1
A Study on VSC-HVDC Based Black Start
Compared with Traditional Black Start
Sheng Li, Mingxia Zhou, Zongqi Liu, Jianhua Zhang, Yinhui Li
Abstract--A good Black-Start scheme is important and
necessary to resume power supply fast and efficiently after black
out, and how to choose black-start power is the first thing to
consider in the scheme. In this paper, the advantages of VSC-
HVDC as black start power are analyzed with contrast to
traditional black start power. The ability of VSC-HVDC to soft
energize major power system equipment is proved through
simulation by software PSCAD/EMTDC. Simulation waveforms
during soft energization are illustrated. These plots have
described the good voltage and frequency characteristics of VSC-
HVDC. The transition from one control mode of VSC to another
is also discussed. Simulation results indicate that by using soft
energization, VSC-HVDC is an ideal black start power.
Index Terms—black out, black start, HVDC, restoration, soft
energization, VSC-HVDC
I. INTRODUCTION
W ITH the scale expansion of modern power system,
power system faults are becoming more and more
complex, a fault in a subsystem possibly gives rise to a serious
blackout, thus brings great influence on social economy and
people’s living and a lot of loss. "8·14" blackout in USA &
Canada in 2003 is just a typical illustration. So, it is of great
importance to study on black start. The so-called “Black
Start”, means when the power network stops its operation due
to failure, it is started up by some generating units with the
self-start capability within the blackout area or imported
power from neighboring system as black start source, so that
the power network could resume its normal operation. This
paper investigates the black start and restoration process based
on the VSC-HVDC tie line which imports the necessary power
from the neighboring system in normal operation.
As for traditional black start, there are a lot of problems to
be considered in the restoration of power system after black
out, such as: generator's self-excitation; continuing
fundamental frequency over voltage, switching surge and
resonant over voltage while switching on a long no-load line;
This work was supported in part by National Hi-Tech Research
Development Program （2008AA05Z216）.
J Zhang and Z Liu are with the Department of Electrical Engineering , the
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, North China Electric Power
University, Dewai Zhuxinzhuang, Beijing 102206, China (phone: +8610 8079
0020; e-mail: jhzhang001@163.com).
S Li , M Zhou and Y Li are with the Key Laboratory of Power System
Protection and Dynamic Security Monitoring and Control under Ministry of
Education , Changping District, Beijing 102206, China (e-mail: lisheng-
2002@sohu.com , zhoumingxia0409@163.com)
ferromagnetic resonance while charging transformers; the
stability of voltage and frequency and so on.
Using VSC-HVDC as the black-start power source has
already projected on the Troll A’s oil drilling platform of
Norway and in American Eagle Pass project [1], there is very
simple introduction of black start in [1], and its emphasis point
is Back-to-Back Tie. Reference [7] has done field test on the
whole process of black start using VSC-HVDC as black start
source, the results recorded in real system test demonstrate the
excellent frequency and voltage control performance.
Reference [8] has studied on “soft start-up” long no-load line
with VSC-HVDC, but it is limited to soft starting-up long no-
load line, soft starting-up other major power system
equipments such as transformer and load is not mentioned.
Based on [7] and [8], soft energization method is adopted in
this paper in order to avoid high transient inrush current and
high transient voltage and harmonics completely while
energizing major power system equipments.
II. MECHANISM AND BASE CONTROL STRATEGY OF VSC-
HVDC
Assume a two-level, six-pulse voltage source converter
(VSC) shown in Fig. 1 is considered. The fundamental vector
•
of the AC bus voltage is U S , and the fundamental vector of
•
•
the VSC side AC voltage is U C , which lags behind U S an
angle of δ, and the converter reactance is X.
Fig.1 Voltage source converter
If the harmonics is ignored, then
U sU c
P= sin δ (1)
X
U s (U c − U c cos δ )
Q= ( 2)
X
MU d
Uc = ( 3)
2
 2

Where P and Q are the active and reactive power absorbed The black out happens in area 1, VSC-HVDC, functioned as
by the VSC respectively. From (1) and (2), it can be concluded “firewall”, prevents area 2 against outages expanding and
that P and Q can be controlled independently by δ and UC. propagating [4].
When pulse width modulation (PWM) is adopted, δ is the
phase angle of the fundamental component of PWM, and UC is
proportional to the modulation index M of PWM (shown in
(3)). So it is possible to control P and Q independently by δ
and M.

