114 ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS

5.5 PARALLEL AND SERIES CONNECTION OF THYRISTORS

In case of HVDC transmission, the voltage and current levels are so high that a single thyristor
cannot meet these requirements. Under such circumstances, it is essential to use more than
one thyristors in parallel to obtain increased current requirements and, in series, to achieve
higher voltage.
Parallel Connections
When thyristors are connected in parallel, the current sharing between them may not be equal.
The thyristor with lower dynamic resistance will take more current resulting in further
reduction in resistance and further increasing the flow of current through it. The process is
cumulative till the thyristor gives way.
For parallel operation of thyristors, it is desirable that the finger voltage of various
devices should be same, the latching current level of all the devices is such that when gate
pulse is applied, all of them will turn on and remain on when the gate pulse is removed. Also,
the holding current of various devices should not differ much.
In order to nullify the difference in characteristics of the thyristors due to slightly different
turn-on time, finger voltage, holding current, latching current etc. which results in unequal
current sharing, it is desirable to insert suitable value of inductance in each thyristor circuit.
Series Connection of Thyristors
In order to obtain higher d.c. voltage for HVDC transmission, two or more than two thyristors
are to be connected in series. In case, the thyristors have different leakage resistances, the
thyristor with higher leakage resistance will have larger voltage drop across it. High resistances
of equal values are connected across the thyristors.

5.6 POWER FLOW IN 08,+ TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

The equivalent circuit of a d.c. transmission system under steady state operating condition is
shown in Fig. 5.12.

Rcr RL Rci

Vor Voi
Vor Vdr Vdi Voi
cos a b
cos
d

Fig. 5.12 Equivalent circuit of a d.c. transmission link.

The current Id in the line is given by

Vor cos Voi cos ( or )
Id = (5.14)
Rcr + RL Rci