Grid Intertie solutions with Static Frequency Converters

For more than 40 years, Hitachi Energy’s static frequency converters (SFC) have been the reference for power applications. With pioneering technology and innovative control algorithms, they enable the transition from the traditional distribution grid towards a more flexible, balanced and efficient grid without compromising stability and performance. 

In the traditional network, there is a centralized power generation that supplies the end-users through a long-established, unidirectional transmission and distribution system. This is the traditional operations set up, but the ongoing shift in the networks is bringing additional challenges due to:

• Increasing amount of variable and unpredictable renewable distributed generation such as solar plants and wind farms
• Transformers and cables overload issues due to the change in the power flow direction
• Reverse or multidirectional power flow leading to potential malfunction of the current protection and schemes
• Insufficient local load demand to absorb the additional renewable generation in the remote locations
• Losses due to increasing voltage conversions while connecting distributed generation to the existing HV transmission grids
• Rising demand of intermittent loads (e-vehicles)

Conventional reinforcement technologies to boost the networks capacity and overcome such rapidly increasing challenges might result prohibitively expensive and too lengthy in time. Hitachi Energy’s robust and efficient SFCs applied to distribution grids allow innovative and extremely reliable solutions to unlock additional network capacity of the existing grids while providing:

• Flexibility in design and operation (P & Q control)
• Reduction of conversion stages (efficiency, reliability, cost, footprint, emissions)
• Improvement of power quality for sensitive loads
• Low contribution to short circuit currents
• Feasibility to interconnect asynchronous systems

The basic schemes for applications in utility and industry are shown below: