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From: marks@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Mark D. Salzman)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: HV DC transmission lines. (Was: cows and high tension wires)
Message-ID: <7458@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM>
Date: 5 Dec 89 21:02:11 GMT
References: <1845@neoucom.UUCP> <8902@swlabs.UUCP>
Reply-To: marks@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Mark D. Salzman)
Distribution: na
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Vancouver,  WA.
Lines: 20

In article <8902@swlabs.UUCP> jack@swlabs.UUCP (Jack Bonn) writes:
>I was wondering: what ever happened to the use of high voltage DC for
>power transmission?  I understood that the high voltage inverters
>needed were technologically feasible, yet I've heard very little of
>this since.

HV DC transmission systems do exist. We have one here in Oregon to send
power from our Columbia River power grid to southern California. It runs
at about 1MV DC if memory serves me well.

The problem with this system is that it requires an expensive converter
station at both ends of the line. So it is only used when power is sent
over a very long distance, where the cost of the stations is made up for
by the increase in efficiency of the system. 

-- 
# Mark D. Salzman    Phone: (206) 253-5542.  #  The more complex the mind,
# Tektronix Inc., P.O. Box 3500, M/S C1-936  #  the greater the need for 
# Vancouver, Washington. USA  98668          #  the simplicity of play.
# E-MAIL: marks@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM          #       James T. Kirk