Protection of VSC-Multi-Terminal HVDC against DC Faults
Lianxiang Tang, Boon-Teck Ooi, Senior Member, IEEE
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
McGill University
3480 University Street
Montreal, P. Q.
CANADA, H3A 2A7
Abstract-Voltage-Source Converters (VSCs), by themselves,
are defenseless against dc faults. Their anti-parallel diodes
conduct as rectifier bridges to feed the fault. Their IGBTs
(Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) are helplessly by-passed,
unable to extinguish the fault current. This paper shows how a
VSC-Multi-Terminal High Voltage Direct Current (MTDC)
transmission system can survive dc faults by a Protection Scheme
based on: (1) fast, reliable fault detection; (2) blocking of IGBT-
Circuit Breakers (IGBT-CBs) and blocking of the IGBTs of
VSCs; (3) locating of the faulted dc line; (4) isolating of the
faulted dc line by economical Fast DC Switches; (5) de-blocking
of IGBT-CBs and IGBTs of VSCs to resume normal service.
Keywords-- Voltage-Source Converter, HVDC, Multi-Terminal
HVDC, DC Fault, Protection, Fault Detection, Fault
Identification, Fast DC Switch, IGBT-Circuit Breaker.
I. INTRODUCTION
HVDC transmission system based on Voltage-Source
Converters (VSCs) is no longer academic research [ 1,2] but
a commercial product [3-51. Revenue installations of point-
to-point VSC-HVDC are now in service in Sweden
(Hellsjohn and Gotland), Denmark (Tjaereborg), Australia
(DirectLink and Murray Link) and USA (Eagle Pass and
Cross Sound Cable). The next challenge is to realize Multi-
Terminal HVDC (MTDC) based on VSCs. H.Jiang and
A.Ekstrom [6] proposed a MTDC system for urban sub-
transmission. MTDC has also been proposed for off-shore
wind-farms [7,8] and Premium Quality Power Park [9].
MTDC has the potential of enabling electricity to be traded
more conveniently between generators and customers thus
promoting competition in electricitymarkets.
Voltage-Source Converters (VSCs), by themselves, are
defenseless against dc faults. During such faults, the anti-
parallel diodes conduct as rectifier bridges. Because the
fault current continues to be fed, it does not extinguish.
Meanwhile, the IGBTs, IGCTs or GTOs, which are in
parallel to the anti-parallel diodes, have lost control. As the
viability of MTDC systems depends on the capability to
survive this worst case scenario, a program has been
initiated to research on dc fault protection. Three methods
of extinguishing the dc fault current have been studied by
the authors: (1) AC Circuit Breakers on the ac side of the
VSCs (cheapest but longest interruption time); (2) IGBT-
Circuit Breakers (IGBT-CBs) placed between each VSC
and the dc network (intermediate interruption time); (3)
IGBT-CBs at each end of a dc branch line (most expensive
but with no interruption of service). Page limit allows only
the second method (2) to be presented in this paper. Future
papers will address the other methods.
0-7803-7262-X/02/$10.00 0 2002 IEEE.
The DC grid is assumed to be made up of Overhead
Lines (as their faults are more frequent than cable lines).
The protection cycle is envisaged as follows: the presence
of a Line-to-Ground DC Fault or a Line-to-Line DC Fault is
detected, whereupon the IGBT-Circuit Breakers (IGBT-
CB) and the IGBTs of the VSCs block to protect the VSCs.
In order to extinguish the fault current, it is necessary to
block all the VSCs and IGBT-CBs thus causing a brief
disruption of service. The faulted transmission line section
has to be identified quickly (based on feature extraction of
the voltage and current waveforms). If the fault has been
verified as permanent rather than temporary, the Fast DC
Switches (SW) (cheap mechanical switches which can
isolate the faulted transmission line but cannot break a dc
fault current) on either end of identified faulted dc line are
opened. The IGBT-CBs and the Converter Stations unblock
and the M-VSC-HVDC system resumes service.
The research is conducted by digital simulation studies
using EMTDC-PSCAD of Manitoba HVDC Research
Center, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. The ground rules placed
on the detection and identification schemes are: (1) only the
