Analysis of High Voltage Direct Current Transmission Lines Bus Voltages Using Load and Component Sizing Method

Abstract

The financial consequences and inherent inefficiencies of the alternating current system necessitate investigating the application of direct current technology, particularly for high-voltage transmission lines. The direct current network has significant benefits; thus, this study suggests a 132 kV direct current transmission line that extends from the Afam power station to the Port Harcourt Mains transmission station. The implementation of this proposed direct current transmission line will substantially mitigate power losses during transmission and enhance the overall efficiency of the power system. Moreover, direct current technology will facilitate the seamless incorporation of sustainable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into the power distribution system. Installing a 132 kV direct current transmission line would also be a significant step in upgrading and improving the electrical grid in the area, due to the growing demand for energy and the requirement for more dependable and sustainable power infrastructure. This design utilised a bipolar direct current link to connect the Afam power plant to the Port Harcourt Mains transmission station and deployed a load and component sizing mathematical approach implemented in the Electrical Transient Analyzer Programme (ETAP) 19.0.1 software. The network was analysed for load flow, and buses 1, 2, 3, and 4 were found to have voltage percentages of 100, 99.51, 99.31, and 98.62, which equals voltage levels of 11kV, 131.35kV, 131.35kV, and 32.54kV, respectively. The discrepancies between the nominal voltages and design voltages during network operation are insignificant. The study's results confirm the network's adequacy and the advantage of using high-voltage direct current lines due to their minimal operational losses.