Optimizing converter control for embedded HVDC power

High-voltage direct current (HVDC) connections enable efficient and controllable long-distance transmission of large amounts of power, e.g. from off-shore windfarms to land or between different countries and will therefore become more and more important in the near future. This paper studies the optimization of the operation of a power network with embedded HVDC connections. Two optimization scenarios are considered: the minimization of power losses and the minimization Non-Delivered Energy in case of connection failures. For both scenarios, mathematical optimization models were formulated and intelligent optimization algorithms were developed. These were implemented in a software tool that applies these algorithms on power networks based on the MATACDC software. Computational experiments with IEEE benchmarks show that the investigated optimization methods have a strong potential to improve the operation of HVDC connections.