performance while guaranteeing a long product lifecycle and
measurement integration, monitoring, communication and professional support. As from the mid 80's Siemens applied
time synchronisation, plus a brief overview of the design the powerful SIMADYN 0 and SIMA TIC control system
process (including off- and on-site tests) are also given. technology to design the HVOe control and protection
Special features, e.g. the control concept of the exceptionally system for many HVDe systems worldwide. Combining
long HVDC cable, power control functions according to these experiences with recent technology developments in the
market dispatch targets, flexible overload functions and the field of industrial controls, Win-TOC provides the following
Basslink frequency controller (which acts upon the frequency improvements compared to its predecessor:
difference between the Tasmanian and Victorian systems) - High integration and processing power leads to a reduction
will also be covered. of processor boards and components and thus to a
significant reduction of space consumption
- Fast communication links allow an independent, central
1 Introduction
and redundant measuring system, resulting in a highly
Basslink provides the first electrical interconnection between reliable design
the Australian states of Tasmania and Victoria. This can only - The use of Microsoft Windows® based systems for all
be realised by means of a DC transmission system and is operator control, monitoring and engineering purposes
implemented with a monopolar HVDe interconnector using enhances acceptance of users and reduces training effort
metallic return. The Bass Strait is crossed with HV and MV The development of Win-TOC included intensive tests of the
submarine cables of about 295 km length, with an additional entire system on a Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS)
8 km of cable and 66 km of De overhead line on land. The before it was applied to Basslink Interconnector project.
rated power of the link is 500 MW at a De voltage of 400kV
including a flexible overload capability of 626 MW for up to 2.2 Basslink Control and Protection Structure
8 hours per day. The HVDe converter stations are connected
to a 220kV AC system in Tasmania and 500kV AC system in The C&r system for the Basslink Interconnector follows the
Victoria. well-proven Siemens hierarchical structure, see Figure I:
- Operator Control and Monitoring Level
- Control and Protection Level
2 Win-TDC -Innovative HVDC C&P System
- Field Level
Digital technology for control and protection of HVDC The different levels are interconnected by powerful redundant
systems has been successfully introduced over the last twenty serial communication links like Fast Ethernet (IEEE 802.3u)
years [3J. Win-TDe. the latest innovation from Siemens in and PROFIBUS DP (EN 50170). The use of standardised
the field of HVDC controls, offers beneficial improvements communication protocols, e.g. TCP/IP and UDP, allows easy
for present and future HVDC projects. The system is based on adoption to specific requirements and flexible implementation
the SIMA TIC WinCe Human Machine Interface (HMI) and of additional features like remote access for maintenance
the SIMATIC TDe (Technology and Drive Control) control purposes.
system which leads to the name Win-TDC. Both systems are

30
Operator Control aod Monitoring level

Master
Slalion
TFR

I Win-Toe Innovation I
ENG:
Field Bus (PROFIBUS DP)
El1oQin�rH1g
FB:

GPS Global POSliiOl"li1"lg Syste-m

FO- FibreOplic

Human Milmine Interface

LAN: local Area N@twork (F<lSl
HMI:

NEMMCO: N9tlonal E1ecl!'1city Market

Elhernet)

Management Company
f1 PADU OPGW: Optical Ground Wi�
measured measured measured PAQU
Values Tnmsient FaLJ.11 Recorder
Paralllll-Mill09-DiMal-Un�t

