Authors / Affiliations
- Corresponding Author: Koo-yong Shin
- Co-authors: Young-hong Kim, Hee-won Noh, Dong-il Lee
Contact details
- Koo-yong Shin(Chief of Engineering Specialist)
Address: Munji-Ro 105, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, Korea
Affiliations: Power System Lab. Of KEPCO Research Institute
Tel: +82-42-865-5853 / FAX: +82-42-865-5809
Cell Phone: +82-10-5679-2001
E-mail: kyshin@kepco.co.kr
- Young-hong Kim (Researcher)
Address: Munji-Ro 105, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, Korea
Affiliations: Power System Lab. Of KEPCO Research Institute
Tel: +82-42-865-5857 / FAX: +82-42-865-5809
Cell Phone: +82-10-8949-3814
E-mail: yhkimi79@kepco.co.kr
- Hee-won Noh (Researcher)
Address: Munji-Ro 105, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, Korea
Affiliations: Power System Lab. Of KEPCO Research Institute
Tel: +82-42-865-5856 / FAX: +82-42-865-5809
Cell Phone: +82-10-5360-3748
E-mail: noheewon@kepco.co.kr
- Dong-il Lee (Vice president)
Address: Munji-Ro 105, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, Korea
Affiliations: Power System Lab. Of KEPCO Research Institute
Tel: +82-42-865-5857 / FAX: +82-42-865-5809
Cell Phone: +82-11-9509-5883
E-mail: leedi@kepco.co.kr
Executive Summary
Recently, demand of electric power has exceeded supply because of change of various conditions
related to electric power industry such as rise of generation cost, increase of demand caused by the
industrial development and abnormal temperature event. In Korea, daytime peak loads of summer,
winter has been occurring from some years ago.
Many countries has solved the lack of electric power by construction of nuclear power plant.
However, there are plans to reduce or discard nuclear power plants scheduled or in operation since
Fukushima nuclear accident was happened. And lack of electric energy will be deepened continuously
without proper solution. To solve these, development of renewable energy such as wind, solar,
geothermal powers, a raise and diversifying of the electric power fee to control the demand and
electric power dealing between countries by power system connection were suggested.
In this paper, an application power system connection between countries to Korea was studied
because it is possible to solve peak load problem generated on the specific time or season and offer
efficiency use or sale of surplus electric power. The route from South Korea to Russia via North
Korea was estimated and selected considering distinct that Korea is divided countries. HVDC
transmission technology, 500kV voltage and 2 bi-pole were suggested to transfer electric power about
5% of electric power demand limited by energy security. 22m distance between poles and 18m height
of overhead line were applied to the test line in KEPCO PT Center and tested on the site. The test of
electric environment was conducted during about 1 year. The result has showed that measurement
values satisfied the standard suggested by preceded research [1]. Through interrelation between
interferences and weather conditions, HVDC transmission line will be optimized to geographical and
climate conditions by analysis measured data.
Main Text
1. Introduction
The development of industrial civilization has come an exhaustion of natural resources and increase
of energy demand. And many transmission towers, substations and plants for electric power
generation and transmission have been constructed during the past century. Almost kinds of plant are
thermal plant using coal, oil and gas, hydroelectric power plant generated by height different of water
and nuclear power plant energized by atomic fission. In 2011, Fukushima nuclear accident was
happened by earth quake and wakened the world to dangerousness of nuclear power plant. Germany,
Swiss and Italy will phase out the nuclear and grow renewable energy such as wind and solar. Europe
has plans connecting power systems between members and constructing solar power and sunlight
generation plants to in the desert of Africa.
In Asia, several countries try to increase efficiency of power system and power plant. Japan make
an effort to import inexpensively energy such as gas and electric power by connection to Russia
through by gas pipe line and transmission line. The president of Softbank suggested the Supergrid
connecting power system between North and South Korea, China, Japan and Russia to exchange
electric power and economically manage the energy. China has plan to export and exchange electric
power by construction of large scale wind farm in the Gobi desert and Mongolia. In case of Korea,
there were discussions related to import natural gas from Russia through by North Korea. These
policies and plans show that more efficient energy management is needed by power system
connection between countries.
In this paper, routes through North Korea area of transmission line considering power system
connection to Russia which has the lowest price of electric power and transmission type were
investigated and the development results of 500kv HVDC transmission technology.
2. Review of Transmission Capacity and Voltage
HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) transmission technology is suitable to the power system
connection because the Power frequency is different of South/North Korea and Russia and
transmission distance is long. The technology has low transmission loss and is able to connect
between other frequency power systems.
Transmission power capacity was set 4~5GW below 5% of power demand for energy security. DC
500kV equal voltage level to AC 765kV highest in Korea power system was applied to the line to
minimize the loss. When a conductor allowable current about 1kA is apply, power capacity of 6
bundles consisted by 480SQ or 520SQ overhead conductor is 5~6GW. Considering a half of
maximum capacity is transmitted in normal operation, 2 bi-pole was selected.
