HVDC is an alternative technology to AC for transmission of power over long distances, and also commonly used for interconnections. It is a relatively new technology, first implemented in the 1950s. Protection technology for DC uses is not as mature as for AC technology, which negatively impacts its reliability and safety and increases costs.
This final year project aims to improve the reliability and security of HVDC transmission systems by developing and improving existing protection methods, through experimentation, simulations and research. To simulate a HVDC system, we plan to utilize the test bed at UoA's power system's lab and use a RT-LAB platform in OPAL-RT to connect a Simulink model to a physical DC system.
Undergraduate
Research and experiment with voltage-source converters (VSCs) in controlling HVDC transmission stability
Research on the DC fault isolation method using dual active bridge (DAB) converters
Research using a RT-LAB platform in OPAL-RT to connect a MATLAB/Simulink model to a physical DC system
Experientially compare existing protection methods
Prototype and test improvements to protection methods as required
None
Power Systems (405.628, Lab)