AC Feeder Values DC Yarn transformer Values TDM

TFR:
Process Level Time Division Muhlpl-exing

Figure I: Basslink Win-TDC Control and Protection Structure Showing Redundancies

station via a dedicated high speed network ensuring very

2.3 Operator Control and Monitoring, Communication short download times of less than 10 seconds even in case of
larg e amounts of recorded data. As an integral part of Win­
The operator control and monitoring level consists of the TDC, the TFR is directly connected to the measuring systems
HMI system for control and monitoring of the plant, the via serial fibre optic links. Thereby the measured values are
remote control interface (RCI) for communication to control recorded without additional AID conversion. Powerful
centres, the transient fault recording system (TFR) and the features suc h as on-line Fast Fourier Transform are available.
inter station communication system. The remote control interface (RCI) communicates with the
The fully redundant HMI system for operation of the link controls centres using the DNP3 protocol. This Linux based
from the control room at the converter stations runs on system is realised on an industri al PC which is connected to
standard Microsoft Windows® personal computers.
th e control systems via the redundant Local Area Network
Overviews as well as detailed information of subsystems are
(LAN). To provide a common time base for all station
presented to the operator in a well structured manner equipment like computers, control and protection systems as
providing a quick yet comprehensive system overview. The well as 110 per ipheral s, central GPS based master clocks
integ rated sequence of events recording m odule (SER) logs system are used.
and archives all alarms, warnings and status messages of the LAN communication within the converter stations is based on
whole plant with a one millisecond time resolution. the industrial twisted pair (ITP) standard using standardised
Customised reports can be created by powerful sorting and network components (sw itches, routers). Redundant
filtering functions. Through the integrated tag logging
telecommunication equipment interconnects the LANs of the
function recorded values are readily available as trend curves.
two converter stations and provides the interface to the
Simple and quick configuration of the HMI system is done control centres. Inter-station communication is routed via the
with the WinCC Explorer which is fully integrated into the
OPGW on the DC transmission lines and the fibre optic sea
Windows environment. As the WinCC software is used cable. Special power boosters allow communication over the
throughout the automation industry world wide, a large
303km cable link without additional submarine amplifiers
number of WinCC add-ons, e.g. web based access, are readily
being required.
available from Siemens and third party suppliers.
With ibaScope Win-TDC introduces a new transient fault
2.4 Control and Protection Level
recording system. The TFR master station provides the
central interfac e for evaluation and configuration. Data from The Control and Protection Level comprises the Station
the decentralised peripherals is transferred to the master ContrOl, Pole Control, DC Protection and Measuring systems.

31
These systems, as well as the AC filter main protections, are 3 Special Basslink Control Features
based on the latest development in the Siemens family of
Programmable Logic Controllers - SIMATIC TOe.
SIMATIC TDC includes a powerful standard function block 3.1 Special Controls for Long DC Cab le
library, the possibility of graphical programming and enables
a high integration of control and protection functions while The combination of the long DC cable and a weak AC system

maintaining redundancy [3]. at the inverter station posed new challenges for the control
One major innovation of Win-TDC is the central measuring system. Although the mainland Victorian grid is always
strong, under contingency events it is possible for the
system connected to the different control and protection
Tasmanian grid to become very weak when importing power.
systems and providing the interface to the well proven
Since the generating capability of the Tasmanian system is
Siemens hybrid optical DC measuring system, see Figure 2.
dominated by hydroelectricity, a quite quick re-configuration
The AC and DC system quantities are transmitted to the
of the generating sources is possible and optimal efficiency
various contro I and protection processors via a high-speed
places constraints on the provision of spinning reserve.
optical Time Division Multiplexing (TOM) bus. This design
Therefore the HVDC system had to demonstrate robust
significantly reduces the compleXity of the system thus
performance following faults in a very weak Tasmanian
enhancing maintainability and reducing space consumption.
system. Although export from Tasmania to Victoria can reach
DC Switchyard Control Room higher power levels this was not so demanding since the
DC shunt FOTDM Bus
required number of generator sets automatically lead to an
tocap

"f
Sy�tem-s increased SCR. The worst-case event involved tripping of the
-----, large Gordon generator while importing into an already
I
weakened Tasmanian system (a fault level at George Town of
just 1.I8GVA). Based on the transformer's MVA rating this
gives an SCR of 1.9.
OR I "---.._....J While steady state stability can also worsen with a reduced

DC voltage
divider
lf Electrical
Ener-gy
SCR, the general challenge with line-commutated HVDC
systems is the maintenance of a robust fault recovery