local information at each VSC is to be used; (2) minimum
interruption time; (3) fast computation for feature extraction
to identify the faulted DC line will be available.
11. MODEL OF M-VSC-HVDC SYSTEM
The single-line diagram of Fig. 1 shows a MTDC system
consisting of a ring network of 5 Converter Stations
VSC(i), i=1,2..5, tied together by 5 Overhead DC Lines
(Lineu), j=1,2..5). Line6 is an additional line joining VSC3
-
.................................................................
i A S AC2
'
VSCl vsc2
.................... Node 1
Line 5 Line 2
- -
IlOKm
AC5 AC3
vsc5 vsc3
Line 4 Line 3
1 4 h V 1 2 h
Ivsc4 1
' 5 4
Fig. 1MTDC System
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 1
to VSC5. The lengths of the lines are given in Fig. 1. The dc
lines are built up of 2 km length R,L,C models. In Fig.1
AC(i), i=1,2..5, represent the 3-phase ac systems. Other
notations used in the text are: igbt(i)---IGBT-CB at
VSC(i)); SW-ji--- Fast DC Switch; ib(jix)---branch
currents, where j=line number, i=VSC number and x=p,n
denotes positive, negative pole.
L
A. Protection of Converter Stations VSC)
The protection of all converter stations is exemplified by
A
the example for VSC 1. Fig. 2 shows the connection of
VSCl to the dc lines. The DC capacitors of the 3-phase
bridge converter have mid-point grounding. Protection
against DC faults is provided by igbtl---IGBT-CB, which Fig. 3 IGBT-Circuit Breaker (IGBT-CB)
consists of IGBT switches and anti-parallel diodes placed
between the dc capacitor nodes and the dc line nodes. This C. Fast DC Switches
IGBT-CB design is relatively economical but it does not Fast DC Switches (SW-ji) are relatively cheap
have bi-directional blocking capability. Refemng to Fig.3, mechanical switches which can isolate a dc line after the
when the dc current through the VSC is in the direction of fault current has been extinguished. But they are not
the dashed arrow, blocking the IGBTs in the CB cuts off capable of breaking any fault current. They are placed at
the flow of current to the dc network. When the dc current both ends of each dc line. Fig.2 shows SW-11 and SW-51
has the opposite direction of the solid arrow, it cannot be which can isolate Linel and Line5 from VSC1. The Fast
blocked by the IGBT-CB as there is a path through the anti- DC Switches are activated from the Converter Station after
parallel diodes. For this reason, the blocking of the IGBT- local identification from the branch currents (ibl l x and
CB must be accompanied by the blocking of the IGBTs in ib5lbx) that the faulted line belongs to one of its branches
the VSC (illustrated by one leg in Fig.3). and after it has been verified that the fault is permanent.
The detection of the DC fault is based on the
measurements of: (1) the voltages, u&), across the DC D. Types of DC Fault
capacitors and (2) the currents, Ik(i), passing through the The class of DC faults under consideration are: (1)
IGBT-CB. When the pre-set thresholds of the dc voltages Positive Line-to-Ground Fault; (2) Negative Line-to-
and the incremental dc currents are crossed simultaneously Ground Fault; and (3) Line-to-Line Fault. The protection
for a preset time, both the igbtl and the VSCl are blocked method described in this paper has been proven to be
simultaneously. successful for the 3 types of DC Faults. Because of the page
limit, only illustrative examples are presented.
B. Data for Identification ofLine with DC Fault
The ground rule concerning local information means that 111. PROTECTION CYCLE FOLLOWING A DC FAULT
the faulted line should be identified at each VSCi. In Fig. 2
for example, the waveform pattern in the branch currents A. Prior to DC Fault
ibll and ib51, which are locally accessible to VSC1, are to In the beginning of each simulation, the DC voltage
be used in determining whether Linel or Line5 has or does reference of the DC Voltage Regulator (VSC1 in Fig. 1) is
not have a DC fault. set. The other VSCs, operating as inverters or rectifiers, are
set to deliver their specified real and reactive ac powers.
After the steady-state operation is reached in the digital
simulation, the fault is introduced. Fig.4 shows the branch
currents ib(ji) as measured at each VSC(i) during a Positive

