TITLE VICOMPLIANCE

CHAPTER 2 Compliance testing

Article 71Compliance testing for HVDC systems

1.

Equipment certificates may be used instead of part of the tests below, on the condition that they are provided to the relevant system operator.

2.

With regard to the reactive power capability test:

(a)

the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station shall demonstrate its technical capability to provide leading and lagging reactive power capability according to Article 20;

(b)

the reactive power capability test shall be carried out at maximum reactive power, both leading and lagging, and concerning the verification of the following parameters:

  1. (i)

    Operation at minimum HVDC active power transmission capacity;

  2. (ii)

    Operation at maximum HVDC active power transmission capacity;

  3. (iii)

    Operation at active power setpoint between those minimum and maximum HVDC active power transmission capacity.

(c)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are cumulatively fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station has been operating no shorter than 1 hour at maximum reactive power, both leading and lagging, for each parameter as referred to in point (b);

  2. (ii)

    the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station demonstrates its capability to change to any reactive power setpoint within the applicable reactive power range within the specified performance targets of the relevant reactive power control scheme; and

  3. (iii)

    no action of any protection within the operation limits specified by reactive power capacity diagram occurs.

3.

With regard to the voltage control mode test:

(a)

the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station shall demonstrate its capability to operate in voltage control mode in the conditions set forth in Article 22(3);

(b)

the voltage control mode test shall apply concerning the verification of the following parameters:

  1. (i)

    the implemented slope and deadband of the static characteristic;

  2. (ii)

    the accuracy of the regulation;

  3. (iii)

    the insensitivity of the regulation;

  4. (iv)

    the time of reactive power activation.

(c)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are cumulatively fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    the range of regulation and adjustable droop and deadband is compliant with agreed or decided characteristic parameters, according to Article 22(3);

  2. (ii)

    the insensitivity of voltage control is not higher than F10.01 pu;

  3. (iii)

    following a step change in voltage, 90 % of the change in reactive power output has been achieved within the times and tolerances according to Article 22(3).

4.

With regard to the reactive power control mode test:

(a)

the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station shall demonstrate its capability to operate in reactive power control mode, according to the conditions referred to in Article 22(4);

(b)

the reactive power control mode test shall be complementary to the reactive power capability test;

(c)

the reactive power control mode test shall apply concerning the verification of the following parameters:

  1. (i)

    the reactive power setpoint range and step;

  2. (ii)

    the accuracy of the regulation; and

  3. (iii)

    the time of reactive power activation.

(d)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are cumulatively fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    the reactive power setpoint range and step is ensured according to Article 22(4);

  2. (ii)

    the accuracy of the regulation is compliant with the conditions as referred to in Article 22(3).

5.

With regard to the power factor control mode test:

(a)

the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station shall demonstrate its capability to operate in power factor control mode according to the conditions referred to in Article 22(5);

(b)

the power factor control mode test shall apply concerning the verification of the following parameters:

  1. (i)

    the power factor setpoint range;

  2. (ii)

    the accuracy of the regulation;

  3. (iii)

    the response of reactive power due to step change of active power.

(c)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are cumulatively fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    the power factor setpoint range and step is ensured according to Article 22(5);

  2. (ii)

    the time of reactive power activation as result of step active power change does not exceed the requirements specified in accordance with Article 22(5);

  3. (iii)

    the accuracy of the regulation is compliant with the value, as referred to in Article 22(5).

6.

With regard to the FSM response test:

(a)

the HVDC system shall demonstrate its technical capability to continuously modulate active power over the full operating range between maximum HVDC active power transmission capacity and minimum HVDC active power transmission capacity to contribute to frequency control and shall verify the steady-state parameters of regulations, such as droop and deadband and dynamic parameters, including robustness during frequency step change response and large, fast frequency changes;

(b)

the test shall be carried out by simulating frequency steps and ramps big enough to activate at least 10 % of the full active power frequency response range in each direction, taking into account the droop settings and the deadband. Simulated frequency deviation signals shall be injected into the controller of the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station;

(c)

the test shall be deemed to be passed, provided that the following conditions are all fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    activation time of full active power frequency response range as result of a step frequency change has been no longer than required by Annex II;

  2. (ii)

    undamped oscillations do not occur after the step change response;

  3. (iii)

    the initial delay time has been according to Annex II;

  4. (iv)

    the droop settings are available within the range provided for in Annex II and deadband (thresholds) is not more than the value in Annex II;

  5. (v)

    insensitivity of active power frequency response at any relevant operating point does not exceed the requirements set forth in Annex II.

7.

With regard to the LFSM-O response test:

(a)

the HVDC system shall demonstrate its technical capability to continuously modulate active power to contribute to frequency control in case of large increase of frequency in the system and shall verify the steady-state parameters of regulations, such as droop and deadband, and dynamic parameters, including frequency step change response;

(b)

the test shall be carried out by simulating frequency steps and ramps big enough to activate at least 10 % of the full operating range for active power, taking into account the droop settings and the deadband. Simulated frequency deviation signals shall be injected into the controller of the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station;

(c)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are both fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    the test results, for both dynamic and static parameters, are in line with the requirements as referred to in Annex II;

  2. (ii)

    undamped oscillations do not occur after the step change response.

8.

With regard to the LFSM-U response test:

(a)

the HVDC system shall demonstrate its technical capability to continuously modulate active power at operating points below maximum HVDC active power transmission capacity to contribute to frequency control in case of large drop of frequency in the system;

(b)

the test shall be carried out by simulating at appropriate active power load points with low frequency steps and ramps big enough to activate at least 10 % of the full operating range for active power, taking into account the droop settings and the deadband. Simulated frequency deviation signals shall be injected into the controller of the HVDC converter unit or the HVDC converter station;

(c)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are both fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    the test results, for both dynamic and static parameters, are in line with the requirements as referred to in Annex II;

  2. (ii)

    undamped oscillations do not occur after the step change response.

9.

With regard to the active power controllability test:

(a)

the HVDC system shall demonstrate its technical capability to continuously modulate active power over the full operating range according to Article 13(1)(a) and (d);

(b)

the test shall be carried out by sending manual and automatic instructions by the relevant TSO;

(c)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are cumulatively fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    the HVDC system has demonstrated stable operation;

  2. (ii)

    the time of adjustment of the active power is shorter than the delay specified pursuant to Article 13(1)(a);

  3. (iii)

    the dynamic response of the HVDC system when receiving instructions for the purposes of exchange or sharing of reserves, or for participating in imbalance netting processes, if capable of fulfilling the requirements for these products, as specified by the relevant TSO, has been demonstrated.

10.

With regard to the ramping rate modification test:

(a)

the HVDC system shall demonstrate its technical capability to adjust the ramping rate according to Article 13(2);

(b)

the test shall be carried out by relevant TSO sending instructions of ramping modifications;

(c)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are cumulatively fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    ramping rate is adjustable;

  2. (ii)

    the HVDC system has demonstrated stable operation during ramping periods.

11.

With regard to the black start test, if applicable:

(a)

the HVDC system shall demonstrate its technical capability to energise the busbar of the remote AC substation to which it is connected, within a time frame specified by the relevant TSO, according to Article 37(2);

(b)

the test shall be carried out while the HVDC system starts from shut down;

(c)

the test shall be deemed passed, provided that the following conditions are cumulatively fulfilled:

  1. (i)

    the HVDC system has demonstrated being able to energise the busbar of the remote AC-substation to which it is connected;

  2. (ii)

    the HVDC system operates from a stable operating point at agreed capacity, according to the procedure of Article 37(3).