HVDC tapping using soft switching techniques

Soft switching techniques have been applied to develop a novel dc/dc power converter for feeding small loads (under 5 MW) with low cost and high reliability, from HVDC transmission lines. This dc/dc converter is connected in series with a pole of the HVDC transmission line. It drains energy to a de capacitor through an air-core transformer. From this de capacitor, a voltage-source converter may be directly connected to supply ac loads. This HVDC tap can supply high quality ac power to isolated areas, with or without ac power generation. The controller of the HVDC tap is independent from the master control of the HVDC link. It does not need any communication channel to the control of the main HVDC converter stations. Simulation results have revealed that the proposed HVDC tap can be a very good option for feeding small loads along the HVDC transmission line. It generates high quality ac voltage and is extremely robust.