-2 4 l7x
sw-11
Line-to-Ground fault situated in Linel near VSC1. The
blocking of igbt(i) (and VSC(i), not shown) is shown by the
Fast DC
Switch
4 dash-dot-dash lines in Fig.4.

B. Immediate Eflect ofDC Fault on Converter Stations

4

' I i
vsc 1
R.( ioiiny

ih5lnk
Fast
sw-5DC
1

Switch
A DC fault draws large currents from the VSCs on both
ends of the faulted line because of the large potential
differences between the dc voltages of the VSCs and the
short circuit voltage at the fault (which is close to zero).
The size of the large currents depends on the line
resistances and inductances (proportional to distance)
\ between the fault and the VSCs.
Fig. 2 Detail of VSCl and IGBT-CBs In Fig.4 the onset of the fault in Line 1 is noticed by the
sharp rise of ibllp and ibl2p. Meanwhile, the branch
currents ib23p, ib33p, ib63p from VSC3, ib45p, ib55p,

720
ib65p from VSCS and ib34p, ib44p from VSC4 are less
affected because the voltage differences between the
capacitor supported nodal voltages are very much less than
the voltage differences with the fault.
C. Blocking of IGBT-CB and Converter Station
The large currents quickly discharge the DC capacitors
of the nearest two VSCs so that their dc voltages drop
abruptly. These two concomitant factors: the decrease in the
dc voltages of the VSCl and VSC2 and the increase in their
dc currents, form the basis of reliable detection. On
detection of the fault, (igbtl, VSC1) and (igbt2, VSC2)
block so that the fault current ceases to be fed from the
severed Converter Stations VSCl and VSC2. The fault
current is then drawn from the capacitors of the VSCS and
VSC3. The current increase of ib55p is less than ibllp
because of the greater distance to the fault. The conhtions
are set for igbt5 and VSCS to block.
D. Domino Blocking of IGBT-CBs and Converter Stations
As VSCS and igbt5 block, they in turn set up the
conditions for igbt3, VSC3 and then igbt4, VSC4, which
are electrically further away from the fault, to block. At the
end of the sequential severing of all VSCs ,the dc network
is isolated from any source that can feed the fault. Given
sufficient time for the arc to de-ionize, the fault is self-
clearing. Otherwise, the fault is possibly a permanent fault
and there is a test to confirm it.
E. Local Identifzcation of Faulted Line
Because of the requirement that the Protection System
must be based on its local measurements, each Converter
Station must be able to identify if any one of the branch
lines emanating from it has a fault. This is done by using
the features in the waveforms of branch currents for
identificationas will be explained in Section V.
F. Verification of Permanent/TemporaryFault
ARer all the IGBT-CBs and all the VSCs have blocked
and sufficient time has been given for the fault to
extinguish naturally, a test is performed to verify if the fault
is temporary or permanent. This consists of momentarily
unblocking the IGBT-CBs on either side of the identified
faulted line. Because the dc capacitors of all the blocked
VSCs are continually being charged by the anti-parallel
diodes, the capacitor charges are momentarily transferred to
the dc network to raise the network voltage. Thus, the
voltage sensors at the network node of each VSC will
record sustained dc voltages in the case when the fault has
been cleared. However, if the fault is permanent, the dc
voltages will return to zero, which is the voltage of the
permanent fault.
G . Fault Isolation and Restoration
When the fault is temporary, all VSCs can unblock. The
MTDC system resumes operation.
When the fault is permanent, the control stations on
either end of the permanently faulted line open the Fast DC
Switches, thereby isolating the fault.
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In the first step towards restoration, the IGBT-CBs and
VSCs on either side of the faulted line are unblocked so that
the dc network becomes charged. When the other stations
detect the network voltage, their IGBT-CBs and VSCs
unblock and the MTDC system resumes operation without
the isolated line.
IV. DC FAULT DETECTION
The blocking of igbt(i) and VSC(i) is based on the dc
voltage at the dc network node of VSC(i) decreasing below
a Voltage Threshold and lAIdc(i)\,the incremental dc current
of VSC(i) injected into the dc network, simultaneously
exceeding a Current Threshold for a Preset Time Duration.
The simultaneous cross-over of the thresholds for a
sufficiently long duration allows the dc fault to be
distinguished from other dwturbances. The Voltage
Threshold, the Incremental Current Threshold and Preset
Time Duration will have to be determined for specific
MTDC systems, when the parameters of the dc lines are
known (overhead or underground cables, length of dc lines,
etc.).
Precautions have been taken to ensure that AC faults
cannot be mistaken by the DC Fault Detection. It has been
found that the strategy of blocking the IGBTs of the VSC
when AC faults occur, isolates the effects of ac faults on
the dc system. The dc capacitors of the VSC also filter out
the effects of AC fault disturbances thus smoothing the
currents flowing through the IGBT-CBs. As a result, the
currents through the IGBT-CBs have low dlAIdc(i)l/dt. In
contrast, DC faults are associated with high ldIdc(i)l/dt since
there is a large voltage difference between the dc capacitor
voltage and the voltage at the fault location. Thus a high
dlAIdc(i)l/dtis essential to confirm a DC fault. This ensures
that an AC fault cannot be mistaken by the DC Fault
Detection.
V. FEATURE EXTRACTION FOR LOCATING
FAULTED LINE
From Fig. 4, one sees that the initial surge in ibllp and
ibl2p is distinguishable from the other initial surges by
having: (i) the largest initial change in current; and (ii) the
longest rise time interval (from the onset of the fault to peak
current value). Such features are used to identify Line1 as
having the dc fault.
Prior to a dc fault, all the branch currents are in steady
state so that their dib(i)/dt are equal to zero, where ib(i) is
the measurement of the branch current ibjip. At to, the
instant of the fault, the branch current at each end of the
faulted dc line increases with high dib(i)/dt because of the
large voltage difference between the dc capacitor voltage
and the voltage at the fault location. Therefore the initial
change of a branch current of the faulted line is the largest.
In contrast, the initial change of the branch current in each
un-faulted line is small. This is because the voltage
difference of the dc capacitors at both ends of each un-
faulted dc line is small. However, this initial change is big
enough for to to be detected in all the branch currents.

