HVDC References

5/21/2018 HVDC References

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Answers for energy.

HVDC High Voltage

Direct Current Power TransmissionUnrivaled practical experience

www.siemens.com/energy/hvdc


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HVDC High VoltageDirect Current Power Transmissionoften is the best Strategy

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In-service date Page

01 2011 MundraHaryana India 5

02 2011 COMETA Spain 6

03 2011 BritNed, Great Britain Netherlands 7

04 2010 XiangjiabaShanghai China 8

05 2010 Trans Bay Cable Project USA 9

06 2010 Storeblt Denmark 10

07 2010 BalliaBhiwadi India 11

08 2009 YunnanGuangdong China 12

09 2008 GuizhouGuangdong II China 13

10 2007 East-South Interconnector II Upgrade India 14

11 2007 Neptune RTS USA 15

12 2006 Basslink Australia 16

13 2005 Lamar USA 17

14 2004 GuizhouGuangdong China 18

15 2004 Nelson River Bipole 1 Canada 19

16 2004 Celilo USA 20

17 2003 East-South Interconnector II India 21

18 2001 Moyle Northern Ireland/Scotland 22

19 2001 ThailandMalaysia Thailand/Malaysia 23

20 2000 TianshengqiaoGuangzhou China 24

21 1995 Sylmar East USA 25

22 1995 Welsh USA 26

23 1993 Wien-Suedost Austria 27

24 1993 Etzenricht Germany 28

25 1989 GezhoubaNan Qiao China 29

26 1987 Virginia Smith USA 30

27 1984 Poste Chteauguay Canada 31

28 1983 Drnrohr Austria 32

29 1981 Acaray Paraguay 33

30 1977 Nelson River, Bipole 2 Canada 34

31 1975 Cahora Bassa South Africa / Mozambique 351998

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Direct current direct success!

AC technology has proved very effective in the fieldof generation, transmission and distribution ofelectrical energy.

Nevertheless, there are tasks which cannot beperformed economically or with technical perfectionby this method.

For instance:

Economical power transmission over verylong distances, power transmission via cables

Power transmission between networks operatingasynchronously or at different frequencies

Input of additional power without increasingthe short circuit ratio of the network concerned.

For all these tasks High Voltage Direct Current Power Transmission

is not only a realistic technical and economical alternative toAC technology, but also the only possible transmission method.

The plants listed in the following pages show the power ratingsand technical standards of our HVDC equipment installed through-out the world.

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Calcutta

India

Bombay

Mundra

Karachi

Bhiwadi

Delhi

Haryana

Ballia

Lahore China

NepalPakistan

Bangladesh

Ganges

Indu

s

In April 2009 Adani Power Ltd. awarded the contractto Siemens for a 2500 MW HVDC converter system.

This is the first HVDC contract being awarded by a privatesector company in India. The power transmission systemwill transport electrical energy with low loss from Mundrain Gujarat, Western India to Mohindergarh in Haryana,Northern India, through a DC line length of 960 km. Thislink supports the Adani Groups Green Initiative to trans-mit power with minimized loss of energy thanks to mostmodern technology.

The bipolar DC system is rated for a continuous power

of 2500 MW ( 500 kV, 2500 A) at the DC terminals ofthe rectifier/converter station. The HVDC scheme canbe operated in bipolar and monopolar mode with groundreturn or metallic return. Pole 1 of the 500 kV DC Trans-mission scheme is planned to be put in operation at thebeginning of October 2011, whereas pole 2 is supposedto follow in December 2011. The new long-distance HVDCtransmission link will be the third system that Siemens hasbuilt in India in succession.

MundraHaryana,India

Technical Data

Customer Adani Power Ltd.

Project name MundraHaryana

Location Gujarat province toHaryana province

Power rating 2,500 MW, bipolar

Type of plant Long-distance transmission,960 km

Voltage levels 500 kV DC,

400 kV, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Direct-light-triggered,8 kV

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Madrid

Barcelona

Palma deMallorcaValencia

Spain

Mediterranean Sea

France

MallorcaIbiza

Red Elctrica de Espaa signed the contract with Siemensin October 2007 for design, delivery, and construction of2 x 200 MW HVDC bipole converter stations. Commercialoperation started in July 2011. The COMETA HVDC project,under the responsibility of Red Elctrica de Espaa,connects the Spanish peninsula with the Ballearic islandof Mallorca in order to meet the increasing demand ofelectric power on the island.

The transmission system is designed as a bipolar inter-connector with metallic return conductor. One converterstation is located near the city of Valencia on the Spanishpeninsula, where an existing power plant will be con-

nected to the HVDC via a HIS Switchgear and HVAC cables(also supplied by Siemens). The other converter stationon Mallorca is located at Santa Ponsa near the capital city,Palma de Mallorca.

The COMETA submarine link crosses the MediterraneanSea in a maximum depth of 1,500 meters, has a lengthof approximately 250 km and consists of three sea cables,one HV cable per pole and one cable as metallic returnconductor.

COMETA,Spain

Technical Data

Customer Red Elctrica de Espaa

Project name COMETA

Location SpainMallorca

Power rating 2 x 200 MW, bipolar

Type of plant Submarine cable transmission,250 km

Voltage levels 250 kV DC, 50 Hz,400 kV/230 kV AC, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Direct-light-triggered (LTT),8 kV

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London

Glasgow

United

Kingdom

BelgiumGermany

Nether-

lands

France

Isle of GrainMaasvlakte

Rotterdam

In May 2007 BritNed Development Limited (owned bythe TSOs National Grid International and TenneT) awardedthe contract for the BritNed HVDC converter stations toa consortium of Siemens and BAM Civiel BV. The BritNedHVDC transmission system connects the grid in theUK with the Dutch part of the UCTE grid. It is a 1,000 MWHVDC interconnection across the southern part of theNorth Sea, linking the 400 kV substations on the Isle ofGrain, on the southern bank of the Thames Estuary, andMaasvlakte near Rotterdam.

