Journal of Power and Energy Engineering, 2014, 2, 147-153
Published Online September 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/jpee
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jpee.2014.29021
How to cite this paper: Xia, C.J., Xie, Y.G. and Zhou, Y. (2014) Research on the Optimized Network Configuration of DC
Blocking Device. Journal of Power and Energy Engineering, 2, 147-153. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jpee.2014.29021
Research on the Optimized Network
Configuration of DC Blocking Device
Chengjun Xia, Yinggeng Xie, Yun Zhou
School of Electric Power, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Email: ygxie2012@163.com
Received June 2014
Abstract
HVDC transmission system has considerable impact on the surrounding power transformers when
the system is running in the unipolar ground mode, which will cause the DC magnetic biasing
phenomenon on transformers. This problem would be more serious, after commission and opera-
tion of UHVDC transmission system in China. According to the Guangdong power grid under the
influence of DC magnetic bias seriously, but little research about the using of blocking device, this
paper proposed an optimization scheme about the usage of blocking device combination. Firstly,
the subject studied the method of suppressing transformer neutral point DC depending on analy-
sis the mechanism of magnetic biasing, and then found out the changes of power grid after using
the capacitance blocking device which is popular used by Guangdong power grid. The particle
swarm optimization (PSO) has been used to find a better way to suppress the DC in power grid,
and combined with NSGA to solve the mixed integer programming problem. The final data valida-
tion of this method is valuable in engineering application.
Keywords
Unipolar Ground Mode, DC Magnetic Biasing, Particle Swarm Optimization, NSGA,
DC Blocking Device
1. Introduction
In recent years, with the fast development of HVDC technology, high voltage and even ultra high voltage DC
transmission technology is widely used in many areas of our country. Bipolar HVDC transmission system is
more common, and it has unipolar ground return operation mode. Because of the earth is a good conductor of
electricity, DC will be injected into the earth through the grounding electrode, and then such DC flows into the
power grid via transformer neutral point, thus causing the DC magnetic bias and causing serious threat to the
running of the power grid [1]-[5]. DC magnetic bias phenomenon is not conducive to the safe operation of
power grid. On one hand, it leads to the saturation of transformer core, and the noise and vibration of trans-
former increases [6]. On the other hand, the distortion of excitation current made transformer become a source
of harmonic, and the result is the harmonic became the threaten of stable operate of power grid. Therefore, find-
ing and effective inhibition method is very necessary.
The majority of blocking device in Guangdong power grid is using capacitance, so paper mainly analyzes the
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mechanism of capacitance blocking device, and proposes a new scheme about the combined use of blocking de-
vice. This new method is base on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and NSGA, and we found that it is suitable
in the field of mixed integer programming problem.
2. The DC Magnetic Bias
2.1. Distribution in Power Grid
Take the common two terminal HVDC system as example, it can be divide into three types, such as unipolar
system, bipolar system and back-to-back system. Bipolar system is widely used because of its flexible operation
and reliable transmission. At present, all of the HVDC transmission system in Guangdong is bipolar style. When
the HVDC system working in unipolar ground mode, large amount of current will flow into the ground, and a
constant electric field has been built in the soil. If two stations have different potential and connected by AC line,
the grounding current will flow into the power grid through the transformer neutral point easily. Different kind
of transformer can work under the different level of DC magnetic bias.
2.2. The Mechanism of DC Magnetic Bias
DC magnetic bias is the abnormal working condition of transformer. DC current flow in transformer winding, so
that a DC magnetic potential or DC magnetic flux establish in the iron core of transformer, and then resulting
many electromagnetic effect [7].
As shown in the Figure 1, the excitation characteristics curve of transformer. In Figure 1(a), the dotted line
shows the magnetic flux affected by DC current, and the solid line is the curve of magnetic flux without DC.
The Figure 1(b) is the magnetization curve of transformer, we can see that curve contains linear and non linear
region. Figure 1(c) shows the changes of magnetization current curve when under the effect of DC current.
In order to make good use of ferromagnetic material, the transformer also be designed the main magnetic flux
Φ running on A point in linear region, as shown in Figure 1(b). So that it can be seen as an extra DC current
flow in the magnetization winding, then the excitation current curve changes. In other word is DC and AC mag-
netic flux superimposed. As a result, in half cycle of magnetic flux density increase, and the rest part of cycle
decrease. So the asymmetry curve is shown as the dotted line in Figure 1(c). It is so call the distortion of excita-
tion current.
3. Scheme of DC Suppression
At present, people studying about DC bias suppression, no matter domestic or foreign, had proposed many
methods, but the most acceptable way is resistance blocking device and capacitor blocking device [3] [7]-9]. In
Guangdong power grid, capacitor suppression is the major way. The using of such device follow the rules: com-
bine the data from neutral point current detection system and simulation software, and make a list about which
station should be installed a blocking device.
