A Seminar on the topic of

HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT TRANSMISSION

Submitted to : Mrs. Annapurna Bhargava Submitted by : Vineet Barwal

Department of Electrical Engineering Roll No.- 20EUCEE097
Rajasthan Technical University,Kota
 CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Need of HVDC transmission
3. Losses and investment cost
4. Working OF HVDC Transmission System
5. Types of DC Links
6. Components of HVDC Transmission System
7. Advantages And Disadvantages
8. The Future Prospect
9. Conclusion
10. Reference
 INTRODUCTI
ON

WHAT IS HVDC TRANSMISSION?

The HVDC technology is used to transmit large amount of power over
long distance by overhead transmission lines or submarine cables. It is
also used to interconnect separate power system, where traditional
alternating current (AC) connections can not be used.
• The first DC link was
set up in 1954 in
between Swedish
main land and the
island of Gotland.

• The use of an HVDC

link in an AC System
requires converter station
at each end of the line.
Line diagram of HVDC
System Operation
 Why we need HVDC ?

• Now a days large blocks of power are needed to be transmitted.

• There arises some technical problems of transmitting power to such a
long distance using AC.
• In the view of the drawbacks of AC the HVDC transmission has come
into picture.
Lower Investment Cost
• HVDC terminal station are
more expensive due to the
fact that they must
perform the conversion
from AC to DC, And DC to
AC.
• But over a certain
distance, the so called
“break-even
distance”(approx. 600-
800km), the HVDC
alternative will always
provide the lowest cost
• In generating substation, AC power is generated which can be converted
into DC by using a rectifier.
• In HVDC substation rectifiers and inverters are placed at both the ends of
a line.
• The rectifier terminal changes the AC to DC, while the inverter terminal
converts DC to AC.
• The power remains the same at the sending and receiving ends of the
line.
• DC is transmitted over long distances because it decreases the losses
and improves the efficiency.
• A system having more than two converter stations and one transmission
line is called a ‘two terminal DC system’ or a ‘point-to-point system’.
• Similarly, if substation has more than two converter stations and
interconnecting DC terminal lines, it is called multiterminal DC
substation.
 Types of
DC LINKS

MONOPOLAR DC LINK BIPOLAR DC LINK HOMOPOLAR DC LINK

ONE CONDUCTOR & EARTH

TWO CONDUCTORS. TWO OR MORE
RETURN PATH; MORE
ECONOMICAL MORE RELIABLE CONDUCTORS
Components of an HVDC Transmission System

1. Converter Transformer
2. Converters
3. Filters
4. Smoothing Reactor
5. Earth Electrodes and Electrode Line
6. DC Transmission Lines or Cables
7. Reactive Power Source
8. AC Switchgear
Converter Transformers

• In the converter transformer, the harmonic

content is higher compared to the
conventional transformer. Hence, it causes
more leakage flux and it forms local
hotspot.

• The step-up transformer is used to increase

the voltage level at sending end and the
step-down transformer is used to decrease
the voltage level at receiving end of the
line.
 Converters

• the converters are used in both ends of the transmission line. The rectifier is used
to convert AC to DC at sending end of the line. And the inverter is used to convert
DC to AC at receiving end of the line.
• When the HVDC lines are introduced, the thyristors are used as a power
electronics switch in converters. It requires voltage from the AC system for
communication.
• But after that, the voltage source converters are introduced. This type of converter
used IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) instead of the thyristor. And this
converter does not need AC voltage for communication.
 Filters

• The filters are used to reduce harmonics.

• These filters are used on both the AC side and DC side. It
consists of series combinations of capacitors and inductors
and tuned to eliminate the expected harmonic frequencies.
• The AC filters provide low impedance and used passive
components. The intensity of harmonics is less in voltage
source converters compared to the line commutated
converters.
Smoothing Reactor

• It is used to make current ripple-free and decrease the harmonics in the DC

system. It is also used for protection purposes by limiting the fault current.
• The smoothing reactors are also used to regulate the DC current. If a sudden
change occurs in the DC current, it will oppose and allow the DC current to flow at
a fixed value.
• Hence, it reduces stress on the converter valve by preventing sudden changes.
 ADVANTAGES
 Lighter and cheaper towers.
 Lesser number of conductors and insulators, therefore
reduced overall cost.
 The direct current transfers only active power and thus
causes lower losses than alternating current.
 Due to the absence of the frequency factor on DC
link,there is no skin effect.
 HVDC allows power transmission between
unsynchronized AC transmission systems.
 The power flow through an HVDC link can be controlled
independently under the steady state condition.
 DISADVANTAGES

 The disadvantages of HVDC are in conversion, switching and control.

 Expensive inverters with limited overload capacity.

 Higher losses in static inverters at smaller transmission distances.

 The cost of the inverters may not be offset by reductions in line

construction cost and lower line loss.

 High voltage DC circuit breakers are difficult to build.

 The Future Prospect

 Next 25 years HVDC market will be dominated by “force commutated

converter”.

 Self-commutated converters, more commonly known as "Voltage-Sourced

Converters" started to appear in 1997. This technology had captured a
significant proportion of the HVDC market.

 In the future energy system based on renewables, HVDC is truly shaping the
grid of the future.
 CONCLUSIONS

 Considering all the advantages of DC, it seems that HVDC lines are more proficient
than AC lines.

 But, the initial cost of HVDC substation is very high and their substation
equipment is quite complicated.

 For long distance transmission it is preferable.

 This system is economical and also improves the efficiency of the system.
 REFERENCES
1. C.L. Wadhwa - Electrical Power System

2. I.J. Nagrath and D.P. Kothari - Power System Engineering

3. Ashfaq Hussain - Electrical Power Systems

Thank You