Flexible Power control in Large Power Current Source Conversion

This thesis describes a new concept, applicable to high-power current-sourced conversion (CSC), where a controllable firing-angle shift is introduced between series and parallel converters to enable independent active and reactive power control. The firing-shift concept solves a difficult problem, by giving thyristor based CSCs the control flexibility of pulse-width modulated (PWM) converters, but without a loss in efficiency or rating. Several configurations are developed, based on the firing-shift concept, and provide flexible, efficient solutions for both very high power HVDC transmission, and very high current industrial processes. HVDC transmission configurations are first developed for 4-quadrant high-pulse operation, based on the series connected multi-level current reinjection (MLCR) topology. Independent reactive power control between two ends of an HVDC link are proven under firing-shift control, with high-pulse operation, and without on-load tap changing (OLTC) transformers. This is followed by application of firing-shift control to a bi-directional back-to-back HVDC link connecting two weak systems to highlight the added dc voltage control flexibility of the concept. The fault recovery capability of an MLCR based ultra-HVDC (UHVDC) long distance transmis