International Conference on Large Electric Systems at High Tension II. [antikvár]

31-01. O A UHV RESEARCH PROJECT DESIGNED TO EXPLORE THE UPPER LIMITS OF VOLTAGE FOR TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS by H.C. BARNES American Electric Power Service Corporation (U.S.A.) B. THOREN Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (Sweden) SUMMARY The demand for energy in the form of electric power continues to increase. In the U.S.A., usage approximately doubles each decade. This will result in installation in each subsequent ten years of power supply facilities equal in capability to all that installed in the entire previous history of the industry. To properly transport and distribute these immense quantities of power, UHV transmission with capabilities far in excess of that of present EHV systems will be required at some point in the future. There is strong evidence that these UHV systems will be needed much before many may expect. Long transmission distances are not required to justify higher voltages ; the high capacity, highly integrated network, with relatively short transmission distances, is a proper application. Realization of these facts has led the American Electric Power Company (AEP), a major power supplier in the U.S.A., and Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA), a major manufacturer of utility equipment located in Sweden, to join forces in an international research project intended to establish a range of voltages from which new and practical UHV system voltages can be selected. Among the unique features of this project are : 1/ Investigations will be conducted to extend the present knowledge of air and other materials as insulants. Air gaps of up to approximately 30 meters will be tested. 2/ An attempt will be made to establish the maximum theoretical level of system voltage possible within the ability of foreseeable technology. 3/A UHV test facility of over 300 MW capability with continuous voltages of up to 2250/J1 kV line-to-earth will be available for field testing of major equipments, dimensioning of stations, determination of corona performance of hardware, etc. The voltage will be variable in small steps over a wide range. 4/ A UHV test line of highly flexible design will be available for trial of many tower configurations and conductor arrangements. insulation, Overvoltage, Power system. Research, Transmission, Ultra high voltage. The discussion in the sessions sponsored by former Study Committee No. 9 - AC Transmission - at the 1968 CIGRE Conference made clearly evident that UHV transmission systems with voltages well above the present EHV range of 345-765 kV will be required in the not too distant future. The continual increases in total energy consumption and in the percentage of this energy that will be in the form of electric energy as a result of social demands, such as control of air pollution, more efficient usage of land, etc. , will result in the transfer of electric power in quantities too great even for the recently developed 700-800 kV systems. To be prepared to supply these large quantities of power when needed, it is essential that research be carried forward now for the development of new system voltage levels of 1000 kV or above, commonly designated ultra high voltages (UHV). In keeping with its traditional conviction that the power supply industry must contribute its specialized knowledge to the development systems, American Electric Power Company (AEP) decided to launch a comprehensive UHV research program. REPORT 1. INTRODUCTION