Design of ± 535 kV hybrid high voltage direct current (HVDC) circuit breaker.

This paper proposes a ± 535 kV hybrid high voltage direct current (HVDC) circuit breaker. In this paper, the interruption processes of the main branch, transferring branch, and MOV (metal oxide varistors) branch are studied by PSCAD/EMTDC computer simulation. Simulation results indicate that an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) in the main branch will withstand the highest electrical stress (3305 V/2200 A) and the IGBT in the transferring branch will withstand the highest voltage stress (3327 V). Finally, the ± 535 kV hybrid HVDC circuit breaker prototype is manufactured; the test is carried out. Test results suggest that the ± 535 kV hybrid HVDC circuit breaker prototype developed for the Zhangbei four‐terminal voltage source converter (VSC)‐HVDC project can interrupt a ± 25 kA (high current) within 2.84 ms. The simulation results agreed very well with the actual test results of our novel ± 535 kV hybrid HVDC circuit breaker. The novel ± 535 kV hybrid HVDC circuit breaker functioned exceptionally well in achieving fast short‐circuit current isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]