Superconductor Technologies for a Controllable and Reliable High Capacity Grid

A. P. Malozemoff American Superconductor Corp. IEEE Lecturer on Superconductivity IEEE PES Power Systems Conference & Exhibition Panel: Future Power Delivery Options for Long-Term Energy Sustainability New York NY October 13, 2004

IEEE Council on Superconductivity

Outline
High Temperature Superconductivity (HTS):
Resistance

B=0

Tc
Temperature (K) Normal Superconductor

Zero resistance

Shielding of magnetic field

HTS Wire enabler of power applications Critical long-term power grid needs:

- Need to relieve grid congestion - HTS Cable - Need for a secure power network: stability, reliability Controllable power flows HTS VLI Cable Dynamic reactive power HTS Synchronous Condenser
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HTS Wire Architectures

First Generation (1G) Multi-Filamentary Composite, BSCCO (in production)

Second Generation (2G) Coated Conductor Composite, YBCO (under development)

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1G HTS Wire Manufacturing

Multiple producers worldwide: AMSC, EAS, Furukawa, InnoST, SEI, Trithor Worldwide capacity over 2 Mm/year Up to 1000 m lengths, 70-150 A in a 0.2x4mm2 cross-section at 77 K Prices now typically $150-200/kA-m, dropping towards $50/kAm >140x typical copper current density

AMSC Devens HTS Wire Plant

Commercial volumes and prices available to support initial commercialization

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Drivers for 2G HTS Wire

Lower cost and higher
performance than 1G
Better cost/performance ratio by 2-5x than $50/kAm 1G, Can beat copper at $1525/kAm

Better mechanical
properties

Lower ac losses Special capabilities for

current limiting applications
AMSC 10 m 2G wire, 2004

2G volume production at Mm/yr. still 4+ years out

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Status of 2G Wire: First Steps to Scale-up

300 250 200 150 100 50 0
Minimum Maximum Mean End-End Std Deviation N value
All wires +/- 21 Amp

77 K

A 245 275 262 257 3.0% 32

B 243 285 264 258 4.0% 36

C 256 281 270 268 2.2% 37

D 263 281 274 272 1.6% 31

Neutral Axis Wire, AMSC

Ave. 263 A Standard dev. 1.6 4.0% High n value (V~In) 4 sequential runs

10

Position (m)
Uniformity, reproducibility of multiple runs a critical validation for scale-up
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July 2003: First 2G HTS Cable Prototype

AMSC 2G Neutral Axis Wire
168 A/cm-width (77K), ave 45 meters

Ultera/ORNL Cable 1.25 meter 4200 Amp dc 2500 Amp ac rms

Commercial level currents; wire electrically, mechanically robust

UlteraTM
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Applications of HTS Technologies to Address Critical Grid Issues

VLI Cable Synchronous Condenser (Transformer, Fault Current Limiter)

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HTS Cable Demonstrations Moving to Commercialization

Innopower 35 kV/121 MVA/33.5 m LG/KERI/DAPAS 29 kV/50 MVA/30 m Southwire/AEP Southwire/AEP 14.5 kV/63 MVA/300 m SuperPower/SEI/NiMo 34.5 kV/115 MVA/400 m Furukawa 66 KV/230 MVA/300 M AMSC/Nexans Nexans/LIPA /LIPA AMSC/ 138 kV/600 MVA/610 m Furukawa 66 kV/230 MVA/300 m NKT 30 kV/104 MVA/30 m SEI/TEPCO 66 kV/115 MVA/100 m Southwire 12.4 kV/27 MVA/30 m Pirelli/EPRI 115 kV/400 MVA/50 m In Operation

Test

In Operation

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

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Ongoing US Projects (Supported by DoE SPI)

LIPA (AMSC, Nexans, Air Liquide), 138 kV, 600 MVA, 610 m

Albany (IGC-SuperPower, SEI, Niagara Mohawk) 34.5, 48 MVA, 350 m

Also projects in Ohio (AEP-Ultera), Japan, China, Korea, Mexico, Europe Major steps to commercial HTS cable in progress
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VLI (Very Low Impedance) HTS Cable

Cold dielectric design:
Inner Cryostat Wall Liquid Nitrogen Coolant Copper Shield Wire HTS Shield Tape High Voltage Dielectric HTS Tape Copper Core Outer Protective Covering

