HVDC Testing at Project UHV

• Published in: 1979 7th IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition pp. 80 - 88
• Main Authors: Comber, M.G., Russell, D.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 1979
• Subjects: Acoustic noise; Conductors; Corona; Electromagnetic interference; HVDC transmission; Laboratories; Noise level; Noise reduction; Testing; Working environment noise
• DOI: 10.1109/TDC.1979.712642

As part of an effort to explore the feasibility of high voltage dc transmission as an alternative or complementary technology to high voltage ac transmission, General Electric Company is conducting a program of research, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), into the non-biological effects of fields and ions in the vicinity of dc transmission lines above 600 kV. This work is being conducted at General Electric's Project UHV in Lenox, Massachusetts. A short bipolar overhead test line is used for the investigation of "near-field" effects which are considered to be those effects which could occur within or close to the right-of-way. The program includes investigations of induced voltages and currents in objects such as fences, antennas and vehicles, the effect of corona on objects close to ground, perception thresholds of people, and methods of reducing field and ion effects. The bipolar 750 kV (max) power supply used to energize the test line is also used to energize a conductor "test bay" for the investigation of the effect of variation of bundle conductor geometry on corona-related effects such as ion production rates, electric field, ion charge densities and ion currents at ground level. Through field enhancement obtained by utilizing reduced pole spacings and ground clearance, conductor geometries up to the equivalent of 1200 kV can be investigated in the test bay. This paper documents the major objectives of the research program, describes the facilities available and reports on preliminary results of the research.