High Voltage Converters and HVDC Networks for Corona Mitigation in Distribution Systems
Keywords:
corona discharge, DC-DC converter, high-voltage gain, HVDC network, voltage stabilityAbstract
Corona discharge remains a persistent concern in high-voltage distribution systems because it causes energy loss, electromagnetic interference, audible noise, chemical by-products, and progressive insulation damage. This review examines the indirect role of high-voltage-gain DC-DC converters and multiterminal high-voltage direct-current networks in limiting electrical conditions that promote corona. A systematic literature review was conducted using publications on corona mechanisms, converter ripple, nonlinear HVDC control, insulation materials, and high-voltage monitoring. The synthesis indicates that these technologies do not eliminate corona by themselves; instead, they can reduce relevant stressors by improving DC-voltage regulation, suppressing ripple and harmonics, limiting switching overshoot, and accelerating recovery after disturbances. Converter studies report high efficiency and low output ripple, while nonlinear HVDC controllers provide adaptive voltage stabilization under changing operating conditions. Material advances and acoustic, optical, and partial-discharge monitoring complement these electrical controls by increasing insulation resilience and enabling earlier detection. An integrated mitigation strategy should therefore combine conductor and insulation design, converter performance limits, coordinated HVDC control, environmental monitoring, and condition-based maintenance. Experimental validation is still required to quantify how much each intervention increases corona-onset voltage or reduces discharge intensity in practical distribution networks.
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