Device and method for connecting an electric power generator to an HVDC transmission system

1. A device for connecting an electric power generator to an HVDC transmission system, the device comprising:

a first unit for converting an AC output voltage from the electric power generator to a DC input voltage for the HVDC transmission system, the first unit comprising a transformer and a full-bridge rectifier, and

a second unit for generating control voltages and/or control currents in the transformer and/or in the electric power generator, the second unit comprising a PWM full-bridge converter adapted to receive the AC output voltage from the electric power generator or an AC voltage based on said AC output voltage,

wherein the transformer of the first unit comprises a set of primary windings for receiving the AC output voltage from the electric power generator, a first set of secondary windings coupled to an input of the full-bridge rectifier of the first unit, and a second set of secondary windings coupled to an input of the PWM full-bridge converter of the second unit.

2. The device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the electric power generator comprises a generator unit having a stator and a rotatably supported rotor, the stator comprising a first set of windings and a second set of windings, the rotor being adapted to induce electrical voltage in the first set of windings and in the second set of windings when the rotor is rotated relative to the stator,

wherein the set of primary windings of the transformer of the first unit is coupled to the first set of windings of the stator, and

wherein the second unit comprises a further PWM full-bridge converter having an input coupled to the second set of windings of the stator.

3. The device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the electric power generator comprises a selectable frequency grid converter for providing the AC output voltage.

4. The device according to claim 1 ,

wherein an output of the PWM full-bridge converter is coupled to the HVDC transmission system or to a DC voltage system having a lower DC voltage than the HVDC transmission system.

5. The device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control voltages and/or control currents generated by the second unit are adapted for at least one of DC output voltage regulation, active and reactive power control, and harmonic current control.

6. The device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the full-bridge rectifier of the first unit is a full-bridge thyristor or diode rectifier and/or wherein the PWM full-bridge converter of the second unit is a voltage source full-bridge type converter.

7. A system for producing electric power and feeding it to an HVDC transmission system, the system comprising

an electric power generator, and

a device according to claim 1 .

8. The system according to claim 7 ,

wherein the electric power generator comprises a wind turbine.

9. A method of connecting an electric power generator to an HVDC transmission system, the method comprising:

converting an AC output voltage from the electric power generator to a DC input voltage for the HVDC transmission system via a first unit, the first unit comprising a transformer and a full-bridge rectifier, and

generating control voltages and/or control currents in the transformer and/or in the electric power generator via a second unit, the second unit comprising a PWM full-bridge converter adapted to receive the AC output voltage from the electric power generator or an AC voltage based on said AC output voltage,

wherein the transformer of the first unit comprises a set of primary windings for receiving the AC output voltage from the electric power generator, a first set of secondary windings coupled to an input of the full-bridge rectifier of the first unit, and a second set of secondary windings coupled to an input of the PWM full-bridge converter of the second unit.

10. The method according to claim 9 ,

wherein the electric power generator comprises a generator unit having a stator and a rotatably supported rotor, the stator comprising a first set of windings and a second set of windings, and further comprising:

inducing by the rotor an electrical voltage in the first set of windings and in the second set of windings when the rotor is rotated relative to the stator,

wherein the set of primary windings of the transformer of the first unit is coupled to the first set of windings of the stator, and

wherein the second unit comprises a further PWM full-bridge converter having an input coupled to the second set of windings of the stator.

11. The method according to claim 10 ,

wherein the electric power generator comprises a selectable frequency grid converter for providing the AC output voltage; and further comprising:

selecting a frequency of the frequency grid converter for providing the AC output voltage at the selected frequency.

12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

outputting an output of the PWM full-bridge converter to the HVDC transmission system or to a DC voltage system having a lower DC voltage than the HVDC transmission system.

13. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

adapting the control voltages and/or control currents generated by the second unit for at least one of DC output voltage regulation, active and reactive power control, and harmonic current control.

14. The system according to claim 7 ,

wherein the electric power generator comprises a generator unit having a stator and a rotatably supported rotor, the stator comprising a first set of windings and a second set of windings, the rotor being adapted to induce electrical voltage in the first set of windings and in the second set of windings when the rotor is rotated relative to the stator.

15. The system according to claim 7 ,

wherein the electric power generator comprises a selectable frequency grid converter for providing an AC output voltage.