Thermal Superinsulation Outer Cryostat Wall IEEE Council on Superconductivity 11

HTS VLI Design: Shield Conductor Suppresses External EMF

Amperes Law:

B=

o I 2 r

Shield conductor current is equal, but opposite in direction, to phase conductor current I
HTS Phase Conductor HTS Shield Conductor

So current is fully shielded

B
Magnetic Field Profile

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HTS VLI Design: Origin of Very Low Inductance

Copper Wire

Inductance determined by integrated magnetic field energy: L per length = (0/2)ln(b/a)

r

Copper cable: minimal shielding - field extends to effective field capture radius b ~ 30 cm HTS VLI cable: field extends to shield radius b, which is much smaller

HTS Phase Conductor HTS Shield Conductor Magnetic Field Profile a

HTS Conventional
bHTS

=> Inductance of VLI cable can be as much as 6 times lower than conventional
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VLI Cable Electrical Characteristics Compared to Conventional Alternatives

Reduced VLI cable impedance hogs current, unloads other overloaded sections of the grid Reduced impedance allows more uniform voltage profile across network - Effective electrical distances are significantly shortened
A Comparison of Power Transmission Technologies 120kV Class
Technology
Cold Dielectric HTS Conventional XLPE Overhead

Resistance
(/km) 0.0001 0.03 0.08

Inductance
(mH/km) 0.06 0.36 1.26

Capacitance
(nf/km) 200 257 8.8

Source: Jipping et al, Impact of HTS Cables on Power Flow Distribution and Short Circuit Currents Within a Meshed Network (IEEE 2001)

Up to 20x lower impedance compared to overhead lines

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Phase Angle Regulator Controls Power Flow

Three phase, Shell-Form, OFAF with On-load voltage regulator, On-load phase shifter. HV MV LV 275kV 154kV 31.5kV 300MVA (Phase Shift 10 ) 300MVA 90MVA

Phase
PowerFlow = ( VS )( VR ) sin Z

Mitsubishi Electric PAR

If line impedance Z is low, correspondingly small change of gives same power flow

Lower phase angle PAR costs less economic power flow control
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PowerWorld Simulation

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Benefits of VLI HTS Cable

High power capacity enabling
- Use of lower voltages, simpler permitting - High power thruput into urban centers with minimal disruption

No heat or EMF Light, easy to install Environmentally clean New, economic method for directly controlling ac power flows cable
Courtesy of S. Akita, CRIEPI

Increased critical length for AC

HTS cables in prototype stage; VLI power flow control needs to be demonstrated
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HTS Rotating Machinery Progress Towards Commercialization

GE Generator 100 MVA, 3600 rpm Siemens Generator 4 MW, 3000 rpm AMSC Ship Motor 36.5 MW, 120 rpm AMSC Synchronous Condenser 8 MVA, 1800 rpm GE Generator 1.8 MVA, 3600 rpm AMSC Ship Motor 5 MW, 230 rpm AMSC Motor 3.5 MW, 1800 rpm Siemens Motor 0.45 MW, 1500 rpm Rockwell/Reliance Motor 0.7 MW, 1800 rpm Test

1999

2000

2001

2002

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2004

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HTS Dynamic Synchronous Condenser: A New HTS Product for the Power Grid
What is it?
- Synchronous rotating machine without a prime mover

What does it do?

- Injects capacitive or inductive reactive power (VARs) into grid dynamically for
Dynamic power factor correction
Regulates system voltage Optimizes transmission capacity

Instantaneous mitigation of voltage disturbances for grid stabilization

Ensures reliable flow of ac power Prevents service disruption

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Understanding the High VAR Output of an HTS Synchronous Condenser

High Permeability Magnetic Material I n turns

Gap Length Area A

Reluctance of gap = / A Flux = BA = In A/ Flux in gap goes up with magnetomotive force In, down with increasing
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Cross-Section of Conventional and HTS Rotor and Armature (Stator)

Conventional
Copper Windings Magnetic Teeth
Back Iron Armature cu gap HTS Cu Windings HTS