n
4 -2
2 -ib23p
r --- ib33p --ib63p---igbt3
Time (s)
Fig.4. Branch Currents
second feature relates to the fact that the faulted
branch currents ibl l p and ibl2p have the longest rise time.
The initial long rise time is related to the growth of fault
currents which are drawn from the dc capacitors of VSCl
and VSC2 through relatively short sections of Linel. After
igbtl and igbt2 have blocked, the fault currents have their
sources from the more distant VSC3 and VSC5. The
subsequent oscillations in the current pattems bear the
resonance frequency of the L-C-R circuits of the
transmission line models. Thus the later rise times are
shorter.
The features are embodied in 3 indexes which are
computed from records of the measurements of the branch
currents ibji. The computation of each index ceases when
the IGBT-CB and its VSC block. Each index has its
discriminant by which a dc line without a fault can be
distinguished from a dc line which has the fault.
Method A - intibogp-Large Initial Current Change
Fig. 5 displays the index intib(ji)p which is the time
integral of {ib(t)-ib(to)}evaluated from to to t,+AT, where
ib(t) is the measurement of the branch current ibjip. AT is a
fixed short time span chosen to maximize the feature. The
time to is the instant when disturbance in the current is
detected. Only the disturbances prior to the blocking of the
IGBT-CB and the converter are used in order to avoid false
identification. The index intib(ji)p exaggerates the initial
dib(i)/dt feature which is largest in the line which contains
the fault.
722
-intibl lp ---- intib5lp
0.~1
r
V
0.5 -intibl2p ---- intib22p
Method B - Tfigp-Rise-Timeof First Wavefiont
The index T(ji)p of method B is a measurement of the
Rise-Time of the first wavefront of the branch current
ib(ji)p. Fig. 6 shows that the dominating indexes are again
T1 l p and T12p.
Method C - ind(ijk)-Oscillation Pattern
Fig. 7 displays the index ind(ijk)=SGN[d{ib(ji)p-
ib(ki)p)/dt], which is the sign [SGN] of the time derivative
of the difference of the currents of the Line(j) and Line(k)
emanating from VSC(i). Fig.7 shows that this index
captures the changing fkequency of the network resonance
evident in Fig.4. The signals indl 15p and ind221p are wide
pulses with single polarity before. the IGBT-CBs block.
This feature allows Linel to be identified as the faulted
line.
VI. RESULTS OF IDENTIFICATION TESTS
Each VSCi, i=1,2..5 will have its indexes intib(ji)p of
Fig. 4, T(ji)p of Fig. 5 and ind(ijk)p of Fig. 6 computed by
Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) from memory storage of
the recent measurements of the branch currents. Note that
many of the indexes are very close to zero so that they are
not visible in the graphs. As {intibl lp, T1 lp, indl 15p)
and {intibl2p, T12p, and ind22lp) dominate over other
indexes, both VSCl and VSC2 identify that the fault is in
Linel, and open the Fast DC Switches SW-11 and SW-12
after it has been verified that the fault is a permanent fault.
 methods are prone to false crossings. To guard against false
crossings, the computed data are considered valid only
when they lie between the blocking of the IGBT-CB and a
few milliseconds before. When there is no real fault, the
IGBT-CBs will not block. Thus erroneously generated data
will not be used.