The HVDC system is designed as a bipole with fast bypassswitches without metallic or ground return. The converter

uses quadruple thyristor valves in a doubletower configura-tion, single-phase three-winding convertertransformers,air core smoothing reactors, indoor DC switchgear, anddouble branch AC filters with triple-tuned branches.Commercial operation of the interconnection startedin 2011.

BritNed, Great Britain,Netherlands

Technical Data

Customer BritNed Development Limited

Project name BritNed

Location Isle of Grain on the southern bankof the Thames Estuary in the UK,and Maasvlakte west of Rotterdamin The Netherlands

Power rating 1,000 MW,bipolar

Type of plantSubmarine cable transmission,260 km

Voltage levels 450 kV DC,400 kV, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor


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In June 2010, State Grid Corporation of Chinacommissioned the 800 kV HVDC Xiangjiaba-Shanghaitransmission system. The high-voltage direct-currenttransmission link (HVDC) is the most powerful and longesttransmission of its kind to be implemented anywhere inthe world at that time, transmitting 6,400 MW of powerover a distance of nearly 2,000 kilometers. Siemens Energyhas equipped the sending converter station Fulong forthis link with ten DC converter transformers, includingfive rated at 800 kV. Apart from that, Siemens providesthe power electronics (6-inch thyristor valve towers andinterfaces) together with its partner XD Xian PowerRectifier Works.

The HVDC transmission link transmits 6,400 MW of hydropower from South-Western China to Shanghai on ChinasEast Coast over a distance of about 2,000 kilometers.The Xiangjiaba-Shanghai link also operates with a transmis-sion DC voltage of 800 kV to further minimize transmissionlosses. Thanks to the use of environmentally friendlyhydro power generation and low-loss HVDC transmission,the new system will save up to 44 million metric tons ofCO2p.a. versus local power supply with energy-mix.

The ten HVDC transformers which Siemens has suppliedfor the Fulong converter station in Sichuan close to theXiangjiaba hydro power plant were built at the companystransformer facility in Nuremberg. This applies in particularfor the newly developed 800 kV HVDC transformers thatare in the highest voltage class at the present time. Lastyear Siemens became the worlds first manufacturer tosupply and commission 800 kV converter transformers.

XiangjiabaShanghai,China

Technical Data

Customer State Grid Corporation of China andXD Xian Power Rectifier Works (XPR)

Project name Xiangjiaba

Location XiangjiabaShanghai

Power rating 6,400 MW, bipolar



525 kV AC, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Electrically-triggered, 8 kV(6 inches)

4" 5" 6"

6-inch thyristor

8

Taiwan

Chan

gJia

ng

East

China Sea

Shanghai

South

China Sea

Taipei

Hong Kong

Xiangjiaba

Hanoi

Shenzen

Laos

Hunan Jiangxi

Fujian

Guizhou

GuangdongGuangxi

Zhuang A. R.

SichuanAnhui

Zhejia

ng

Chon

gdon

g

Yunnan

Kunming

HubeiWuhan

China

Gezhouba

Qinghai

Ganzu

Shaanxi

Shanxi Shandong

JiangsuHenan


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San FranciscoOakland

Pittsburg

Potrero

Santa Rosa

San Jose

United States

of America

Pacific

Ocean

Trans Bay Cable, LLC, awarded Siemens a contract toconstruct a submarine High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)transmission link between San Franciscos city center anda Pacific Gas & Electric substation near Pittsburg, California.

The Trans Bay Cable Project transmits 400 MW activepower and 170 Mvar reactive power (statcom function)and is the first order for the innovative HVDC PLUS tech-nology by Siemens. This project is a milestone of theHVDC PLUS technology in terms of providing denselypopulated areas with new transmission capacity.

Siemens HVDC PLUS System is based on a multilevel

Voltage Sourced Converter Technology. Its innovativedesign offers technical and economical advantages.HVDC PLUS enhances the performance of the transmissiongrid, improves reliability, and reduces maintenance costs.HVDC PLUS is the preferred solution in space-constrainedenvironments, as you will find them in San Francisco.

The heart of the HVDC PLUS converter stations is themultilevel converter where the conversion from AC to DCtransmission, and vice versa, takes place. In comparisonwith line-commutated converters based on thyristor tech-nology, the HVDC PLUS system operates with poweredsemiconductors with turn-on and turn-off capability(IGBT). After commissioning in 2010, the Trans Bay CableProject is anticipated to meet the California IndependentSystem Operators (ISO) planning and reliability standards.

Trans Bay Cable Project,USA

Technical Data

Customer Trans Bay Cable, LLC

Project name Trans Bay Cable Project

Location Pittsburg, California,and San Francisco, California

Power rating 400 MW

Type of plant 85 km HVDC PLUS submarine cable

Voltage levels 200 kV DC,230 kV/138 kV, 60 Hz

Type of

semiconductor

IGBT

Hawkeye Photography9


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Germany

NetherlandsPoland

Norway

Sweden

DenmarkCopenhagen

Herslev

Fraugde

In May 2007 the Danish TSO, Energinet.dk, awardedthe contract for the Storeblt HVDC converters toSiemens.

