CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A) Background

If HVDC were instead a vehicle carrying passengers i.e., if HVDC

were a car, the automotive press would be enthusiastic in its praise of

the low energy consumption, speed and compact nature of this form of

transport.

However, transportation or rather transmission of electric power

seldom attracts headlines. Electric power is something we have come to

take for granted. It simply has to be there when we need it. And as how it

gets there, “ Well it’s just a question of laying a cable or plugging in a

lead”.

Even if it were only a question of plugging in a lead, the HVDC

technology would deserve examination, both in view of its spectacular

properties, fully on a par with the sensational headlines mentioned, and

with regard to the refined technology that has made these properties

possible.

The designation HVDC is composed of two abbreviations:

 HV which stands for HIGH VOLTAGE

 DC which stands for DIRECT CURRENT

 Lately, the role of transmission line became more and more

evident. It has been proved possible to step up technical performance

continually through raising voltages and building additional

transmission lines, but the use of these traditional methods which meant

to enhance the performance of a transmission lines was a mere muscle

rather than technically better solutions. High Voltage Direct current

instead of alternating current offers a much better solution that deserves

this special attention.

B ) Objective and Scope

This thesis will present an in depth study on this not so new

technology of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line. Its

technical advantages, its strength and applications, the HVDC plant and

plant parts and a glance of its operation both here in the Philippines and

around the globe.