12�
��!�:�
performance following severe AC faults - especially at a
I I
Ud
weak inverter station. The converter is reliant upon a
- L __ .:.. __ J reasonable AC voltage quality for the commutation process
Sensor head C&P Measuring Cubicle
and the control must also have a damped response to prevent
OPTOS
-= (High voltage electroni-cs)
I (Ground level electronics) commutation failure due to insufficient "gamma" margin. The
Figure 2: Overview of Hybrid Optical DC Measuring System extra difficulty given by the long DC cable is that it
diminishes the assistance /Tom the rectifier station.
The Pole Control is the heart of the HVDC control system Effectively the long cable de-couples the two converter
where power and current control as well as frequency control stations and although the rectifier remains in current control,
are carried out. The Station Control integrates the HVDC the de-coupling prevents it from adequately damping the
system into the existing power system (e.g. reactive power current at the inverter. There were two control features which
control) and carries out administrative functions (e.g. combined to obviate this problem.
managing the control authorities). The redundancy concept,
hardware modules and basic software modules (e.g. 3.1.1 Phase Angle Damping
communication software) of Pole Control and Station Control
are identical. Therefore plant engineers need only become With reduced SCR the swing between the phase angle of the
familiar with one PLC language and hardware platform. Pole AC system and the converter during re-synchronisation
Control and Station Control are designed as fully redundant following severe faults increases. This manifests as a power
systems. Both redundant systems operate with identical states oscillation with a heightened risk of commutation failure in
with om: system active and the other passive. This allows the recovery period. To prevent this, the DC current at the
redundancy switchovers without disturbance to power inverter was fed into the phase-locked loop via a band pass
transmission. filter, thereby damping the phase angle for fast changes in
The protective systems ensure that all possible faults are real power - refer to Figure 3.
detected, selectively acted upon and announced. The QIJ-fder +" �� 12
protection systems are divided into main and backup systems. -----------
.. � //firing-
Pulses
Where different principles cannot be used the protection is
equipped with redundant systems. To reduce interfaces and
complexity, the processor and 110 boards of the DC
Protection systems and Pole Control are installed in the same Figure 3: Block Diagram of Phase Angle Damping
racks. To realise strict separation of control and protection
tasks, the DC protection functions are carried out on separate
processor boards using their own I/O boards and TOM bus
connections.

32
3.1.2 Ud Reference Reduction prevent equipment from being overloaded, current limitation
functions have been implemented for all relevant equipment,
In the Tasmanian grid, remote AC faults may persist for up to e.g. converter transformers, DC cable, thyristor valves, AC
0.5 seconds. If there is an initial commutation failure the filters. The consumed lifetime L of the converter transformers
HVDC system should recover and continue operation at a is determined within a floating 24h interval based on the
reduced power level - with the inverter now operating at its measured winding hot spot temperature THS as follows:
gamma limit of 17°. It was found that with the low SCR T�-C
24h - At "I
system a better response time/stability compromise was L(I,) = L(t,-"I)*----u,;;-+v(r,)* 24h w;rh V(I,)=2 '
obtained with an indirect method of gamma control. This is
with I1t = I minute, tl - actual time, C - unity aging rate
implemented by reducing the Ud reference voltage as a
function of the AC voltage magnitude, as shown in Figure 4. Values L > I mean lifetime consumption, whereas L < I
The reduced AC voltage correctly defines the lower Ud means life time saving. For L � I the DC current wi11 be
required at the inverter and because it is less influenced by limited to the nominal value to prevent accelerated aging.
changes in real power flow (compared with the gamma A cable load prediction system (CLPS) has been installed by
measurement) a more robust response is achieved. the cable manufacturer. It operates on basis of predetermined
data of the environmental and laying conditions. In particular,
Uacmifl al1 thermal sections, cable type, laying configurations and
burial depths are considered for load prediction and
calculation of the actual cable current limitation value. The
u. Rof. O.5pu limitation value is interfaced to the Pole Control to restrict the
Figure 4: Block Diagram ofUd Reference Reduction DC current accordingly.