The Storeblt HVDC transmission system connectsthe grid in Jutland/Funen (a part of the UCTE system)with the Zealand Grid, which is a part of the NORDELsystem.

It is a 600 MW HVDC interconnection across the StorebltStrait, linking the 400 kV substations Fraugde near Odenseon the island of Funen and Herslev near Kalundborg onthe island of Zealand. The HVDC system is designed as

a monopole with metallic return. Approximately half ofthe 56 km DC cable route is a land cable. The converteruses quadruplethyristor valves in a single tower configura-tion, single-phase three-winding converter transformers,air core smoothing reactors and triple-tuned AC filters.Commercial operation of the interconnection startedin 2010.

Storeblt,Denmark

Technical Data

Customer Energinet.dk

Project name Storeblt

Location The islands Funen (Fyn)and Zealand (Sjlland) in Denmark

Power rating 600 MW,monopolar



Type of

thyristor


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Calcutta

India

Bombay

Karachi

Bhiwadi

Delhi

Ballia

Lahore China

NepalPakistan

Bangladesh

Ganges

Indu

s

In March 2007 Powergrid of India awarded the contractfor the largest HVDC system in India to a consortiumformed by Siemens and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.(BHEL). The project will transmit power from the BalliaPower Pool in Uttar Pradesh to the Bhiwadi Substationin Rajasthan, only 80 km from Delhi.

The HVDC system will improve the power supply of thefast-growing Delhi metropolitan region without the needfor installation additional power plants in this highlyurbanized area. The contract includes the engineering,supply, installation, and commissioning, as well as allcivil works on a turnkey basis.

Siemens is responsible for design, supply of foreignequipment (including 8 converter transformers), civilworks, installation and commissioning. The BHEL willsupply 8 converter transformers as well as all materialfrom India.

The commercial operation of the project started in 2010in order to meet the increasing power demand.

BalliaBhiwadi,India

Technical Data

Customer Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd.

Project name BalliaBhiwadi

Location Uttar Pradesh provinceto Rajasthan province




Type of

thyristor


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Taiwan

Chan

gJia

ng

East

China Sea

Shanghai

South

China Sea

Taipei

Hong Kong

Hanoi

Shenzen

Laos

Vietnam

Hunan Jiangxi

Fujian

Guizhou

GuangdongGuangxi

Zhuang A. R.

SichuanAnhui

Zhejian

g

Chon

gdon

g

Yunnan

Kunming

HubeiWuhan

China

Gezhouba

The long-distance transmission system of the YunnanGuangdong DC Transmission Project transmits 5,000 MWfrom the Chuxiong substation in Yunnan to the load centerof the Pearl River delta in Guangdong. The contract wasawarded in June 2007. Commercial operation of thefirst 800 kV pole started in December 2009, the completebipole is in operation since June 2010. The system, witha transmission voltage of 800 kV DC, sets a new dimensionin the development of HVDC systems.

The bipolar system uses two series valve groups per pole:one 12 pulse valve group is rated 400 kV; the other israted 800 kV. Apart from the converter valves, the other

major components with insulation levels of 800 kV are thesingle-phase two-winding converter transformers and air-insulated smoothing reactors. The modular convertergroups are equipped with direct light-triggered thyristorswith water cooling. The 800 kV equipment in the DC Yard,e.g. bushings, support insulators, switches, and arresterare of composite type with silicone rubber external insula-tion to offer improved operation under severe environ-mental conditions. DC harmonic filtering is achievedthrough triple-tuned filters, whereas for AC harmonicfiltering double-tuned filters together with a speciallow-order filter are used.

YunnanGuangdong,China

Technical Data

Customer China Southern Power Grid

Project name YunnanGuangdong

Location Chuxiong City/YunnanZengchengCity/Guangdong

Power rating 5,000 MW,bipolar with series valve groups

Type of plant Long-distance bipole,1418 km


Type of

thyristor

Direct-light-triggered (LTT),8 kV

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Taiwan

ChangJ

iang

East

China Sea

Shanghai

South

China Sea

Taipei

Hong Kong

Hanoi

Guangzhou

Laos

Vietnam

Hunan Jiangxi

Fujian

Guizhou

GuangdongGuangxi

Zhuang A. R.

SichuanAnhui

Zhejian

g

Chon

gdon

g

Yunnan

HubeiWuhan

China

The DC Transmission Project (the long-distance trans-mission system of the Guizhou-Guangdong II line 500 kV) transmits 3,000 MW power from the Xingrensubstation in the Guizhou Province of Southwest China tothe load center of Shenzhen in the Guangdong Province.The system has a long-term overload capability of up to115 %. Power transmission in the reverse direction is alsopossible. The project is carried out in cooperation withChinese partners supported by Siemens. The bipolar systemis designed for a ceiling suspended 12-pulse converterbridge arrangement with single-phase two-winding con-verter transformers and oil-insulated smoothing reactors.The 500 kV DC converter groups of modular design are

equipped with direct light-triggered thyristors with watercooling. Most of the DC equipment is provided with com-posite housings improving the performance of operationunder severe environmental conditions.

For harmonic filtering triple tuned AC and DC filters areused. The design considers the installation at 1450 mabove sea level (Xingren converter station). The inter-connection of the neutrals of both stations is implementedby means of ground electrodes. The contract was awardedin May 2005.

After successful completion of the test phase, SiemensEnergy commissioned the Guizhou-Guangdong II highvoltage DC transmission link (HVDC) on schedule at thebeginning of January 2008.