•
UC
•
US

Fig. 3 Experimental Circuit of black start study in a system with VSC–HVDC

•
UC
During normal operation, VSC1 in Fig.3 adopts active and
reactive power control; VSC2 adopts DC voltage control and
reactive power control. When there is a black out in area 1, the
Fig. 2 Phasor diagram of VSC under steady-state operation control and protection of VSC1 will identify the fault quickly,
then VSC1 will be blocked, after relay equipments for AC line
Fig. 2 is the phasor diagram of VSC under steady-state detect the fault, the AC breaker (B1, refer to Fig.4) will be
operation and fundamental frequency condition [2]. From opened, at this time the control strategy of VSC1 will change
Fig.2, VSC can operate in any quadrant of P-Q planar graph to AC voltage control (refer to Fig.5).
by controlling UC and δ. For example, in the first quadrant, -
90º<δ<0º, it can be drawn from (1) and (2) that P<0 and
Q<0, other quadrants are the same sense. Thanks to the ability
of VSC to operate in four quadrants, VSC can adjust the
power (either active or reactive) in a wide range from
absorption to generation up to rated power of HVDC. Based
on this, VSC can operate as STATCOM that compensate
reactive power of AC bus dynamically, and stabilize AC bus
voltage [5], [3]. Fig. 4 Experimental Circuit of soft energization
In a VSC based HVDC system, there are three basic
control modes for the VSC. a) Constant DC voltage control; b) In Fig.5, VpuR is the magnitude of VSC1 side AC voltage
Constant DC current or active power control; c) Constant AC (p.u), Vref is the set value of VSC1 side AC voltage, and mr is
voltage control. In mode a) and b), the reactive power sent to the modulation ratio of PWM.
the AC system by the VSC is also controlled. Mode c) is
usually used when the VSC based HVDC system supplies a
passive AC network. Mode a) and b) are suitable for
connecting an active AC network [9]. In this paper, there will
be the transition of control modes mentioned above for a VSC,
and thanks to this flexible transition, VSC played an active Fig. 5 AC voltage controller diagram
role in the black start process. Details about the transition of
control modes will be discussed in the following. IV. BLACK START EXPERIMENT
III. CONTROL STRATEGY OF VSC-HVDC DURING DIFFERENT Traditional black start experimental circuit is the same as in
OPERATION CONDITIONS Fig.3 except the tie line between areas. The tie line in
traditional black start experiment is AC line.
Fig.3 shows the experimental circuit of black start in a
The method of soft starting-up the long no load line in [8]
system with VSC-HVDC, it is obtained by making some
is switching B1 at a moment during the ascending process of
changes of the four machine two regional systems in [6].
VSC1 side AC voltage. In this paper, the restoration sequence
Some main parameters of the circuit are: the working
is that: firstly, the circuit breaker B1, B2 and B3 are closed,
frequency is 60 HZ, the rated voltage value of bus
and then increase VpuR gradually from zero to 1, in this way,
5,6,7,9,10,11,12 is 230kV, the line length between bus 5 and 6
the line and the transformer that form the route to the auxiliary
id 180 km, bus 6 and 7 is 10 km, bus 6 and 12 is 200km, load
equipment of G1 are energized gradually together. This is the
9 (L9) is 967MW. Other parameters are given with reference
named soft energizing method in this paper, which avoids
to [6]. The tie-line between two areas is VSC-HVDC, and its
inrush current and transient over voltage. Steps afterwards are
main parameters can be seen in Table І. These four generators
the same as in [7], that is: when T3 is energized, the auxiliary
compose two areas, named Area 1 and Area 2 seen in Fig.3.
equipment of G1 can be switched on. After G1 reached the
 3

synchronous, it can be synchronized connected to the island B. Soft energizing the long no load line and transformer
grid at a proper time, and then part of the load in area 1 can be Fig.7 shows the simulation of soft energizing the long no
restored. In the same way, after similar operations, G2 and the load line and transformers. Plot 1 shows the frequency of the
rest of the load can be reconnected into the grid. Details about VCS1 side AC voltage. Plot 2 shows that VpuR ascends from
simulation experiment are as follows. 0 to 1 along the appointed curve (Vacref represents), VpuR
A. Traditional black start experiment reaches its rated value at 1s. Plot 3 shows the DC voltage
(rated 56kV) of VSC2. Plot 4 and 5 show the active and
Fig.6 shows some key steps in traditional black start. Since
reactive power absorbed by VSC1. Plot 6 shows the voltage of
the black out happens in Area 1 refer to Fig.4, and the first
the long no load line, where Vlinebegin is the voltage of phase
restoration path is: Area 2 supply power though long line to
A at the start of the line, and Vlineend is the voltage of phase
G1’s auxiliary equipment, the long line include tie line , line
B at the end of the line. Plot 7 and 8 are the currents flow
between bus 5 and bus 7.
through T1 and T3. Plot 9, 10, and 11 are obtained by
Plot 1 is the voltages at the end of the line during the
zooming plot 6, 7, and 8.
process switching on the no-load long line, B1 was closed at
2s, switching over voltages is obvious. The highest over
voltage happened in phase B (green curve represents, and blue
is phase A, red is phase C), which is 359kV. Since the rated
voltage is 230kV (RMS, Line-Line), we can calculate the over
voltage rate is up to 1.9, which is impermissible.
Plot 2 shows the inrush currents while charging transformer
1(T1), B2 was closed at 3s. The biggest is in phase A (blue
curve), 0.75kA, which is much higher than its no-load current
(about 0.1kA).
Plot 3 displays the impact on the system while switching the
auxiliary equipment of G1.B4 was closed at 6s, the voltage
(RMS Line-Line) at the end of line dropped from 233 kV to
218 kV and increased until the moment synchronizing in G1 at
7s.

