When the PNDC at the University of Strathclyde needed to test pole to pole faults in LVDC cables, they required a bipolar power system which transmitted confidence.
The project is focused on considering the conversion of existing Low Voltage Alternating Current (LVAC) infrastructure to Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC). Projections of customer demand suggest that the loading on LVAC networks will increase as households transition to low carbon technologies.
Historically most of the world’s grids have run off almost entirely AC distribution networks. AC overhead lines are typically very resilient under fault conditions, as the power flowing in the network often redistributes itself very quickly without any need for external intervention.
However, DC short-circuit fault detection and ride through is a problem. The ability of aged cables to withstand realistic fault currents under typical LVDC conditions was of particular interest to the PNDC.
ETPS supplied the PNDC with two DC power systems, which were installed around a centre tapped earth. This allows the research group to recreate a bipolar DC arrangement in a lab, to replicate the intended LVDC test scenario.
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