GuizhouGuangdong II,China

Technical Data


Project name GuizhouGuangdong II Line 500 kV DC Transmission Project

Location Xingren / GuizhouShenzhen / Guangdong


Type of plant Long-distance bipole, 1,225 km


Type of

thyristor


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CalcuttaIndia

Bombay

Talcher

Karachi

BangladeshGanges

Madras

HyderabadBay of

Bengal

Bangalore

Kolar

In April 2006 Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. awardedthe contract to Siemens to upgrade the power transmissioncapacity from 2,000 MW to 2,500 MW on the existingTalcher Kolar HVDC Long Distance Transmission system.Since 2003, the 2,000 MW High Voltage Direct Current(HVDC) System East-South Interconnector II links thepower generation centre of Talcher in the eastern partof India with the rapidly developing industrial and high-tech area of Bangalore in the south over a line length ofnearly 1,400 km. The conventional method to increasethe power of a transmission system is to increase the trans-mission voltage or to increase the current flow throughthe DC-line. Both measures require extensive and cost-

intensive modifications of the system.

Siemens experts have developed an innovative solutionnot usually used for HVDC systems. With the aid of soft-ware systems known as Relative Aging Indication (RAI)and Load Factor Limitation (LFL), a first-time-introducedforced air cooling system for the DC smoothing reactorsand other additional measures, it is possible to utilize theoverload capacity of the system more effectively withoutinstalling additional thyristors connected in series or inparallel to increase the DC transmission voltage or theDC current respectively.

East-South Interconnector II Upgrade,India

Technical Data

Customer Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd.

Project name Upgrade of Talcher Kolar HVDCProject from 2,000 MV to 2,500 MV

Location Orissa provinceto Karnataka province


Type of plant Long-distance transmission,

1,450 kmVoltage levels 500 kV DC,

400 kV, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Electrically-triggered-thyristor,8 kV (100 mm)

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Duffy Avenue,Long Island, New York

Sayreville,New Jersey

Atlantic

Ocean

The Neptune HVDC project connects the TSO Long IslandPower Authority to the competitive PJM market and pro-vides power to a fast-growing load center on Long Island.

The system is a monopolar cable transmission link with aDC voltage of 500 kV and a continuous power transmissionrating of 660 MW. The cable stretches from First EnergyInc.s substation in Sayreville, N.J., to Uniondale, N.Y.-basedLIPAs Newbridge Road substation in Levittown. Siemens,as the leader of the consortium for this turnkey project, wasresponsible for the installation of two converter stations.Furthermore, Siemens is to operate the link for a five-yearperiod. The consortium partner Prysmian (formerly Pirelli)

delivered and installed the cable package including a 82 kmDC submarine cable section from New Jersey to the landfallat Jones Beach followed by a 23 km DC land cable section tothe Converter Station as well as the AC cable connectionsfrom the two converter stations to the grid. The projectwas developed by Neptune RTS over a period of severalyears. The EPC contract was awarded on July 15th, 2005.Execution time of the project was 24 months.

Neptune RTS,USA

Technical Data

Customer Neptune RTS

Project name Neptune RTS

Location USA / New JerseyNew York

Power rating 660 MW continuous,up to 750 overload for 4 hours


Voltage levels 500 kV,

230 /345 kV, 60 Hz

Type of

thyristor


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Australia

Melbourne

Tasman

Sea

Adelaide

Hobart

Canberra

Sydney

Brisbane

Loy Yang

George Town

The Basslink cable link, which went into operation in 2006,represents the first interconnection between the statesof Tasmania and Victoria. Both states benefit from thislink, which operates in both directions. Tasmania reliesentirely on hydroelectric plants to generate electricity;Basslink allows the import of base load from Victoriancoal-fired power plants, thus improving supply reliabilityin periods of drought. On the other side, Victoria is ableto improve its peak load supply with green energy fromTasmania.

Tasmanias first-ever access to the National Energy Market(NEM) has also increased competition within Australia.

The transmission system is designed as a monopolar in-terconnector with metallic return. As consortium leader,Siemens augmented two existing AC substations andprovided 5 km of AC overhead line, the HVDC converterstations, and 66 km of DC overhead line. Basslink nowrepresents one of the longest submarine power links inthe world, with a submarine cable length of approximately295 km that crosses the Bass Strait. The EPC contract wasawarded in the year 2000, and authorities approved theproject in the second half of 2002 after extensive environ-mental impact studies.

Basslink,Australia

Technical Data

Customer National Grid Australia

Project name Basslink Interconnector

Location Loy Yang / Victoriato George Town / Tasmania

Power rating 500 MW continuous, up to 626 MWoverload for 8 hours / day


Voltage levels 400 kV DC,500 kV 50 Hz (Victoria)220 kV 50 Hz (Tasmania)

Type of

thyristor


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St. Louis

United States of America

Arkansas

Dallas

Houston

Monterrey

Phoenix

New Orleans

RioGrande

Colo

rado

Gulf of

Mexico

Santa Fe

Denver

Chicago

Mexico

In February 2003 Xcel Energy awarded the contract toSiemens for the design, procurement, construction, andcommissioning of the Back-to-Back DC Converter stationlocated in Lamar, Colorado. The tie connects Xcel EnergysSouthwestern Public Service Company system in the East(345 kV AC) with its Public Service Company of Coloradosystem in the West (230 kV AC), and has a bidirectionalpower transfer capability of 210 MW (nominal).

As one of its main features, the converter station providescontinuously adjustable voltage control on the weakAC System.

