Zhoushan Flexible DC Project adopts domestically produced 'brain'

At the Zhouyang Converter Station of the Zhoushan Flexible DC Transmission Project, the flexible DC control and protection system and valve control equipment — built entirely on domestically produced chips and operating systems — recently achieved energized unlocking for the first time. This milestone means the equipment is now fully autonomous and controllable, from underlying hardware to fundamental software, meeting the requirements for engineering deployment.

Operation and maintenance personnel from State Grid Zhoushan Power Supply Company perform an energized unlocking switching operation at the Zhouyang Converter Station. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The original control and protection system and valve control system of the Zhoushan Flexible DC Project relied completely on imported core components, leading to long procurement cycles, high costs, and supply chain security risks. This comprehensive shift to domestic solutions, from hardware chips to software operating systems, ends long-standing dependence on imported equipment in this domain.

Following the upgrade, the control and protection device's program execution cycle has been reduced to just 20 microseconds, with system performance reaching and in some cases surpassing that of the original imported equipment. This enhancement significantly improves the autonomy and security controllability of the flexible DC control and protection system.

The successful energized unlocking represents a critical step forward in transitioning the project from grid-connected trial operation to real-world engineering application. It not only confirms the reliability, real-time performance, and stability of domestically-produced equipment in flexible DC applications but also provides a valuable example for advancing the domestication of China's high-end electrical power equipment industry.