Impact of power flow controller location in High-Voltage DC (HVDC) grids

With the increase in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, the need for power flow controllers (PFCs) has been identified recently to avoid overloads in the cables. An interline PFC has gained attention because of no need for an external power source. The paper presents an analysis to decide the best location in terms of the maximum current variation. A particular case study of a 3-terminal HVDC system has been presented with PFCs at different nodes. The analysis uses a PFC which has been tested experimentally in previous work. Simulations are performed using the PLECS software to extend the studies further for wider applications and make a well-informed choice about the location of PFCs. It is concluded that the maximum current variation is possible when the PFC is applied at the slack node (the node with fixed voltage).