The Eastern part and the Western part of the United Statesis not electrically synchronized. The dividing line is roughlydown the eastern borders of Montana, Wyoming Colorado,and New Mexico. The Lamar project has been commercialoperation since January 2005. The Back-to-Back DC con-verter station is highly cost-efficient due to a new ground-ing concept of the DC circuit. This concept allows the useof standard distribution transformers instead of specialHVDC converter transformers. Standardized componentsresult in shorter delivery time, and allow for high localmanufacturing content.

Lamar,USA

Technical Data

Customer Xcel Energy

Project name Lamar

Location Lamar / Colorado / USA

Power rating 210 MW,continuous

Type of plant Back-to-back tie

Voltage levels 63.6 kV DC,230 kV AC, 60 Hz

(West Lamar/Colorado)345 kV AC, 60 Hz(Easy Finney/Kansas)

Type of

thyristor


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Taiwan

ChangJ

iang

East

China Sea

Shanghai

South

China Sea

Taipei

Hong Kong

Hanoi

Guangzhou

Laos

Vietnam

Hunan Jiangxi

Fujian

Guizhou

GuangdongGuangxi

Zhuang A. R.

SichuanHubei Anhui

Zhejian

g

Chon

gdon

g

Yunnan

Wuhan

China

The HVDC long-distance transmission system of Gui-Guangtransmits 3,000 MW of power from the Anshun substationin Guizhou Province in southwest China to the Zhaoqingconverter station in Guangdong Province near the loadcenter of Guangzhou. It is a bipolar system, each polecomprising a 12-pulse converter bridge suspended fromthe ceiling. The thyristors are water-cooled and direct-light-triggered. The converter transformers are of thesingle-phase two-winding type. Triple-tuned filtersare used for filtering harmonics on the DC- and AC-sideof the converters. The smoothing reactors are of the oil-immersed type. The contract was awarded in October2001. Commercial operation started in October 2004

(six months ahead of scheduled time).

GuizhouGuangdong,China

Technical Data


Project name Gui-Guang

Location GuizhouGuangdong




525 kV, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor


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Winnipeg

Nelso

n

Hudson Bay


Canada

Calgary

Minneapolis

Gillam

In 2002 Siemens received the contract to replace 36mercury arc valves (MRVs) with thyristor valves. Bipole 1of the Nelson river scheme had been in operation since1970. Both poles were equipped with mercury arc valvesdesigned for service life of 20 years. The old valves ofBipole 1, Pole 1 were replaced by thyristor valves 10 yearsago. By using the best valves as spare parts for Pole 2,operation for 10 more years was possible. In 2001 ManitobaHydro decided to also replace the MRVs of Pole 2 withthyristor valves to increase the reliability of the wholescheme. To minimize the outage time of this highlyutilized scheme, replacement was performed in 3 lots.

For each lot 12 thyristor valves and 2 cooling units aswell as new surge arresters are supplied. The overallcompletion time for the replacement was 27 monthswith a delivery time for the first lot of 13 months.Siemens delivered light-triggered thyristors, the sametype as supplied for the Moyle Interconnector and theCelilo project. For future upgrading of the system thethyristor valves are rated for 500 kV with 2,000 A nominalcurrent.

To meet the customers demand for a short outage timethe thyristor valves were designed to fit on to the existingsupport structure and therefore no time-consuming changesinvolving civil works are necessary.

Nelson River Bipole 1,Canada

Technical Data

Customer Manitoba Hydro (Winnipeg)

Project name Bipole 1, Pole 2Valve Replacement

Location Radisson Converter Stationon Nelson River Dorsey ConverterStation near Winnipeg, both inManitoba, Canada

Power rating 1,000 MW

Type of plantLong-distance transmission,900 km

Voltage levels 500 kV DC,230 /138 kV, 60 Hz

Type of

thyristor


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United States

of America

Columbi

a

San Francisco

PortlandThe Dalles

Vancouver

Colo

rad

o

CalgaryCanada

In December 2000, Bonneville Power Administration(BPA) in Portland, Oregon, USA had to decide how toproceed with the Celilo Converter Station which was30 years old meanwhile, and considering that the PacificIntertie is a major contributor to satisfying Californiaselectrical energy needs. The critical components werethe mercury arc valves: they had been designed for aservice life of 20 years; they require high maintenanceefforts, are very unreliable, and the manufacturer hadstopped supplying spare parts long ago. Based on thedecision, BPA awarded Siemens a contract for the supplyof 36 HVDC thyristor valves with direct-light-triggeredthyristors for the Celilo Converter Station of the Pacific

Intertie, to replace the mercury arc valves representinga converter rating of 1,600 MW. The delivery in threephases was completed within 20 months.

In addition, all cooling towers in the 3,100 MW converterstation were replaced by dry-type cooling towers. In 1997Siemens provided BPA with a thyristor valve includingthe newly developed technology of direct-light-triggeredthyristors for commercial demonstration during a periodof two years. It was replacing a mercury arc valve. Dueto the excellent performance, BPA purchased the valvealready after 11 months of operation. It has been in ser-vice ever since without any fault or failure.

Celilo, Mercury Arc Valve Replacement,USA

Technical Data

Customer Bonneville Power Administration(BPA)

Project name Celilo Mercury ArcReplacement Project

Location The Dalles, Oregon, USA


Type of plant Long-distance transmission


Type of

thyristor


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CalcuttaIndia

Bombay

Talcher

Karachi

BangladeshGanges

Madras

HyderabadBay of

Bengal

Bangalore

Kolar

In March 2000 Siemens received an order for a long-distance HVDC transmission project from the Power GridCorporation of India Limited. From now on power is trans-mitted from the eastern region (Orissa province) to thesouthern part (Karnataka province) of the subcontinentby means of a bipolar HVDC system, thus integrating thesetwo regional asynchronous networks into the nationalgrid, ensuring a reliable and flexible power transfernationwide. This is the sixth HVDC project in India, thelargest so far regarding rated transmission power andtransmission distance. Commercial operation startedin 2003.

