Enhanced Commutation Circuit Design of hvdc Circuit Breaker Using EMTP

Abstract

In this paper, electromagnetic transient program (EMTP) aided design tool for active commutation circuit of an HVDC circuit breaker is presented. The breaker arc is modeled using the modified Mayr equations, and its interaction with the active commutation circuit is considered in a novel manner. Based on this simulation, an iterative methodology is developed to determine the most suitable elements of the commutation circuit. The performance of the designed breaker is tested using an equivalent test circuit. Then, the breaker interruption capability is examined for different current levels to validate its effectiveness. The test results have shown that the proposed design procedure is competitive to the experimental one