HVDC Microgrid Fault Isolation via Cascade Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power distribution systems face challenges in resilience and safety, particularly in decentralized telecom networks with 5G deployments, where traditional AC backup systems are inadequate, leading to frequent service interruptions and high maintenance costs due to inefficient fault detection and isolation.
Innovation Solution
A microgrid system with a high voltage direct current (HVDC) source that includes a main HVDC power supply with energy reserve and a switch-based fault isolator, along with a smart controller using microcontrollers to cascade local fault isolators, progressively disconnecting faulty subtrunks from the network, ensuring only necessary sections are disconnected to maintain operation, thus enhancing resilience and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional AC backup systems are used in HVDC power distribution, then system simplicity is maintained, but service interruption frequency increases and maintenance costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of power distribution from AC to HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current), enabling more efficient power transmission and better compatibility with modern telecom equipment. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by providing both system simplicity and improved reliability, as HVDC systems have fewer moving parts and require less maintenance while reducing service interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements segmentation by dividing the power distribution network into modular units with individual fault isolators at each distribution point. This allows localized fault containment without affecting the entire system, thereby maintaining overall system simplicity while significantly improving service reliability through targeted fault isolation.
2Reliability
If fault isolators are installed at every distribution point to improve fault isolation, then service reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated control systems that enable fault isolators to detect and isolate faults autonomously without requiring manual intervention. This automation reduces the operational complexity of having multiple fault isolators distributed throughout the network, as the system self-manages the increased number of components through intelligent control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The fault isolators in the patent are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as protection devices and as control nodes in the automated management system. Each fault isolator integrates multiple functions including fault detection, isolation, and communication, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated components and offsetting the complexity increase from having numerous isolators.
3Reliability
If power resources are overprovisioned to ensure adequate supply, then power availability improves, but capital investment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management through automated control systems that continuously monitor power demand and adjust distribution accordingly. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain adequate power availability by allocating resources based on actual needs rather than static overprovisioning, thereby reducing the total quantity of power infrastructure required and lowering capital investment while ensuring reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A microgrid with a high voltage direct current (HVDC) source for efficiently and safely distributing power to decentralized loads includes: at least a main HVDC power supply connectable in input to an AC grid and in output to a main DC distribution network and loads system in output, the main HVDC power supply having energy reserve means and a main switch-based fault isolator or main FI, the main DC distribution network and loads system including: a maintrunk bus, and subtrunks buses and/or front end local loads cells connected in parallel to the maintrunk bus, and at each branching of a subtrunk bus and a load or of a subtrunk bus of rank n−1 and a subtrunk bus of rank n, a local switch-based fault isolator or local FI, n being an integer comprised in the range [1, N]. A smart main controller including microcontrollers for smart operation is also included.