B. Polling Indexes
Although the three methods are not truly independent,
they represent different ways of extracting the features.
Polling of the three indexes ensures greater reliability.

C. Extensive Tests
Simulation tests on DC Faults have been conducted in
each of the 6 lines of Fig. 1. Three types of fault have been
simulated for every line, at each end of the line. The three
types of fault conducted are: (1) Positive Line-to-Ground
Fault; (2) Negative Line-to-Ground Fault; (3) Line-to-Line
Fault. The same Voltage Threshold and Incremental
Current Threshold have been used to block the VSCs and
the IGBT-CBs in all the three types of fault. In all cases, the
three indexes identifying the faulted dc line stand out as
U
clearly as in Fig. 5, 6 and 7 and a common discriminant for
0.144 0.146 0.148 0.15 each index exists which can classify a line as containing a
fault or as being free of faults.
Time (s)
Fig.6. Method B VII. COMPLETE PROTECTION CYCLE

Fig. 8 (a) and (b) show the dc voltages measured on the

indl 15 ---igbt 1 VSC-side of igbt4 and on the network side of igbt4 during a
I permanent Line-to-Line Fault in Line3 near VSC4. Fig. 8
(c) shows the branch currents ib34p and ib44p. The fault
occurs at 144 ms. From indexes similar to Fig.5, 6 and 7,
VSC3 and VSC4 are able to identify that Line3 is the
-e
faulted line. A test is necessary to dwover if the fault is
-ind332 -.- igbt3 temporary or permanent. At 195 ms, after allowing 50 ms
for the fault to extinguish naturally, igbt3 and igbt4 unblock
for 1 ms. The dc capacitors of VSC3 and VSC4 recharge
the lines but as shown in Fig. 8 (b) the dc voltages drop to
zero again because the fault has been simulated as a
permanent fault. As Fast DC Switches are incapable of
interrupting a fault current, another 50 ms is allowed for the
fault current to extinguish. At 250 ms, VSC3 and VSC4
activate the Fast DC Switches SW-33 and SW-34 to isolate
Line3 from the dc network. The voltages of the dc network
which have been kept at zero by the fault until this time, are
charged by the back biased anti-parallel diodes. At 330 ms,
the IGBT-CBs and VSCs are all unblocked.
The complete protection cycle of a Line-to-Ground Fault
is similar, except that at the end the unbalanced voltages of
the positive and negative poles must be equalized before the
VSCs are permitted to unblock.
Time(s)
VIII. CONCLUSION
Fig.7 Method C
The research has shown that Line-to-Ground and Line-
A. Guard against False Zdentzjication to-Line Faults in the overhead dc lines of M-VSC-HVDC
The initiations of the computation of the indexes are system can be protected by fast detection which blocks the
based on the branch currents and their gradients exceeding IGBT-CBs and the Converter Stations. Each Converter
some pre-set thresholds. Because of noise, pre-set threshold Station can quickly identify if the fault comes from any