3.2 Basslink Frequency Controller 3.4 Power Target Control

The principle concept of the Basslink Frequency Controller The Basslink Interconnector integrates Tasmania into the
(FC) is to control the system frequencies of the connected Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). This market is
networks based on the measured frequency deviations operated by NEMMCO, the National Electricity Market
between the two networks. The Victorian actual frequency Management Company. Wholesale trading in electricity is
contribution is predefined by the Basslink Objective Function conducted as a spot market where supply and demand are
(BOF). Considering the power direction of the HVDC system instantaneously matched in real-time through a centrally­
the Frequency Control function calculates an additional coordinated dispatch process [I]. Within this process, the
modulation power order taking the mentioned frequency Basslink Interconnector is continuously dispatched by power
standards between the two systems into account. The targets. These targets are transmitted to the HVDe controls
frequency controller is active on the rectifier side (when via control centres and ReI every 5 minutes. A target defines
enabled by the operator). The Basslink Frequency Controller the power level to be transmitted at the end of the 5 minute
forms an integral part of the overal1 control mechanisms for interval. Due to the nature of the HVDC transmission system,
Basslink and it manages power transfer between the two i.e. the possibility to change power flow direction and the
interconnected systems in real time. The Frequency +/-50MW dead band of the link, special procedures have been
Controller will transfer appropriate quantities of Frequency developed in cooperation with NEMMCO and the AC system
Control Ancillary Services (PCAS), as well as enhancing operators to integrate Basslink into the NEM. Main features
other aspects of power system security. of the power target control function are

Frequency - Calculation of power ramping speed to meet the target

- Power reversal sequence within one or more dispatch
50Hz
Frequency from intervals, taking into account 2 minute cable deionisation
- Special AC filter controls to minimise system disturbance
otherStatio!l '+

Vidona Sl<lllon
during power reversals, i.e. filter(s) remain connected
during 2 minute cable deionisation time
- Coordination with frequency controller ensures that target
Abbl'e\'iations:: control is not disturbed by previous frequency deviations.

F��el"lcy
BOF Ba-s.slink. Qblecti'lfl Function

Fe FreQuency COl'ltml�r 4 Design and Testing Principles

KP Proportional Coefficient
TN lntsgral Action Tlfl1@
p""FG
The design process of the Basslink control and protection
system has a number of quality assurance review milestones
at which the functionality and performance of the controls
and protections are verified [2), see Figure 6.
3.3 Flexible Overload Functions

The Pole Control incorporates functions to flexibly utilise the

inherent overload capabilities of the primary equipment. To

33
 Real Time
'��·;��n:�:t��
Hardware Design and protection logic as well as equivalents for the complete
ManufaCIUftng AC and HVDC systems.
Oeslgn
Contract S;pecjfi�
cation .
Software Design
' and. P�:Te� ti �g : Dynamic
�e,",om'lan.c�" ..-
,'On-site Oper­
Tests ation
4.2 On-Site Testing
EMTDC'1 Control and Protection Study

')
.. _
EfJlTDC: Efectro Magnetic Transient Program for DC Application
- . �_ ._u _ ____ �. __
For comparison the EMTDC simulated as well as actual
onsite recordings are presented for a DC line fault thrown at
Figure 6: Design and Testing Concept and Quality Assurance
the George Town converter station overhead line while
importing 100 MW from Victoria to Tasmania. Figures 7, 8
4.1 Design and OtT·Site Testing
and 9 show the actual system measurements (black traces)
The design process generally falls into two categories: the compared to the simulated EMTDC results (grey traces) for
actual software development, which utilizes a real time DC current, voltage and firing angle.
simulator and concept development in non-real time. Since 350 ,-_., ..
the SIMATIC TDC platform debuted for Basslink a new non­
300
---_.[ Tr-r l-r�TTT1-I-l
""'

I�/r "Yf-rr' "T

real time simulation model was needed to fully reflect the
hierarchical structure of the TDC software. To achieve this, 250
I... ". '''1 "]
the Electromagnetic Transient Program for DC Applications
r�
ri.

