The comparison of AC and DC alternatives for sub-transmission networks

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Recent advances in semiconductor technology extended the economic power rangefor DC transmission to just a few MW. Network planners need tools to compare ACand DC alternatives in order to find the best technical and economic solution for aspecific network. TESAT, a software analysis tool, is developed to determine theoptimum conductor and line technology for a network. Voltage regulation problemsare identified and can be solved with network devices which have the potential tosolve network problems more effectively and economically than ever before. PSAT,another software analysis tool developed in previous research, is used to modelnetworks and support technologies. Hence, with the aid of TESAT and PSAT, lineand support technologies are combined in an attempt to find the most effectivesolution in terms of cost and technical performance. This is demonstrated with the aidof a case study.Furthermore, interfaces between PSAT and the real world are developed. Thisincludes an extension to the input interface of PSAT that calculates the equivalentimpedances of a transmission line automatically, as well as an interface to share databetween ReticMaster and PSAT. A dispersed generation and support technologydatabase is also developed as an extension to the output interface ofPSAT.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University