HTS Rotor/Copper Stator

Non-Magnetic Teeth

Rotor

exc and armature moderate: Low In, low Back iron

exc high: Very high In outweighs high armature low: Low In, high

Exciter Rotor (excitation) coil Stator coil IEEE Council on Superconductivity 21

Induced Voltages in HTS Machines Copper Armature

Lenzs (Faradays) law V = - d/dt Large exc in HTS machine Enables large generator output and motor torque Induces large voltage Eexc in armature Small armature in HTS machine causes Low synchronous reactance Xs Varmature = -IXs Sum of induced voltages in armature equals the grid voltage: Vgrid = Eexc IXs So reactive current I = (Eexc - Vgrid)/Xs , large because Xs small I is capacitive or inductive when Eexc greater or less than Vgrid

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Reactive Power Output of HTS and Conventional Synchronous Condensers

HTS Machine

Absorbing VARS

Generating VARS

HTS Machine Advantages:

Stator Current (Per Unit)

High output for modest field

current and size: low $/kVAR

Can deliver 100% of full rating,

both leading or lagging

High reliability low field current

Conventional Machine

and constant temperature eliminate thermal fatigue

Compact easily sited Excellent fault and overload

characteristics

Field Current (Per Unit)

HTS synchronous condenser addresses key limitations of conventional machine

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Applications of Synchronous Condenser: 1. Flicker Mitigation

Flicker a common, costly Power Quality issue associated with repeated sudden (subcycle) changes in voltage. Most common sources of flicker - steel rolling mills, mining operations, arc furnaces To Substation and Other Local Loads 34.5 kV Source Plant Transformers 13.8 kV Plant Bus

Various Plant Loads

Synchronous Condenser Arc Furnace

I = (Eexc Vgrid )/Xs

Sudden drop causes instantaneous injection of capacitive current
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+/- 8 MVAR Synchronous Condenser Mitigates Flicker Bus Voltage Drop: Simulation
M. Ross, AMSC Middleton, using Power Technologies Inc. PSS/E simulation software
1.1

Bus Voltage (P.U.)

1 0.9 0.8 0.7

Effect of 3 synch. condensers + reactor Effect of 3 synch. condensers

Voltage - 3 SVAR + Reactor Voltage - 3 SVAR Voltage - No SVAR

0.6 0.5
40 0.4 30 0.3 20 0.2

Combined Output (MVAR)

Assumed voltage drop

MVAR - 3 SVAR MVAR - 3 SVAR + Reactor MVAR - No SVAR

0.1 10 0 0.000 -0.1

0.050

0.100

0.141

0.191

0.233

0.283

0.333

0.383

0.433

0.483

Time (Seconds) 25 IEEE Council on Superconductivity

Applications of Synchronous Condenser: 2. Power Factor Correction

Motors turn on Day Motors turn off

Inductive (+) Capacitive (-)

Night

Control with 1 sec time constant

Corrected by switching in capacitor or inductor banks:

Ireactive = (Eexc Vgrid )/Xs

With Inductor

With Capacitor

Corrected with synchronous condenser:

With Synchronous Condenser

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+/- 8 MVAR Synchronous Condenser Mitigates Multiple Motor Starts: Simulation

M. Ross, AMSC PES, using Power Technologies Inc. PSS/E simulation software
Bus Voltage in kV

Motor #1

Motor #2

Motor #3

Motor #4

Bus Voltage without Synchr. Condenser

Time (Seconds)

Bus Voltage in kV

Bus Voltage with Synchr. Condenser

Time (Seconds)

Output in MVAR

Synchr. Condenser MVAR Output

Time (Seconds)

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Elements of HTS Rotating Machinery

HTS Rotor Coils

Back Iron Stator Coils

Bearings

Exciter Housing
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EM Shield

+/- 8 MVAR Synchronous Condenser Components

Field Field Winding Winding Assembly Assembly

Complete Complete Rotor Rotor Assembly Assembly

Stator

Refrigerator Refrigerator

Exciter Exciter under under test test

AMSC, 2004

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First HTS Synchronous Condenser Installed in TVA Grid

Refrigeration system Cooling fan for stator

Prototype 8 MVA-rated
synchronous condenser by AMSC under test at Hoeganaes Steel Plant near Nashville TN (TVA grid)

