Institute for High-Voltage Engineering and Systems Management

High Voltage Engineering For

Modern Transmission Networks

Michael MUHR
O.Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Dr.h.c.

Institute for High-Voltage Engineering and Systems Management

Graz University of Technology
Austria

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Content
1. Introduction
2. High Voltage AC Transmission (HVAC)
3. High Voltage DC Transmission (HVDC)
4. Future Developments & Trends
5. Transmission Lines
6. Overhead Lines
7. Cable Lines
8. Gas-Insulated Lines
9. Technical Developments
10. Summary

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1. Introduction
Essential changes in the framework:

Liberalisation of the electricity market

Increasing of electricity transportation / transit

Renewable Energies are on the rise

Maintenance and modernisation / replacement

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Source: IEA; UN; Siemens PG CS4 - 08/2002

Development of the world population and the power consumption

between 1980 and 2020
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2. High Voltage AC Transmission (HVAC)

Economical environmentally friendly and low-losses only
with the usage of high voltage
Voltage levels for HVAC in Austria and major parts of
Europe: 110 kV, 220 kV and 380 kV
Advantage: Easy transformation of energy between the
different voltage levels, convenient and safe handling
(application)
Unfavourable: Transmission and compensation of reactive
power, stability problems, frequency effects can cause
voltage differences and load angle issues at long lines

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In
InDiscussion:
Discussion:China
China 1000
1000kV
kV
Japan
Japan 1100
1100kV
kV
India
India 1200
1200kV
kV
Source: SIEMENS

Development of Voltage Levels for HVAC

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Control of active power flow

Phase Shifter Transformer (PST)

Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)

FACTS Elements:

Elements controllable with power electronics

System is more flexible and is able to react fast to changes
in the grid
Control of power flow and compensation of reactive power

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Phase shift transformers (PST)

Distribution of current depends on Impedances only
Unequal distribution Implementation of additional voltage
sources i 1
w/o PST
itotal X1
i2
X2

UPST
i1+i with PST
itotal ~ X1
i2-i
X2

Control of active power flow

Additional voltage with 90 shift of phase voltage
PST implements a well-defined phase-shift between
primary and secondary part of the transformer

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3. High Voltage DC Transmission (HVDC)

Transmission of high amounts of electrical power over long
lines (> 1000 km)

Sub-sea power links (submarine cables)

No compensation of reactive power necessary

Coupling of grids with different network frequency

Asynchronous operation

Low couple - power

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Advantages of HVDC
No (capacitive) charging currents
Grid coupling (without rise of short-circuit current)
No stability problems (frequency)
Higher power transfer
No inductive voltage drop
No Skin-Effect
High flexibility and controllability

Disadvantages of HVDC
Additional costs for converter station and filters
Harmonics
requires reactive power
Expensive circuit breakers
Low overload capability

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4. Future Trends

Source: SIEMENS PTD SE NC - 2002

Costs of a high voltage transmission system

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Possibilities for Transmission Systems

for high power
Alternating Current (AC)

Direct Current (DC)

Hybrid AC / DC - Connection

Hybrid Connection

Source: SIEMENS

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Transmission Line Systems

AC DC
Maximum voltage
kV 800 +/- 600
in operation
Maximum voltage
kV 1000 +/- 800
under development
Maximum power
per line in MW 2000 3150
operation
Maximum power
per line under MW 4000 6400
development

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Prof. S. Gubanski / Chalmers University of Technology

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Network Stability
Separation of large and heavy meshed networks to prevent
mutual influences and stability issues

Usage of HVDC close couplings

Fast control of frequency and transfer power possible

Limitation of short-circuit power

Improvement of transient network stability

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5. Transmission Lines
Liberalisation
Liberalisationof
ofthe
theElectricity
ElectricityMarket
Market
Renewable
RenewableEnergy
Energyisison
onthe
therise
rise
Increased
Increasedenvironmental
environmentalawareness
awareness

Possibilities
Possibilitiesfor
for
Transmission
TransmissionLines
Lines
ininHigh
HighVoltage
VoltageNetworks:
Networks:

Overhead
OverheadLine
Line Cable
CableLine
Line Gas
GasInsulated
InsulatedLine
Line

Decision
DecisionCriteria
Criteria
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Framework
Economic necessity
Transmission capacity
Voltage level
Comply with (n-1) criteria
Reliability of supply
Operational conditions
Environmental requirements
(Civil) engineering feasibility
Economics

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6. Overhead Lines
Insulating Material: Air

High voltages are easy to handle with sufficient

distances/clearances and lengths

Permitted phase wire temperature of phase wires is

determined by mechanical strength

Overhead lines are defined by their natural power PNat

Thermal Power limit is a multiple of PNat

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6. Overhead Lines Advantages

Simple and straightforward layout
(Relatively) easy and fast to erect and to repair
Good operating behaviour
Long physical life
Large load capacity and overload capability
Lowest (capacitive) reactive power of all systems
Longest operational experience
Lowest unavailability
Lowest investment costs