Fig.6 Traditional black start experiment

Some problems with traditional black start are described

though plots above, followed is the VSC-HVDC based black
start experiment which may get over the shortage of traditional
black start.
Fig.7 Soft energizing long no load line and transformers
It should be noticed that since VSC1 acted as a black start
source, there would be no problems about Generator's Self-
excitation. B1, B2 and B3 were closed at the beginning, and
thanks to the ability of VSC1 to regulate VpuR ascend from 0

to 1 along the appointed curve, there were not any kinds of
over-voltage or inrush currents when energizing long no load
line and transformers. The AC current in plot 10 during the
steady state was not zero, this was due to high frequency filter.
The filter was connected in between bus 7 and VSC1 and it is
not included in Fig.4.
C. Switching on the auxiliary equipment of G1
Station transformer with power rating of approximately
100MVA was energized at 2s, and a load of 56MW and
14MVar was switched simultaneously. The load represents
auxiliary equipment for G1, or called plant electric
consumption.
Fig.8 shows the recorded signals during the process. It can
be seen that the active power and reactive power absorbed by
VSC1 changed with the load switching, plot 4 and 5 show that
VSC1 provided the active and reactive power of the load. The
frequency was maintained at 60HZ from plot 1. A small
transient was initiated on the DC voltage, but it was
maintained at 56kV later, refer to plot 2. The AC voltage
magnitude experienced a small dip, but it was controlled to the
reference value quickly after the transient. Plot 7 and 8 show
the currents flow through T1 and T3, the inrush currents were
inappreciable.
Fig.8 Switching a load of auxiliary equipment for G 1
D. Switching G1 into grid
G1 with power rating of 900MVA had been started up with
the help of auxiliary power supplied by VSC1 as described
above. At 3.76s, when the condition of unit synchronous
4
switching was satisfied, generator 1 was connected to the
island grid. Plot 4 in Fig.9 shows that stable system
performance was obtained. The frequency of the AC voltage
was also kept stable close to 60HZ, refer to plot 1.
Fig.9 Synchronizing in G1 rated 900MVA
E. Transition of control modes and load share between
G1and VSC1
Fig.10 shows the transition of control modes and load
transfer between G1 and VSC1.
At 4.4s, the control mode of VSC1 changed from Constant
AC voltage control to Constant AC voltage and active power
control. Since the reference value of active power is the on-
line measured value, the transient process is perfect refer to
plot 1~4 without any disturbance.
After the mode switching, the active power absorbed by
VSC1 can be adjusted to what is required. In this experiment,
we control its value change gradually along an oblique line,
that is: from 5s to 13s, the reference value of active power
ascended from -50 to -30 MW. Accordingly, the output power
of G1 ascended from 0 to 20 MW. The slope of the oblique
line can be adjusted by the premise of guaranteeing frequency
quality.
It can be seen in plot 4 that Pvsc1shiji and PG1 ascended
gradually from 5s. In plot 1, the frequency decreased with the
change of G1’ output, but recovered shortly refer to plot 5.
Plot 5 and 6 are the following of plot 1 and 4. The starting
point of time axis in plot 5 and 6 is equal to the ending point
of time axis in plot 1 and 4. PG1 and Pvsc1shiji stopped rising
at 3s (13s if plot 4 continues) seen in plot 6. The reason that
we adopted such load transfer is to ensure the smooth black
start process by making full use of VSC1’s flexible control
capability, thus avoided transient in each step.
 5

Transformer Positive Sequence

0.1 pu
Leakage Reactance

DC capacitor 1500 μF
DC Circuit DC resistance 2.98 Ω
Length of DC Line 220 km

PWM Carrier Wave Frequency 1980 HZ

TABBLE Ⅱ
DEFINITION OF SIGNAL IN FIG6-FIG10

Signal name Definition Unit

f Frequency of system in Area 1 Hz
Normalized value of the AC side voltage
Vacref pu
reference of VSC1
Normalized value of the AC side voltage
Vac pu
of VSC 1
dcVoltagelnv DC voltage of VSC 2 side kV
Pvsc1shiji Active power absorbed by VSC 1 MW
Qvsc1shiji Reactive power absorbed by VSC 1 Mvar
Vlinebegin Voltages at the start of the line near Bus 7 kV
Vlineend Voltages at the end of the line near Bus 5 kV
Fig.10 Transition of control modes and load share between G1 and VSC RMS Value of line voltage at the end of
VlineendRMS kV
line near bus 5
PG1 Generator 1’s output power MW
F. Restoring load
Itranformer1 Currents of transformer T1 kA
Based on E step, during the process of load restoration, the
Itranformer3 Currents of transformer T3 kA
ability of VSC1’s power control in a wide range from
absorption to generation should also be made use of, thus
speed up the restoration.
Definition of signals in Fig. 5-Fig. 8 is in Table . VII. REFERENCES
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THE PARAMETER OF VSC-HVDC LINE

Value Unit
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and Applications, pp.1939-1944, November 2008
 6

[9] Michael P. Bahrman and Brian K. Johnson. “The ABCs of HVDC

Transmisson Technologies,” IEEE Power & Energy magazine, pp.32~44,
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