Figure 1. The excitation characteristic curve.
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3.1. Capacitor Blocking Device
The capacitor is installed between the neutral point of transformer and the grounding network [8]. It is known
that the inhibiting the DC is one of the characteristic of capacitor, so the capacitor device not only has a consid-
erable ability to suppress the DC magnetic bias, but does not affect the circulation of AC. Schematic as shown in
Figure 2.
As we can see in the Figure 2, there is a by-pass switch parallel connected with the capacitor. When the grid
occur an asymmetric fault somewhere, the zero sequence current will flow across the transformer neutral point,
so if the by-pass switch can timely short-circuit the capacitor, the capacitor can avoid to receive high voltage and
large current impact. The by-pass switch not only reduces cost, but improves the safe level of capacitor. The
protective gap is used to prevent the voltage of transformer neutral point beyond the insulation level. By-pass
protection device is going to prevent capacitor be broke down by ultra-voltage, which also occur when AC sys-
tem fault or lighting strikes. The isolation switches near capacitor is used to make sure the maintenance without
electricity.
3.2. Changes of Current Distribution
In order to suppress the neutral point DC effectively, people usually access blocking device. The device is ar-
ranged between the transformer and the earth. Using the blocking device is likely to change the framework of
grid, so it will change the value and direction of current.
For the convenience of quantitative analysis, there are three transformers working in AC network. The dia-
gram of current trend is shown in the Figure 3. When the relationship between the current is I1 = I2 + I3, and the
capacitor locate in the branch 2, just like the Figure 3(a). Now the current I2 = 0, and I1 = I3, so the adoption of
capacitor lead to the increase of I3, in other words is the situation of NO. 3 transformer get worse. However,
when the relationship is I3 = I1 + I2, and the capacitor is locate in branch 2 as well, as shown in Figure 3(b),
current I2 and I3 reduce at the same time. It means, in the power grid, different blocking device scheme will have
different result of current distribution. So researching the combination of blocking device is necessary.
4. Blocking Device Combination Optimization
According to the study we made before, the combination of blocking device is innumerable, so there might exist
a better way, which can suppress most of the DC but with the least investment.
Transformer
By-pass
protection
device
Protection
gap
C
By-pass
switch
Isolation
switch
Isolation
switch
Figure 2. Schematic of capacitor blocking device.
ab
I1I2I3I1I2I3
Figure 3. Diagram of capacitor changes the current.
C. J. Xia et al.
150
4.1. Mathematical Model
In the network with multiple transformers and wires, we can see each transformer as a network node and see the
wire as a connection line. Then using the node voltage method
YU I=
(1)
where Y is the admittance matrix of every node in network, U is the voltage of node, I is the current flowing into
the node.
Inspired by the Equation (1), the paper adopts following model to calculate the distribution of current. This
model can be divided into two parts, the upper part is the model on the earth, and the lower part is the model
underground, as shown in Figure 4. In the diagram, the UB is the transformer bus voltage, and the branches
connected with the bus node named RL is the wire resistance. UM is the voltage level of transformer neutral point.
RG is the equivalent resistor of soil. R is grounding resistance. And UP is the induction voltage generate by DC
under the earth.
As known from the grounded theory, the equation
Paddaa a
URI RI
= +
(2)
where Rad is mutual resistance between AC system and DC system, Raa is mutual resistance between nodes in
AC system, Id is the current in the DC grounding electrode; and Ia is transformer neutral point DC.
Transformer neutral point current Ia can be calculated by the equation
()
a rM B
I GUU= −
(3 )
where Gr is the transformer winding conductance.
According to the Figure 4, the Equation (1) can be express in another way
(4)
where Y11 is the admittance matrix of neutral point nodes, Y22 is the admittance matrix of bus nodes, Y12 and Y21
is the admittance between neutral point node and bus node.
IP is the current flow into the neutral point node
/
Pp
I UR=
(5)
According to the equations shown above, transformer neutral point DC can be calculated.
11 111
111222 211122 21
[ ()()]
Mmrad d
UGY YYYYGEYYRI
−− −−−
=− −+
(6)
1
22 21
()
ar M
IGEY YU
= +
(7)
4.2. Double Objective Optimization Algorithm
Double objective optimization problem general described as
DC
blocking
device
RL
RL
U
B
U
M
Transformer
RG
RG
+
-
U
P
U
M
R
Figure 4. Diagram of the network model.
C. J. Xia et al.
151
12
min()( (),())
..( )0
yFxf xfx
stg x
= =
(8)
where x named decision vector, y named target vector. The objective functions
11
21
min( )
min( )
n
ai
i
n
i
i
fx I
fx x
=
=
=
=
(9)
Different from the single objective optimization problem, there is no single optimal solution of multi-objec-
tive optimization, and maybe objective functions are mutually contradictory. So it usually results into a series of
solutions of the objective functions, that we call them Pareto solution set.