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6. Overhead Lines Disadvantages

High failure rate (most failure are arc failures without

consequences)

Impairment of landscape (visibility)

Low electromagnetic fields can be achieved through

distances and arrangements

Highest losses

Highest operational costs because of current-dependent

losses
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7. Cable Lines
Insulating Materials
Plastics/Synthetics (PE, XLPE)
Oil Paper
Polypropylene Laminated Paper (PPLP): reduced power loss and higher electrical
strength than oil-paper cables
Synthetic cables are environmental friendly, dielectrics undergo an ageing
process, voltage levels are currently limited to about 500 kV
Cables have a high capacitance large capacitive currents limits
maximum (cable) line length compensation
Transferable power is limited by:
permitted temperature of the dielectric
high thermal resistances of accessories & auxiliary equipment
soil condition
Thermal Power Stherm is essential for continuous rating/operation
High voltage cables have a much higher Pnat than Stherm (of about 2...6)

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7. Cable Lines Advantages

Large load capacity possible with thermal foundation and
cross-bonding
Lower impedances per unit length when compared to
overhead lines
Lower failure rate than overhead lines
No electrical field on the outside
Losses are only 50% of an overhead line
Operational costs (including losses) are about half of the
costs of an overhead line
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7. Cable Lines - Disadvantages

High requirements to purity of synthetic insulation and water-
tightness
Overload only temporary possible influences lifespan of
insulation
High reactive power, compensation necessary
PD-Monitoring on bushings, temperature monitoring
Unavailability is notable higher when compared to overhead lines
(high repairing efforts)
Lifespan: 30 to 40 years (assumed)
Extensive demand of space, drying out of soil, only very limited
usage of line route possible
threshold value for the magnetic field (100 T) can be exceeded
3-6 times investment costs compared to overhead lines

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8. Gas-Insulated Lines (GIL)

Insulating Material: SF6 and N2: Currently 80% N2 and 20 % SF6;
pressure: 3 to 6 bar
Currently no buried lines; laying only in tunnels or openly
Many flanges necessary
Compensation of (axial) thermal expansion of ducts
SF6: Environmental compatibility ?
Gas monitoring
Easy conversion from other line systems to GIL
High transmission capacity
large overload capability
Minimal dielectric losses
Low mutual capacitance low charging current / power
Good heat dissipation to the environment

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8. Gas-Insulated Lines Advantages

Large transmission capacity
High load capacity
High overload capability
Lower impedance per unit length than overhead lines
Low failure rates
High lifespan expected (Experience with GIS)
No ageing
Lowest electro-magnetically fields
Lower losses than cables
Lower operational costs (including losses) than cable lines
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8. Gas-Insulated Lines Disadvantages

High Requirements to purity and gas-tightness
Higher reactive power than overhead lines
Gas monitoring, failure location, PD-monitoring
Higher unavailability than cables because of long period of
repair
Short operational experience, only short distances in
operation
Large sections necessary, only limited usage of soil
possible, issues with SF6
Investment costs 7-12 times higher when compared to
overhead lines
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9. Technical Development
High Temperature Superconductivity (HTS)

Cable Technology: New developments are applied to

medium voltage networks

Reduced losses
Reduced weight
Compact systems
Temperature currently 138 K (- 135 C)

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Structural Elements of Mono-Core Power Cable

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Structural Elements of 3-in-1 Power Cable

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Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology for cables for medium and high voltage
applications (voltage level up to about 500 kV)

Advantages:

Reduction of space charge

Improved partial discharge behaviour

Increase of the electric field strength for the dielectric breakdown

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Nanotechnology

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10. Summary Energy Transmission

Energy Losses
Joule Effect Heating of conductors
Magnetic losses Energy in the magnetic field
Dielectric losses Energy in the insulating materials

Remedies
Transformers with reduced losses
Transformers with superconductivity
High temperature superconductivity (HTS) - Cables
Nanotechnology
Direct Current Transmission (HVDC)
Ultra High Voltage (UHV)

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Transmission Systems (1)

Alternating Current Transmission (HVAC)
All 3 Systems possible

Overhead lines up to 1500 kV (multiple conductor wires)

Cable lines up to 500 kV

GIL currently up to 550 kV, higher voltages possible

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Transmission Systems (2)

Direct Current Transmission (HVDC)
Overhead lines up to 1000 kV possible
Oil-Paper cables up to 500 kV
Cables with synthetic materials up to 200 kV (space
charges), with nanotechnology higher values are possible
(~ 500 kV)
GIL is currently under research

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Transmission Systems (3)

In general, overhead-, cable- and gas-insulated lines are
suitable for alternating current transmission systems
Cables and GIL are currently only applied for short lengths
specifically for example in urban areas, tunnels, under-
crossings, etc. Therefore no operational experience nor
actual costs can be given for long sections
In a macro-economical point of view, overhead lines are the
most favourable system (the capital value of cables 2 to 3
times and GIL 4 to 6 higher)
Currently overhead lines are from the technical and
economical point of view the best solution
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Thank you for your attention!

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