East-South Interconnector II,India

Technical Data

Customer Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.

Project name East-South Interconnector II

Location Orissa provinceto Karnataka province


Type of plant Long-distance transmission,1,450 km


Type of

thyristor

Electrically-triggered-thyristor,8 kV (100 mm )

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Dublin

London

Belfast

Glasgow

Ireland

United

Kingdom

The Moyle Interconnector Project provides a vital linkin electricity supply, enhancing both security andcompetition in the emerging market of Northern Ireland.The configuration of the transmission system is twomonopolar submarine HVDC links operating in parallelon the AC systems. Each pole is rated 250 MW in bothdirections at 250 kV DC. For the first time in a commercialHVDC system, the converter stations are equipped withthe latest achievement in highvoltage semiconductortechnology: direct-light-triggered thyristors with integratedovervoltage protection. By introducing this new technology,the number of electrical parts in the HVDC thyristor valveis considerably reduced, resulting in better reliability and

longer maintenance intervals. The contract for the MoyleInterconnector turnkey supply of the converter stationswas awarded in September 1999. Taking-over certificateby the customer was issued in November 2001.

Moyle,Northern Ireland/Scotland

Technical Data

Customer Moyle Interconnector Ltd. (MIL)Northern Ireland

Project name Moyle Interconnector

Location Northern Ireland, Scotland

Power rating 2 x 250 MW, monopolar


Voltage levels 2 x 250 kV DC,

275 kV, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor


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Cambodia

Thailand

Brunei

Malaysia

Vie

tnam

Ho ChiMinh

Bangkok

Kuala Lumpur

SingaporeIndonesia

Thailand

Malaysia

Khlong Ngae

Gurun

This HVDC long-distance transmission system inter-connecting the 230 kV AC network of Thailand withthe 275 kV AC network of Malaysia is implementedin the first stage as a 300 MW monopolar metallic returnscheme. As a turnkey project, complete HVDC systemdesign and network integration, delivery of the converterstations, AC switchgear, and the interconnecting 300 kV DCoverhead line was included in Siemens scope of supply.Commercial operation started in 2001.

ThailandMalaysia

Technical Data

Customer Electricity Generating Authorityof Thailand (EGAT)Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)

Project name Thailand-Malaysia

Location Khlong NgaeGurun

Power rating 300 MW,monopolar


110 kmVoltage levels 300 kV DC,

EGAT: 230 kV, 50 HzTNB: 275 kV, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Electrically-triggered-thyristor,8 kV (100 mm )

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Taiwan

ChangJ

iang

East

China Sea

Shanghai

South

China Sea

Taipei

Hong Kong

Hanoi

Guangzhou

Laos

Vietnam

Hunan Jiangxi

Fujian

Guizhou

Guangdong

Guangxi

Zhuang A. R.

SichuanAnhui

Zhejian

g

Chon

gdon

g

Yunnan Tianshengqiao

HubeiWuhan

China

The HVDC long-distance transmission system Tian-Guangcarries 1,800 MW of electrical power from the hydropowerplant Tianshengqiao in southwest China to the load centerof Guangzhou in the south. It is a bipolar system, each polecomprising a 12-pulse converter valve group, with thevalve towers hanging from a special ceiling construction.The thyristors are water-cooled. The transformers are of thesingle phase three-winding type with bushings protrudinginto the valve hall. Active DC filters are implemented inthis system for absorption of DC harmonics to avoid inter-ference on neighboring communication lines. The contractwas awarded in 1997; commercial operation started in2000.

TianshengqiaoGuangzhou,China

Technical Data


Project name Tian-Guang

Location TianshengqiaoGuangzhou




230 kV, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Electrically-triggered-thyristor,8 kV

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United Statesof America

San Francisco Colo

rad

o

Los AngelesSan Diego

Phoenix

Mexico

The Pacific HVDC Intertie started its operation in 1970at 1,440 MW. By addition of series and parallel connectedconverters it was later expanded to a rating of 3,100 MW.When a disastrous fire had destroyed the thyristor valvesof converter 1 at Sylmar East Converter Station in 1993,the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power wasunder pressure to restore reliable power supply to theenergy-hungry region. Siemens was awarded the recon-struction in August 1994, due to the short delivery time,use of fire-retardant valve material (UL94 VO), the anti-corrosion cooling system concept, and the excellentseismic performance of the valves (0.5 g horizontal).The installation was finished in September 1995.

The scope of supply comprises one complete 12-pulseconverter, including DC hall equipment, and an advancedmonitoring and alarm system.

Sylmar East Valve Reconstruction,USA

Technical Data

Customer Los Angeles Department of Waterand Power, California, USA (LADWP)

Project name Sylmar East Valve Reconstruction

Location Sylmar Converter Station East,Los Angeles

Power rating 550 (825) MW,bipolar


approx. 1,200 kmVoltage levels 500 kV DC,

230 kV, 60 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Electrically-triggered-thyristor,8 kV

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St. Louis

United States of AmericaArkansas

Dallas

Houston

Monterrey

Phoenix

New Orleans

RioGrande

Colo

rado

Gulf of

Mexico

Santa Fe

Denver

Chicago

Mexico

The back-to-back tie links the two different networks ofthe Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT grid) withthe Southwest Power Pool (SPP grid) of the eastern USsystem. The Welsh Converter Station allows an additionalpower transfer to the existing connection (at Oklaunion)between the two networks. The arrangement and thedesign of the station are comparable to Etzenricht. Thereliable and proven converter technology of Etzenricht,along with the same control and protection systems,is therefore used.

