Comparision of AC and DC Transmission:
The relative merits of the AC and DC transmission based on the following factors:
1. Economics of transmission
2. Technical performance
3. Reliability
While design the transmission we have to consider above factors. In most
practical cases the technical limitations are not reached and economic limitations decides the
final choice of design.
1.Economics of Power Transmission:
Total cost of a transmission line is the sum of the investment and operational
costs. The investment includes cost of
i) Right of way(ROW)
ii) Transmission towers
iii) Conductors
iv) insulators
v) Terminal equipments
The operational costs include mainly the cost of losses and maintenance.
A DC line can carry more power with only two conductors and an AC line with
the conductors of the same size. This shows that for a given power level HVDC transmission
requires less ROW, simple transmission towers, less conductor-material, less insulation cost
compare to AC line. HVDC line in less transmission power losses because DC lines only two
conductors and also no skin effect with DC. The dielectric losses are also less in HVDC line.
Less corona effect in DC line than for AC and this also leads to selection of conductor size.
DC line terminal equipments cost in high because it requires two converters, one is
rectifier station and other is inverter station, filter requirements also more in case of DC line.
Fig shows the variation of cost of transmission with respect to the line length for AC and
DC transmission. DC tends to be more economical than AC for distance more than break even
distance. The distance varies from 500km-800km in over head lines.
The cost of the filter and of additional reactive power supply should be regarded as a part of the
cost of a dc line terminal.
2.Technical Performance:
Compare to AC transmission HVDC transmission has positive advantages are full control
over transmitted power, improves transient and dynamic stability and also it limits the fault
currents in DC lines. In addition to above advantages DC line over comes some of the problems
of AC transmission. These are
i) Voltage limit
ii) Current limit
iii) Reactive power and voltage regulation
iv) Line compensation
v) Stability
i) Voltage limits:
On EHV overhead lines switching surges have become the more serious transient overvoltages,
and on ac lines attempts and made to limit them to peak value of two or three times normal crest
voltage. Whereas in case of DC transmission switching surges are lower than this, say 1.7 times
normal voltages.
Due to corona maximum working voltage or the minimum conductor size is
limited on over head lines. In cables, normal working voltage is usually the limiting factor.
Insulation will withstand a DC voltage higher than the crest of the alternates voltage( times
R.M.S. voltage)
ii) Current limit:
The temperature of a conductor must be limits in order to avoid damage to the
conductor itself permanently increased sag on in the case of a cable to the installation in contact
with it. Hence current in the conductor must be limited in accordance with its duration and the
ambient temperature.
iii) Reactive Power and Voltage Regulation:
On long distance ac over head lines and shorter distance ac cables, the generation
and absorption of reactive power by the line itself a serious problem.
Thus the voltage control in AC lines is complicated by the line charging and inductive
voltage drops.
iv) Line compensation:
From the above discussion AC lines require shunt end series compensation in long distant
transmission mainly to overcome the problem of line charging and stability limitations. For this
purpose series capacitor and shunt inductor are used. By using static VAR systems or static VAR
compensators increasing power transfer and voltage control is also possible.
v) Stability:
In two machine lossless system power transmitted from one machine to other is given by
Where sending end voltage Receiving end voltage Power angle between and phasors Series
reactance
In HVDC line does not have series reactance and shunt reactance, reactance power flow.
Hence there is no voltage regulation and stability problem. Transmission losses are low due to
absent of reactive power flow is HVDC systems.
vi). Problems of AC interconnection:
Two AC power systems ae interconnected through AC ties (synchronous inter
connection). The AGC (automatic generation control) of both systems have to be co-ordinated
using tie-line power and frequency signals. The operation of ac lies can problematic due to
i) Presence of large power oscillation which can lead to frequent tripping.
ii) Fault level increases
iii) Disturbances occurs from one system to other.
vii). Ground Impedance:
In AC transmission, the flow of ground current cannot be permitted in the steady state
due to high ground impedance, which will effect the power transfer and interference of telephone
lines. For DC currents ground impedance is negligible. In DC transmission in operating only one
conductor with return conductor act as ground for monopolar operation. If conductor is buried
metallic structures, ground return is objectionable because DC current flows through that
conductor leads corrosion.
viii) Short circuit level:
In AC transmission additional parallel lines always results in higher fault level at
receiving end due to reduction of the overall system impedance. And hence short circuit livel
increases. When an existing AC system is interconnected with another AC system by DC
transmission, the fault level of each system remains unchanged. Since the DC line contributes no
current to an ac short circuit beyond its rated current.
ix) Power per conductor and per circuit:
Reliability: The reliability of DC transmission systems is good and comparable to that of AC
systems. The reliability of DC links has also been very good. There are two measures of overall
system reliability-energy availability and transient reliability.
Energy availability:
Energy availability = 100 (1 – equivalent outage time)%
Actual time
Transient reliability: This is a factor specifying the performance of HVDC systems during
recordable faults on the associated AC systems.
Transient reliability = 100 X 𝑁𝑜.𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝐻𝑉𝐷𝐶 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑠
𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑑
𝑁𝑜.𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑠
