Influence of synchronous condensers on operation characteristics of double-infeed LCC-HVDCs

Abstract

Considering the advantages that dynamic reactive power (var) equipment (such as synchronous condensers (SCs), which can control var independently and improve voltage stability), SCs are widely used in AC/DC hybrid power grid to provide emergency var and voltage support. In order to evaluate the dynamic var reserve capacity of SCs and analyze the influence of SCs on the operation characteristics of power system, a model with double-infeed line-commutated converter-based high-voltage direct currents (LCC-HVDCs) and SCs is established. Through theoretical derivation and PSCAD/EMTDC simulation, the effects of SCs on the operation characteristics of double-infeed LCC-HVDCs networks are studied. Then, the non-smooth voltage waveform of electromagnetic transient simulation is approximately transformed into smooth waveform by data fitting method. Finally, the processed voltage waveform is searched step by step to explore the boundary of voltage safety region to determine the dynamic var reserve capacity of SCs. The numerical results show that SCs can enlarge the voltage security region of the direct current (DC) subsystem, thus effectively improving the steady-state and transient security level of the double-infeed LCC-HVDCs networks.