Overvoltage and Insulation Coordination for Valve Winding of ±800 kV UHVDC Converter Transformer

The determination of insulation levels for valve windings of ± 800 kV UHVDC converter transformers is a key problem for designing and manufacturing of the converter transformers. Based on the Yunnan-Guangdong ±800 kV DC power transmission project, the arrester parameters for direct or indirect protection of the valve windings are selected. The EMTDC program is used to calculate several faults, which determine mainly the specified insulation levels of valve winding for temporary, switching and lightning impulses, and the overvoltage generating mechanisms according to these faults are analyzed. The polarity reversal overvoltage and the related reversal time at valve windings caused by the emergency switch off sequence of converters (ESOF) are calculated to confirm the necessity of DC voltage polarity reversal type tests of valve windings. The reasonability of the three insulation coordination methods, which determine converter transformers' switching impulse insulation levels, is analyzed. Method 1 is concluded to be more reasonable, and it is used to determine the switching impulse withstand voltage (SIWV) from the switching overvoltage calculation results. The lightning impulse withstand voltage (LIWV) of valve windings can be determined by the ratio between LIWV and SIWV. The principle of the ratio selection is presented, and it is used to determine the LIWV. The operation experience of Yunnan-Guangdong ±800 kV DC project has proven that the presented insulation levels is appropriate.