ETAP Software and HVDC.

[Mahmoud Elgharib]

Hello all,
I've been assigned to perform a simulation on ETAP comparing a normal transmission's lines power capability to that of a HVDC. After filling in all the data required and performing a load flow. The first scenario where the AC line is connected is successfully done whereas the one with the HVDC doesn't display any power flow at all from the point of connection of the HVDC link towards the end of the network. It's as if nothing is connected at all from the point of the HVDC link.

Does anyone have any experience using the software who could maybe let me know what is happening here?
(For those who are not familiar with the software, all values for the rectifiers and the inverters are included inside the model block aswell.)

Thank you.

 

[FacEngrPE]

I looked at the picture of your model, and a picture of a DC link in the material on ETAP's website.

On the website the DC link contains AC Busbar - AC DC Converter - DC Link - DC AC converter - AC Busbar.
This is different from the appearance of your link.

I suggest try this with the model
Replace the DC links, with AC Links - make sure the model runs without errors.
Add a DC link in parallel with one of the AC links, you can set the AC link open if you want, and get the model to run without errors.

Finally add the rest of the DC link into the model.

If that approach does not work, try simplifying the model to just two busbars.

The tutorials on the website might help:

https://etap.com/product/high-voltage-dc-link-software

A search in Google "etap hvdc transmission link" turned up some potentially useful leads, you could try this with several search engines, they will not all find the same results.

If your model is built correctly, for two parallel AC lines the load sharing is a function of line impedance, and length.
For a parallel DC line and AC line, load sharing is a function of the receiving converter settings. You can see this by looking at the real time power flow data for PJM's Neptune link.

https://pjm.com/markets-and-operations/interregional-map.aspx

The behavior of a single line in a network is probably the point of this exercise, so your experimentation with the model needs to figure out how this behaves.

Note - I have never modeled either a HVDC link or used ETAP, I have had access to EDSA Paladin, but only used it for simple tasks, that were then passed to EE's for validation, and coordination studies / etc.