I -ldCH_M!
200
i

-I - T
(EMTDC) was used under its latest version PSCAD4, which
also has hierarchical modeling capabilities. It was essential 150

that the non real time simulation accurately reflected the real I ; -�
- IdCH S
i
100
software stand and so all control and protection functions
I I
J...k�
50
with time constants of less than about 5s were copied directly
r
I
Ge orge Town
into the model. As part of this process Siemens developed its r--- �
J I rI_ _J_ __L
Id CH(Amps)

own TOC library for use within PSCAD. This allowed a

faithful reproduction of the actual software's functionality
·50
0.9 1.4
'---- --'---'-- .
1.9 2.4 sec I
while also conveying a good graphical likeness to it. As Figure 7: DC Current - High Voltage (ldCH)
shown in Figure 6 EMTDC studies run in parallel with the
other design activities and since EMTDC runs on standard The difference between measured and simulated current is
PCs, simulation results are produced relatively early in the caused by the integral portion of the frequency controller
project. By using non-real time simulation, optimized settings which leads to steady state offset modulation.
for the control and protection systems can be generated as
50
soon as the actual hardware becomes available. The .----- -1

t�t _\,_4__
development process itself is somewhat iterative. In g ene ral

-rI -UdCH_M
.
new functionality is tried and tested in non-real time before
being imported in the actual implementation. Here it can be
further optimized, for instance to minimize processing time,
\i
before being re-checked by EMTDC. r---_ , . ,---_1
\1 j
.200

Off-site testing comprises functional as well as dynamic

performance testing of the control systems according to
-250

-300 - It UdCH
J
- S

specification. The objective of the functional performance - 350 �. �

I
--- GeorgeTown
testing of the control and pro tection equipment is to check UdCH (kV)
proper operation of the individual controls and correct
interaction and functionality of relevant interfaces.
��� . �___ ___ �_.=:j--
The aim of dynamic performance tests is to analyze the
interaction between the AC and DC systems as well as to
verilY the proper control and protection behaviour under
Figure 8: DC Voltage - High Voltage Bus (UdCH)
--
--
-- - -
-- -- ---- 1
dynamic, transient, quasi steady state and steady state 160
---L
-----.--�

155
..,-__��__r_
conditions. For this purpose two types of digital simulators
are used: 150 I. /'
145
1\ V
I. For real time digital simulation the actual Win-TDC
-�
control and protection system is connected to a Real Time

'=\- /1
140

135
-FiringA_M
I
Digital Simulator (RTDS®) provided by RTDS
Technologies. RTDS is used for modelling the complete 130 Firin9l\_S
HVDC Transmission system (converter, valves,
smoothing reactor and DC-cable etc.) together with a
125

120
--W- 1 GeorgeTown
115
i I Firing Angle
model of the AC grid complete with source impedance I
110· (deg)
and filter banks.
2.4 sec
2. For off-line or non-real time digital simulations EMTDC
0.9 1.4 1.9
'----.
is utilised, which consists of the principle control and
Figure 9: Firing Angle (Alpha)

34
Conclusion

Successful commissioning tests of the Basslink HVDC

Interconnector proved the capability of the new Win-TDC
control and protection system and its ability to flexibly adapt
to project specific needs.

References

[I) National Electricity Market Management Company Ltd.,

"An Introduction to Australia's National Electricity
Market", p.6, ISBN 0-646-41233-7 (June 2005)
[2) Siemens AG, Power Transmission and Distribution High
Voltage Division, "Win-TDC - The State-of-the-Art
Control and Protection System for HVDC Applications
from Siemens" (June 2003)
[3) Georg Wild, "Win-TDC The New Powerful HVDC
Control and Protection System", ClORE-Colloquium on
Role of HVDC, FACTS and Emerging Technologies in
Evolving Power Systems, 17-24 September 2005,
Bangalore, India

35