Offshore wind farm with a series multiterminal CSI HVDC

This paper presents an integrated design of an offshore wind farm and an interconnection circuit based on a series multiterminal HVDC link with current source inverters (CSI). The transmission converters are used to achieve variable speed operation for a group of generators, and this enables use of very simple generators. The series converter connection eliminates offshore transformers. The paper discusses the control systems for both, generator side and grid side converters. A 200 MW wind farm is simulated on PSCAD/EMTDC platform and the responses confirm satisfactory operation for a range of wind speed changes. It is shown that each generator group can operate with a different and optimal frequency and that wind variations on individual units cannot jeopardize system stability. The main challenges for the proposed topology are system insulation and management of transmission line losses, and the paper studies some possible solutions. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.