Housing for Synchronous Condenser

5 commercial units rated

10 MVA, ordered by TVA upon acceptance of prototype

Synchronous condenser is worlds first commercial HTS product for power grid
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Conclusion
HTS equipment provides solutions to key long-term challenges facing the electrical power grid VLI HTS Cables address the transmission throughput capacity and controllability needs HTS Synchronous Condensers address the need for dynamic VARs to improve grid stability and reactive power compensation Other opportunities with HTS transformers and fault current limiters

Within a decade, HTS power equipment will be playing a major role in the grid
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VLI HTS Cable Opens a Lower Voltage Option

345 kV

XLPE

230 kV

XLPE HTS - VLI

138 kV

XLPE HTS - VLI

69 kV

XLPE HTS - VLI

34.5 kV

XLPE

N-1 Contingency Circuit Limit

150 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

25

75

50

100

Power Capacity (AC 3, MVA)

VLI HTS cables enable capacity increase without increasing operating voltage
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VLS HTS Cable Ease of Installation

Triplex configuration (3 phases in one pipe) requires only one narrow
trench per circuit
- reduced environmental impacts - reduced roadwork disruptions - pipe or trough installation

No expensive thermal backfill materials Simplified burial depth requirements VLI cables are lightweight and easy to pull No generation of eddy currents in piping Small bend radius
PE Warning Tape and/or Concrete Cap

8 ~ 16 Pipe

Reduced installation requirements lead to lower overall system costs

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VLI HTS Cables - Advantages

Power carrying capabilities 3-9x greater than similarly sized copper cables HTS cable architecture enables
Low Conductor Resistance high efficiency Low Inductance

Environmental Compatibility
Underground Placement No External Electromagnetic Fields Thermally Independent of Environment Nitrogen Cooling Fluid (Inert) No Oil

Ease of installation
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Real (MW) and Reactive (MVARs) Power in the Grid

V

In -phase, real power, watts Utilities get paid

V I

Time

Out - of - phase, VARs (volt - amp - reactive) Utilities dont get paid

Inductive VARs: Coils, motors, inductors Current lagging

Or Capacitive VARs: Cables, capacitor banks Current leading

VARs cause voltage sag, clog the grid with extra current that does
not provide real power, creates reliability issues Utilities want to minimize VARs on the grid how? The answer:
Dynamical compensation of both inductive and capacitive VARs
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Power Factor Correction and Grid Stabilization Devices

Inductors and Capacitors
- Bulky, not dynamic, but least expensive

Static VAR Compensators (SVC) thyristor-switched

inductors and capacitors
- Dynamic in steps, expensive

Static Compensators STATCOMs all electronic device,

leading or lagging current output
- Smoothly controllable response with one cycle time constant - Most economic in sub-second timeframe because of attractive overload characteristics

Dynamic Synchronous Condensers

- Smoothly controllable response with 1 sec time constant - Instantaneous but not controllable response for subcycle events

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Synchronous Condenser, STATCOMs Address Grid Reliability Issues at Different Timescales

Synchronous Condenser Range STATCOM (D-VAR) Range Synchronous Condenser Range

AMSC Products:

1 Cycle (0.016 sec)

100 Cycles (1.6 sec)

Response Timescale:

Short

Long

Grid Reliability Issues

Voltage Sags Flicker Capacitor Switching Voltage Collapse Voltage Regulation Dynamic Power Factor Correction

Synchronous condensers, STATCOMs together cover full time range!

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Dynamic Synchronous Condenser Benefits

Dynamic Synchronous Condenser generates or absorbs reactive power dynamically to ensure reliable flow of electricity through AC power grids

HTS synchronous condenser has following special benefits vis--vis conventional unit: - HTS rotor coils: low loss, high efficiency, high reliability - Low synchronous reactance enables high output, high dynamic range: delivers 100% of its rating in both lagging and leading VARs - Dynamic: instantaneous response, and controllable response on timescale of 1 sec - Outstanding overload and fault characteristics - Compact, light easy deployment - Low harmonic content Reduced installation requirements lead to lower overall system costs Present HTS Synchronous Condenser project: AMSC/TVA
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Transformers & FCLs

HTS transformers Smaller, lighter Non-flammable Energy efficient High overload capability HTS fault current limiters (FCL) Passively absorb fault currents Prevent system outages, damage to utility grid equipment

Current transformer and FCL projects utilizing HTS wire: Waukesha, Toshiba, Hyosung, LG Industries, TBEA, Beijing Superconductor, Condumex
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