723
 U
0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 t (s)
CO)
+
a r
ib44p
!’ I I I I I
-2
0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 t(S)
(c)
Fig.8 Complete Protection Cycle (Lto-L Line-to-Line Voltage; Gto-G Line-to-Ground Voltages)
(a) Voltages of nodes between VSC and IGBT-CB (b) Voltages of nodes between IGBT-CB and DC Network (c) Branch Currents

one of its branch lines so that the Fast DC Switches
belonging to the faulted line will be opened to isolate it, if a
verification test shows that the fault is permanent.
Thereafter, the IGBT-CBs and the Converter Stations
unblock and the MTDC system resumes service, as will
also be for the case of a temporary fault.
M. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors thank Mr. Mats Hyttinen, Dr. Ying Jiang-
Hafker and Mr. Gunnar Asplund for their guidance,
direction and encouragement. The research is supported by
a contract from ABB Power Systems, AB, Ludvika,
Sweden.
X. REFERENCES
[ 11 B.T. Ooi and X. Wang, “Voltage Angle Lock Loop Control of Boost
Type PWM Converter for HVDC Application,” IEEE Transactions
on Power Electronics, Vol. 5, April 1990, pp. 229-235.
[2] B.T.Ooi and X.Wang, “Boost Type PWM-HVDC Transmission
System,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 6, No.4,
October 1991, pp. 1557-1563.
[3] G.Asplund, KEriksson, K. Svensson, “DC Transmission based on
Voltage Source Converters,’’ CIGRE SC14 Colloquium in South
Atiica 1997.
[4] T.Nakjima et al, “Field Testing of 53 MVA Three-Terminal DC Link
between Power Systems Using GTO Converters,” International
Power Electronics Conference-Tokyo 2000.
[ 5 ] F.Schettler, H.Huang and N.Christ1, “HVDC Transmission System
using Voltage Sourced Converters-Design and Applications”, IEEE
PES Summer Meeting, July 2000.
[6] H.Jiang and A.Ekstrom, “Multiterminal HVDC Systems in Urban
Areas of Large Cities”, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery,
V01.13, N0.4, October 1998, pp 1278-1284.
[7] Weixing Lu and Boon Teck Ooi, “ Multi-terminal DC transmission
system for wind-farms.” Power Engineering Society Winter
Meeting, 2001. IEEE, Volume: 3 ,2001 Page@): 1091 -1096
[8] Weixing Lu and Boon Teck Ooi, “Multi-Terminal LVDC System for
Optimal Acquisition of Power in Wind-Farm Using Induction
Generators,” Power Electronics Specialists’ Conference, June 2001,
Vancouver.
[9] Weixing Lu and Boon Teck Ooi, “Multi-Terminal HVDC as Enabling
Technology of Premium Power Quality Park,” IEEE Power
Engineering Society, 2002 Winter Meeting, New York.
XI. BIOGRAPHIES
Lianxiang Tang (tanglx4310@yahoo.com) was bom in Yiyang City,
Hunan Province, China, 1970. He received his Bachelor’s degree in July
1993 and his Master’s degree in March 1996, both in the Department of
Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, China. He was working with
Xuji Group Corporation in China from April 1996 to October 1999.
Presently he is a Ph.D candidate in the Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, McGill University.
Boon-Teck Ooi was bom in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He received the
B.Eng. (Honours) from the University of Adelaide, Australia, the S.M.
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and the Ph.D. from
McGill University, Canada. He is presently Professor in the Department of
Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University.

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