Converter with active fault current limitation

1. A voltage source converter for high voltage DC power transmission that is configured to be connectable, in use, between a DC network and an AC network to interconnect the DC network and the AC network, the voltage source converter comprising:

a converter unit to convert power flowing between the DC network and the AC network, the converter unit including at least one phase element having a plurality of semiconductor switches, the at least one phase element having an AC terminal located at its mid-point and configured to be connected, in use, to the AC network and opposite ends of the at least one phase element being respectively connected to a first DC terminal and a second DC terminal;

a fault unit connected to the first DC terminal to interconnect, in use, the converter unit and the DC network, and no fault unit connected to the second DC terminal, wherein the fault unit connected to the first DC terminal includes at least one fault module, wherein the at least one fault module includes a voltage source in the form of an energy storage device and at least one semiconductor switch, wherein in response to a short circuit in the DC network, the at least one semiconductor switch of the at least one fault module is configured to insert or bypass the voltage source of the at least one fault module, to provide the voltage required to oppose the driving voltage of the AC network and thereby reduce current flowing through the voltage source converter and the short circuit.

2. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage source of the at least one fault module is configured to produce a voltage having an opposite polarity to a voltage of the AC network.

3. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the fault unit connected to the first DC terminal includes a plurality of fault modules connected in series in the form of a chain-link converter.

4. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fault module includes the energy storage device connected with two pairs of semiconductor switches in a full-bridge arrangement to form a 4-quadrant bipolar fault module.

5. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fault module includes the energy storage device connected with a pair of semiconductor switches in a half-bridge arrangement to form a 2-quadrant unipolar fault module.

6. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fault module includes the energy storage device connected with the at least one semiconductor switch and at least one diode so that the energy storage device is connectable via the at least one diode when the at least one semiconductor switch is operated.

7. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the converter unit includes a plurality of phase elements connected in parallel, each of the phase elements having the AC terminal at its mid-point configured to be connected, in use, to a respective phase of the AC network.

8. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is provided in the form of a capacitor or a battery.

9. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one semiconductor switch of the at least one fault module includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor, a field effect transistor or a gate turn-off thyristor, each with a reverse parallel diode connected across its terminals.

10. The voltage source converter according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage source converter is configured to, in use, exchange reactive power with the AC network connected to the converter.