HVDC > HVDC Light > HVDC Light converter technology > Control system
A HVDC Light station is equipped with a well integrated microprocessor based control and protection system.
One major advantage of a HVDC Light transmission is its supreme controllability.
The basic power control is achieved through a system where one of the converters controls the DC voltage and the other converter controls the current. The control system acts through the PWM pattern of the IGBT valves and sometimes through tap changer adjustments on the transformers. As in all ABB HVDC links each control system is duplicated. The HVDC Light controls do not need to communicate with each other through a telecommunication link between the stations.
The fully digital MACH 2TM control and protection system developed by ABB is used for HVDC Light. All functions for control, supervision and protection of the stations are implemented in software running in a family of microprocessor circuit boards.