Depending on the standard particle swarm (PSO), the paper improves the algorithm with the help of the prin-
ciple of NSGA, making it suitable for the mixed integer programming problem. The process of algorithm is as
follows:
1) Initialize the particle swarm. Set the swarm size N, and randomly generated particle position x and particle
velocity v.
2) Calculate the fitness value through objective function.
3) According to the fitness value sort the data, and then find out the non-dominated solution set.
4) Average the elements in the set, and make the result as global optimal solution gbest.
5) Calculate the individual optimal solution of each particle, and refresh the position and velocity of particle.
6) Crossover and mutation. Avoid the particles fall into the local optimal solution, and ensure the diversity of
particles.
7) Judging the iteration number reach the limit value, if yes, stop the calculation, if no, return to step 2).
5. The Example Analysis
Guangdong power grid now has seven HVDC transmission systems, two ultra high voltage (±800 kV) systems
and five high voltage (±500 kV) systems. The ultra high voltage system named ChuSui DC and NuoZhaDu DC.
But the operation time of NuoZhaDu DC is not long enough, and lack of data. So the following analysis is
mainly take ChuSui DC as example. The DC magnetic bias is more serious in 500 kV stations, and too much
200 kV and 110 kV will make the calculation complicate, so this paper just consider about the 500 kV network
in Guangdong. The station which is far away from the DC grounding electrode also be ignored. The DC
grounding electrode of ChuSui DC, named YuLongLing, located in Guangdong, Qingyuan. The final diagram of
network is shown in Figure 5.
According to objective functions proposed before, using the improved PSO to calculate the optimized solution.
Algorithm uses 50 random particles. The max iteration time is set to 500. The learning factor C1 = C2 = 0.9, and
the inertia weight ω = 1.1. The calculation results are shown in the Table 1. Note that all the results are depend-
ing on the data when the value of current in DC grounding electrode is 2500 A.
DL
WY
DL
YD
JM XS
SD
XJ GN
LD
HD
BJ
GX
ZC
SX
GC
SJ
SUI BL
HL
HX
FY
DG HZ
BA
PC
ZJ
SZ
KP
LA
YLL
The DC
grounding
electrode Substation Power
station
Figure 5. Diagram of network in Guangdong.
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152
Table 1. Calculation results of DC bias current and blocking device.
Substation
DC without device
(A)
Installation of
blocking device
DC with device (A)
HuaDu 15.26 1 0
LuoDong 2.09 0 3.89
BeiJiao 9.07 1 0
ZengCheng 0.92 0 2.53
SuiDong 2.8 0 0.55
ShuiXiang 1.8 0 0.26
HengLi 24.95 0 2.8
BoLuo 28.03 0 3.24
FuYuan 30.01 1 0
HuiZhou 55.33 1 0
DongGuan 28.95 1 0
KunPeng 30.51 1 0
ShenZhen 55.61 1 0
ZiJing 44.96 1 0
BaoAn 43.33 0 14.68
PengCheng 44.42 1 0
GuanCheng 17.69 0 5.57
GuangNan 4.01 1 0
ShunDe 6.89 0 0.35
XiJiang 5.91 0 3.91
YanDu 11.89 1 0
CangJiang 14.21 1 0
JiangMen 6.22 0 2.4
WuYI 10.43 0 8.9
DieLing 12.61 0 11.4
Sum 507.9 12 60.48
a) In the blocking device column, the value 1 means that substation installs the device, and the
value 0 means that substation do not use device; b) In the DC column, the positive value
means current flows in the node, and the negative value means current flows out the node.
From the result, when all the substations do not install the blocking device, the majority of the transformer
will be affected by DC magnetic bias seriously. But after used the device configuration, the current in neutral
point will sharply decrease. So the result is acceptable, and the optimization is feasible.
Note that the error of calculation and the missing of data could not avoid. On one hand, the calculation of soil
resistance is using the typical value. On the other hand, all the 500 kV transformers are self-coupling, that means
500 kV transformer has electric connection with the 220 kV transformer, so ignore the 220 kV transformer is
imprecise. There may be an inevitable gap between the actual value and the calculation result. But being a
method is under economical consideration solve the problem of DC magnetic bias, it really work at some situa-
tions. The example analysis shows the effectiveness of the configuration.
6. Conclusions
1) The capacitance type blocking device has effect on the structure of network, and refreshes the DC distribu-
tion. So it is possible to make better current inhibition with less cost.
2) Standard PSO algorithm is not suitable for multi objective optimization problem. But with the help of
NSGA, PSO can be used in the 0-1 mixed integer programming problem.
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153
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by The National High Technology Research and Development Program
(863 Program) (2011AA05A102).
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