Infrastructure sector
HVDC Converter Station Engineering
Basic and detailed engineering for converter stations of bipole and back-to-back HVDC schemes, HVDC equipment specification and review, study support, and testing and commissioning advisory, scoped with the converter supplier.
What a converter station contains
A bipole links two converter stations by a DC line. In a back-to-back scheme both converters sit in one station and there is no DC line.
| Area | What it contains | Engineering considerations |
|---|---|---|
| AC switchyard | Bays connecting the station to the AC grid | Bus scheme, clearances, earthing, protection interfaces |
| AC filters and reactive equipment | Filter banks and shunt compensation | Yard layout, ratings from the supplier, clearances, switching |
| Converter transformer yard | Converter transformers, often single-phase units | Foundations, oil containment, firewalls, bushing interfaces with the valve hall |
| Valve hall | Thyristor or VSC valves | Designed by the converter OEM; building and interface coordination |
| DC yard | Smoothing reactors, DC filters, DC switching, line or cable termination | Layout interfaces, clearances, earthing |
| Electrode or metallic return | Neutral path for bipole operation | Line and earthing interface |
Scope we offer, as contracted
Each item is agreed in writing for the project, with the boundary to the converter supplier stated.
Station engineering
- Basic and detailed design of AC switchyard, filter yards and converter transformer yard
- Layout and interface drawings with the converter OEM
- Earthing and grounding design for the station
- Civil and structural design: foundations, firewalls, oil containment, buildings
- Auxiliary systems, cables and illumination
Equipment, testing and project support
- Specification, selection and review of HVDC station equipment
- Vendor document and GTP review
- Factory acceptance test and site test witnessing
- Commissioning support
- Project management and O&M advisory support
HVDC studies
Converter studies depend on the OEM’s design data. We state for each study whether we prepare it, review it or coordinate it with specialists.
| Study | Basis |
|---|---|
| Insulation coordination | Prepared or reviewed by scope, with OEM data |
| Harmonic analysis and filter performance | Prepared or reviewed by scope, with OEM and system data |
| Control and protection studies | Review and coordination with the OEM; specialist input where required |
| AC-side short circuit and earthing | Prepared, by scope |
Where the converter supplier’s scope begins
The converter OEM’s responsibility. Valve design, converter control and protection software, and the proprietary studies tied to them are designed by the converter supplier. Our work covers the station engineering, equipment specification and review, and the interfaces around that equipment, as each contract defines.
Service range
Our HVDC service range covers bipole and back-to-back schemes up to ±512 kV and 2500 MW. Project-specific HVDC experience is discussed directly with each enquiry, within what the clients concerned allow.
Related
Share your SLD, technical specification or MDL for an engineering proposal
Send us the tender extract, single-line diagram, master deliverable list or the specific calculation you need. We will confirm scope, inputs and a realistic submission sequence before any work starts.