Welsh,USA

Technical Data

Customer American Electric Power, Ohio, USA(AEP)

Project name Welsh HVDC Converter Station

Location Texas, Titus Countynear Mount Pleasant

Power rating 600 MW



345 / 345 kV, 60 / 60 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Electrically-triggered-thyristor,5.5 kV

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Vienna

Austria

Czech

Rep.Germany

Switzerland Slovenia

Croatia

Hungary

Slovak

Rep.

Italy

Poland

France

The back-to-back tie links the Austrian UCPTE networkwith the Hungarian and, hence, the RGW network. Themodular water-cooled air-insulated valves are of a new,compact, and universal design. The rectifier and inverterare in 12-pulse connection and are accommodated ina building along with the bushings of the converter-transformers and the smoothing reactors. This HVDCplant southeast of Vienna was put in operation in July1993.

Wien-Suedost,Austria

Technical Data

Customer sterreichische Elektrizitts-wirtschafts-Aktiengesellschaft(Verbundgesellschaft, VG)

Project name GK-Wien-Sdost (GK-SO)

Location Southeast of Vienna, Austria

Power rating 600 MW



380 / 380 kV, 50 / 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor


27


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Vienna

Austria

Czech

Rep.

Germany

Nether-

lands

Belgium

Luxembourg

France

Etzenricht

Berlin

Poland

The back-to-back tie links the two different networks ofthe Czech Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany,that is, the Western European network UCPTE with theEastern European network RGW.

The HVDC plant considerably improved the availabilityof electrical energy in both countries and, at the same time,reduced the need for investment in reserve generatingcapacity. Standardized modular converters allow formuch smaller valve halls than previously permitted andtherefore offer major advantages in terms of economy.The converter transformers are arranged outside thevalve hall. Their insulating bushings for connection to

the thyristors are led directly into the converter hall.The HVDC plant in Etzenricht near Weiden/Oberpfalzwas commissioned in June 1993.

Etzenricht,Germany

Technical Data

Customer E.ON AG Munich, Germany

Project name Etzenricht

Location Etzenricht, near Weiden / Oberpfalz

Power rating 600 MW


Voltage levels 160 kV DC,380 / 380 kV, 50 / 50 Hz

Type ofthyristor Electrically-triggered-thyristor,5.5 kV

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Hunan Jiangxi

FujianGuizhou

GuangdongGuangxi

Zhuang A. R.

Sichuan

Anhui

Zhejia

ng

Chon

gdon

g

Yunnan

HubeiShaanxi Henan

Shanxi Shandong

Jiangsu

Taiwan

Chan

gJia

ng

East

China Sea

Shanghai

South

China Sea

Taipei

Hong Kong

Hanoi

Guangzhou

Laos

Wuhan

Nan Qiao

Gezhouba

China

The Gezhouba-Nan Qiao HVDC plant transmits electricpower from the hydroelectric plant in Gezhouba in theHubei province, central China, to the Shanghai conurba-tion. The power transmission system is bipolar, each poleconsisting of a 12-pulse converter valve group. The valvetowers are suspended from a special structure on theceiling of the valve hall. The single-phase three-windingconverter-transformers and their bushings project intothe hall, where the star delta connections are made.The thyristors are water-cooled. Commercial operationstarted in 1989 (Pole 1), and in 1990 (Pole 2).

GezhoubaNan Qiao,China

Technical Data

Customer China National TechnicalImport & Export Corporation(CNTIC)

Project name Ge-Nan

Location Rectifier station in Gezhouba(Central China), Inverter stationin Nan Qiao (about 40 km fromShanghai)

Power rating 1,200 MW,

bipolar

Type of plant Long-distance transmission,about 1,000 km


Type of

thyristor


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St. Louis

United States of AmericaArkansas

Dallas

Houston

Monterrey

Phoenix

New Orleans

RioGrande

Colo

rado

Gulf of

Mexico

Santa Fe

Denver

Chicago

Mexico

The HVDC back-to-back tie at Virginia Smith ConverterStation in Nebraska, USA, links the asynchronous networksin the East of the United States with those in the West.The station is controlled via the WAPA communicationssystem from the load control center in Loveland, Colorado,150 miles away. 200 MW can be transmitted in eitherdirection. Despite power input in networks with low powerratings, voltage stability is assured within narrow limits.Temporary overvoltage limiters can be switched in to keeptransient overvoltages within 1.25 p.u. The HVDC planthas been in operation since December 1987.

Virginia Smith,USA

Technical Data

Customer Western Area Power Administration(WAPA)

Project name Virginia Smith Converter Station

Location Sidney, Nebraska, USA

Power rating 200 MW



Type of

thyristor


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Chicago

Detroit Toronto

Montreal

Quebec

Ottawa

Washington DC

Philadelphia

New York

Boston

Canada

Beauharnois

The Poste Chteauguay back-to-back tie effects theexchange of power between Canada (Hydro Quebec)and the USA (NYPA). The plant comprises two poles andhas a power rating of 500 MW per pole. Overload opera-tion up to 1,200 MW is possible. Each of the two polesis accommodated in a valve hall with two 12-pulse groups.One group is connected with the 120 kV system in theUSA, and the other with the 315 kV system in Canada.The project, which was jointly awarded to BBC andSiemens, was completed on July 1, 1984, after a con-struction time of about one year.

