Introduction

To
HVDC Transmission
Systems
1

 Both Electrical Sciences and practical applications of

electricity began with direct current.
Electric lighting and power - using DC generators
(run by steam engines).
Carbon arc lamps in series, constant current, fed by DC Series generators.
Carbon-filament incandescent lamps in parallel, constant voltage, fed by DC Shunt
generators.

First electric station (1882) By Edison on Pearl Street, New York.

- 110V, U/G upto 1 mi.
With initial supremacy, why did ac almost replace dc?
Why again dc is being used for long HV transmission?
In 1880s & 1890s, Transformers, Induction motors, poly-phase
circuits, steam turbines etc.
Controversy over supremacy of ac v/s dc arises.
But due to advantages of ac systems, ac systems became universal.
Gen. Trans. Dist. & Utilization all ac
If dc needed by rectification.
Victory of ac over dc was almost complete.
2

 Despite it, some engineers never forgot the advantages of dc transmission

They supplemented ac with dc.
- parallel DC link with ac
- interconnected two ac systems with dc line.
requires converters:
one at sending end & other at receiving end.
converters of high voltage & power needed.
Converters an assembly of controlled switches
Valves Devices having inherent un-directional conduction.
Mercury Arc Convertors (1903) Thyratrons
Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (1960) Thyristors
First commercial application Between Swedish mainland
& Gotland island (1954)
- 20 MW, 100 kV, 90 km underwater link.
First HVDC system using thyristors - Eel river scheme (1972)
- Between New Brunswick & Quebec (Canada)
3
- 320 MW, 100 kV dc, 230 kV ac back-to-back.

Developments of HVDC
Mercury Arc Valves
First 25 years (1950- 1975)

Line-Commutated Devices (Thyristor)

Second 25 years(1975-2000)

Self-Commutated Converters (IGBT, GTO)

Next 25 years (from 2000)

Main Applications of HVDC Systems

1.Bulk power transmission over long distances

- AC systems not feasible (> 600 km)due to stab
- Series & Shunt compensation requirements.
- Beyond 600 km, HVDC is the better option.
2.Underwater cables longer than 30 km.
- AC systems impractical
(due to high charging currents)
3.Asynchronous link between two ac systems
- AC link may not be feasible due to
(i) stability problem
(ii) two different operating frequencies.

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF
EHVAC &HVDC TRANSMISSION
SYSTEMS
S.No.
1.

Feature

5.

Power /conductor
Power /Circuit
Use of ground as a
return of power
Line construction
Line costs

6.

Charging current

7.

Skin Effect
Compensation

2.
3.
4.

8.
9.

10.
11.

13.
12.

Operation voltage
levels

EHVAC
Lesser than HVDC

HVDC
More than EHVAC

3 Single -circuit line

Bipolar Line

Not possible

possible

complex

simpler

Lower than HVDC if line length

<600km
High magnitudes in long lines &
cables
Losses due to skin effect involved

Lower than EHVAC if line

length >600km
No charging current

Shunt & Series compensation

required
Limit on operating voltage due to
Switching surges

No compensation required

No skin effect

Switching surges less

severe,
Hence higher operating
voltage
Lower due to use of only
two conductors systems

Right-of-way(ROW)
requirements
Corona, R.I, Audible
noise effects

High due to use of multiple

phases/sub conductor systems
Corona losses (f+25), High,
Still more in foul weather

Lower magnitudes,
Still lower during foul
weather

Stability
Visual impact on
scenery

Problem with long transmission

No stability problem

Large impact

Lower impact

(a) AC Transmission System

1. Single circuit - 3 conductors

2. Double circuit for higher reliability
3. Series & Shunt compensation

(b) DC Transmission System

- Two conductors
- Sometimes only one. Ground as return path.
Two conductor DC line = Double circuit 3 ac line

Point-to-Point

Back-to-Back

(with DC line)

(Without DC line)

Two-terminal
Mono-polar
Bipolar

Multi-terminal
Two-terminal links

Homo-polar

Mono-polar HVDC system with 12-pulse converters

Bipolar HVDC system with one 12-pulse converter per pole

Back-to-back HVDC system with 12-pulse converters

Multi-terminal links

Constant voltage scheme

(a) Line with parallel tap

Constant current scheme

(c) Series connected system

(b) HVDC Ring System

Back-to-back Link

11

12

HVDC Components
Converter Transformer

AC Filter

DC Smoothing Reactor

Converter

DC Filter

13

World of HVDC

Fig. 1. HVDC system based on CSC technology

with thyristors

Fig. 2. HVDC system based on VSC technology built

with IGBTs.

Operating principle of VSC-HVDC

HVDC Map of India

HVDC in India
It has four electrical regions and has four asynchronous
interconnection by back-to-back HVDC links
1. Western-Northern
2 X 250 MW 70 kV link @ Vindhyachal
Commissioned in 1990,
Interconnecting western and northern regions for
Emergency
support, for improving the dynamic performance
2. Western-Southern
2 X 500 MW, 205 kV, controls power via existing 200 km
400 kV double circuit AC line from Chandrapur to
Ramagundam

HVDC in India
3. Eastern- Southern
Vijayawada Gajuwaka link completed in 2000,
exchange power upto 500 MW, between the two regions.

4. Eastern-Northern
500 MW interconnection (sasaram project)