Presentation on

High-Voltage DC Power Transmission:

Should HVDC Replace AC in Power
Systems?

By
Deepak Prajapati(19EE61R12)
 Content

• What is HVDC Transmission?

• How HVDC Transmission is implemented?

• Advantages of HVDC over AC transmission

• HVDC Projects in India

• Problems in Converting from AC to HVDC

• Limitations of Three-Phase AC Transmission Systems

• Disadvantages of HVDC over AC Transmission

• Moving from HVDC to UHVDC

 What is HVDC Transmission?
• A High-Voltage, Direct Current (HVDC) electric power transmission
system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power,
in contrast with the more common alternating current (AC) systems.

• Voltage level 100kV to 600kV falls under HVDC system.

Types of HVDC Links:
Back to-Back Link
How HVDC Transmission is Implemented?
 When should be HVDC used?

• The HVAC system is not possible (e.g., interconnections of the

asynchronous three-phase AC power network, long cable lines as
submarine power transmission)
• Power regulation and power flow control is required even if the HVAC
transmission is cost-effective
• When the HVDC transmission system is cost effective compared to the
three-phase HVAC system (e.g., high voltage transmission, long distance)
 Advantages of HVDC over AC transmission
• It allows more efficient bulk power transfer over long distances.

• Once installed, HVDC transmission systems helps in improving stability,

reliability, and transmission capacity.

• HVDC provides instant and precise control of the power flow.

• HVDC allows power transmission between unsynchronized AC transmission

systems.

• There are no technical limits to the potential length of a HVDC cable.

• HVDC requires less conductor per unit distance than an AC line, as there is no
need to support three phases and there is no skin effect.

• HVDC transmission losses are less than 3% per 1,000 km, which are 30 to 40%
less than with AC lines, at the same voltage levels.
• Reducing corona losses (due to higher voltage peaks) compared to HVAC
transmission lines of similar power.

• Increasing the capacity of an existing power grid in situations where additional

wires are difficult or expensive to install.

• Almost full transmission capacity used for active power transmission.

• A lower number of lines for transmitting the same amount of energy.

• A lower line cross section value (insignificant skin effect).

• A less expensive tower and transmission route due to a smaller number of lines.

• Submarine long-distance energy transmission due to low transversal capacity

values.
 HVDC Projects in India
S No. Name of Link Year Voltage Power Distance(k Type
level(kV) Rating(MW) m)

1 Rihand-Delhi 1990 500 1500 814 Thyr

2 Chandrapur- 1999 500 1500 752 Thyr

Padghe

3 Talcher-Kolar 2003 500 2500 1450 Thyr

4 Ballia – Bhiwadi 2010 500 2500 800 Thyr

5 Mundra - 2012 500 2500 960 Thyr

Haryana

6 Champa- 2016 800 2*3000 1365 Thyr

Kurukshetra
 Problems in Converting from AC to HVDC

• First, the AC power must be converted to DC to begin the transmission process, and at the

desired end, DC power must be converted back to AC to be utilized on the grid.

• Modifications may have to be made to the tower structure, insulators and conductors.

• The AC ceramic insulators are generally replaced with high resistivity toughened glass or

composite insulators to meet the clearance requirements.

• Converter stations needed to connect to AC power grids are very expensive.

• In contrast to AC systems, designing and operating multi-terminal HVDC systems is

complex.

• Converter substations generate current and voltage harmonics, as a result, it is necessary to

install expensive filter-compensation units and reactive power compensation units.

 Limitations of Three-Phase AC Transmission
Systems

• Transmission power losses due to the inevitable reactive power transmission.

• Increased power losses due to the skin effect.

• The impossibility of interconnection between two or more three-phase

transmission systems with a different frequency (50-60 Hz).

• Increasing the short circuit current value (circuit breakers break faulty
currents with difficulty; significant mechanical stress on electrical equipment).

• The impossibility of using longer cable lines (i.e., submarine cables) due to
high transversal capacity values.
 Disadvantages of HVDC over AC
Transmission
• A major limitation is availability of a HVDC circuit breaker.

• Converter substations are more complex than HVAC substations, in terms

of additional converting equipment, more complicated control and regulating
systems.

• Controlling power flow in such systems requires continuous communication

between all terminals.

• The high-frequency harmonics found in HVDC transmission systems can cause

radio interference in nearby communications lines.

• The flow of current through the Earth in monopole systems can cause
the electro-corrosion of underground metal installations, mainly pipelines.

• Grounding HVDC transmission involves a complex and difficult installation.

 Moving from HVDC to UHVDC

• UHVDC is defined as DC voltage transmission of at least 800 kV and above.

• With advances in manufacturing, it is becoming more and more feasible to

build UHVDC lines.

• In 2010, ABB Group built the world's first 800 kV UHVDC in China
(Xiangjiaba–Shanghai 1,907 km).

• A recent Chinese UHVDC line with 1100 kV, 3400 km length and 12 GW
capacity is expected to be completed in 2019.

• In 2017, a 1,100 km powerline transmitting wind energy at 600 kV from the

Oklahoma to Tennessee is expected to be the first UHVDC cable in the United
States.
 Conclusion

• For long distance and high power’s transmission HVDC should be used.

• The existing HVAC systems should be converted to HVDC system to

increase the efficiency.

• Several research centers are working on improving high-capacity turn-off

thyristors and also on new types of converter devices for high-capacity
HVDC transmission.

• Improvement in HVDC Circuit Breaker is required to increase for HVDC

Transmission.
Thank You…
Questions?