Poste Chteauguay,Canada

Technical Data

Customer Hydro Quebec, Montreal, Canada

Project name Poste Chteauguay

Location Beauharnois, Quebec, Canada

Power rating 2 x 500 MW


Voltage levels 145 kV DC,120/315 kV, 60/60 Hz


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Vienna

Austria

Czech Rep.Germany

SwitzerlandSlovenia

Croatia

Hungary

Slovak

Rep.

Italy

Drnrohr

Poland

The HVDC back-to-back tie between Austria and theCzech Republic linked the then-asynchronous networksof Western and Eastern Europe. The contract was placedin 1980. The thyristor valves are watercooled and air-insulated; for the first time, high-voltage thyristors witha wafer diameter of 100 mm were used. The systemconsists of two 12-pulse groups in a common buildingand the transformers and smoothing reactors which areinstalled outdoors, with DC-side bushings protrudingthrough the walls. Siemens, partnering with the GermanHVDC Group, supplied all thyristor modules and the stationcontrol system. Commercial operation started in 1983.

Drnrohr,Austria

Technical Data

Customer sterreichische Elektrizitts-wirtschafts-Aktiengesellschaft(Verbundgesellschaft, VG)

Project name Drnrohr

Location Drnrohr, near Zwentendorf, Austria

Power rating 550 MW



380 / 380 kV, 50 / 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor


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Argentina

Brazil

Bolivia

Chile

Uruguay

La Paz

Cordoba

Santiago

Buenos Aires Montevideo

Prto Alegre

So Paulo

Rio de JaneiroParan

Paraguay

The HVDC back-to-back tie in Paraguay links the Brazilian60 Hz network with the Paraguayan 50 Hz network.In times of drought and low output from the hydropowerplants, Paraguay imports power from Brazil, while powercan be exported to Brazil in times of water surplus.The frequency regulation of the HVDC back-to-back tiealso helps stabilize the Paraguayan network frequencyto 50 Hz. Commercial operation started in 1981.

Acaray,Paraguay

Technical Data

Customer A.N.D.E.

Project name Acaray

Location Paraguay

Power rating 55 MW




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Winnipeg

Nelson

Hudson Bay


Canada

Calgary

Minneapolis

Gillam

The power plants on the Nelson and Churchill Rivers inthe north of Manitoba, Canada, generate more than 50 %of the demand of this province: the double-bipolar HVDClink supplies the power to the load centers in the southof the province. Bipole 2 is the first HVDC system usinghighly efficient water cooling for the thyristor valves a technology that has since become the industry standard.Siemens, partnering in the German HVDC Group, suppliedall thyristor modules and the 500 kV smoothing reactors.Commercial operation started in 1977 with stage 1;the project was completed in 1985 with stage 3.

Nelson River, Bipole 2,Canada

Technical Data

Customer Manitoba Hydro (Winnipeg)

Project name Nelson River, Bipole 2

Location Henday Converter Stationnear Nelson River Dorsey ConverterStation near Winnipeg both inManitoba, Canada

Power rating 1,800 MW (summer)2,000 MW (winter),bipolar

Type of plant Long-distance transmission,about 1,000 km


Type of

thyristor


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Mozambiq

ue

Ch

annelZambia

Harare

Zimbabwe

Botswana

Swaziland

Lesotho

MadagascarMozambique

Malawi

Johannesburg

Apollo

Songo

South Africa

The Cahora Bassa HVDC system is used to transmit thepower generated in a hydroelectric plant on the Sambesiriver in Mozambique to South Africa. The contract for theHVDC system, the dam, and the powerhouse was awardedto the ZAMCO consortium, including the German HVDCGroup (AEG, BBC, Siemens). Cahora Bassa is the first HVDCcontract placed that used thyristor valves. An outdoor,oil-cooled, and oil-insulated design was used. Commercialoperation started in 1975 with phase 1; the system wascompleted in 1979 with phase 3.

During the 1980s the transmission line was heavilydamaged by terrorist attack and the system was down

until the nineties, when Siemens undertook the refurbish-ment of the converter stations. Besides the careful resto-ration of the main equipment, the complete DC controlwas exchanged by a fully digital, computerized systemincluding a modern Human-Machine Interface (HMI).The new system increases the availability and reliabilityof the complex HVDC system considerably in terms ofoperator guidance. The most powerful HVDC transmissionlink in Africa has been back in operation since 1998.

Cahora Bassa,South Africa / Mozambique

Technical Data

Customer 1. HCB, Lisbon, Portugal2. ESCOM, Johannesburg, South

Africa

Project name Cahora Bassa

Location Songo, MozambiqueApollo, South Africa


Type of plantLong-distance transmission,1,456 km

Voltage levels 533 kV DC,220 / 275 kV, 50 Hz

Type of

thyristor

Electrically-triggered-thyristor,1.65 kV/ 2.5 kV

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Published by and copyright 2011:

Siemens AGEnergy SectorFreyeslebenstrasse 191058 Erlangen, Germany

Siemens AGEnergy SectorPower Transmission DivisionPower Transmission SolutionsFreyeslebenstrasse 191058 Erlangen, Germanywww.siemens.com/energy/hvdc

For more information, please contactour Customer Support Center.Phone: +49 180/524 70 00Fax: +49 180/524 24 71(Charges depending on provider)E-mail: [email protected]

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All rights reserved.Trademarks mentioned in this documentare the property of Siemens AG, its affiliates,or their respective owners.

Subject to change without prior notice.The information in this document contains generaldescriptions of the technical options available, whichmay not apply in all cases. The required technicaloptions should therefore be specified in the contract.

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