3. Selection of Transmission Line Route
The optimal route of transmission line is decided by various investigations such as restrictions, life
environment, natural environment and so on. However, there are many limits such as political,
economical and security characteristics because almost of the route of Korea-Russia passes North
Korea. And the investigations about natural environment, climate condition, economic feasibility and
so on were given more weight. Three routes for Korea-Russia transmission line was suggested as
shown in figure 1. The 1st route is from Kaesong to Hamheung via Wonsan near the East Sea. 2nd route
is similar to 1st route except via Pyongyang. 3rd Route is from Hoengseong to Wonsan via East Sea.
Table 1. Suggested Routes of Korea-Russia Transmission line
Area
Russia
1st Route
2nd Route
3rd Route
Kangwon-do
WonsanSepo Ichon
YangdokHuchang
WonsanTongchonKo
song
Hwanghaebuk-do
IchonHanporiPyongs
an
PyongyangSariwon
South
Korea
Kaesong-si
BakcheonKaesong
PyongsanKaesong
Sindeokeun
KaesongMunsan
KaesongMunsan
Pocheon
KosongYangyang~Inje
Hoengseong
1,009
1,070
1,030
Sinpocheon
Kangwon
Switching station
T/L Length
Also, the routes were considered to be parallel with Trans-Korea Railway that crosses the South
and North Korea and connects to Central Asia and Europe. The optimal route was selected by satellite
map and topographic map (1:50,000) to avoid high mountainous area and be close to an area
developed railroad, port and road. Overhead transmission line was considered to be less than 1,000m
and parallel to 220kV transmission line in operation near the coastline of the East Sea.
The overview of three routes is shown in table 1. There are many mountains and mountain chains
higher than 2,000m with Baekdu mountain as the center. The annual wind velocity is 2~3m/s. The
annual rainfall in Jangjeon area is the heaviest and snowfall is expected to be more than South Korea
because of northern regional characteristic. The route connected to Russia via Wonsan and Hamheung
was designed to be close the East Sea with separation distance more than 5km. Geographical and
natural environmental characteristics is summarized as shown in table 2.
Table 2. The main route overview of transmission line
Overview of the route
Route
Russia
Geographical
environment
Artem
Khasan
Najin
Urban area
Altitude 200~300m
Industrial area
Altitude 500~600m
Hamgye
Industrial area
ongbuk- Chongjin
Altitude 200~400m
do
Urban area
Kimchaek
Altitude 150~400m
Urban and
Tanchon
Industrial area
North Hamgye
Urban area
Korea ongnam- Hamheung
Altitude 150~400m
do
Urban area
Kowon
Altitude 250~350m
Altitude above
Tongchon
1,000m
Kangwo
Kosong
ViaMt. Baekdu
n-do
Altitude above
Sepo
1,000m
Around Obstacle
Airport/Crossing Tumen river
Contamination(Clean area)
Transmission line in operation
Contamination(Clean area)
Transmission line in operation /Crossing
Nampuk river
Contamination(Clean area)
Shoreline
Contamination(A area)
Shoreline/Crossing Namhae river
Contamination(A area)
Distance
from coast
5km~10km
5km~10km
Within
10km
Within 5km
Within 5km
Above 5km
Above 5km
Above 5km
Within 5km
Central
inland
Figure 1 shows longitudinal sections of suggested routes. Altitudes of 1st route are less than 1,000m.
In 2nd route, Aobiryeong area is located above 1,000m. 3rd route passes mountain chain higher than
1,000m started from Mt. Baekdu. Almost areas from Russia to Hamheung are lower than 700m and a
route passing the coast to inland is rugged. Considering insulation coordination of transmission tower,
1st route located below 1,000m is suitable.
4. Insulation Coordination
For the design of 500kV HVDC transmission tower, insulation coordination was conducted with
follow two rules.
a. Flashover is not generated by internal abnormal voltage of power system such as switching
voltage.
b. Reliability has to be kept from external abnormal voltage such as lightning.
Withstand voltage characteristics and number of calculated insulators in contamination area are
shown in table 3 and 4.
Table 3. Withstand voltage characteristics of contamination area
Contamination area
Degree of pollution
Clean Area
Line type
A
B
C
D
ESDD [mg/cm2]
Less than 0.03 0.063 0.125 0.25
0.5
Power line DC insulator (300kN) Anti-fog type
20.3
16.1 13.0 10.4
8.4
Neutral line AC insulator (300kN) Normal type
15.0
12.6 11.0
9.6
8.4
Table 4. Calculated Number of Insulator
Contamination area
Line type
A
B
C
D
2
ESDD [mg/cm ]
Less than 0.03 0.063 0.125 0.25
0.5
Power line DC insulator (300kN) Anti-fog type
30
37
46
57
71
Neutral line AC insulator (300kN) Normal type
5
6
7
8
9
Degree of pollution
Clean Area
The route of North Korea is contamination area A and 37 insulators and 7 are each applied to
power and neutral line. Gaps between arcing horns are 6,070mm for power line and 1,010mm for
neutral line when efficiency of arching horn is 75%. According to these results the air clearances of
swing angles are shown in table 5. Length of arm is 9.318m from tower body. In case of 1 bi-pole
transmission line, considering tower width and length of arm, the distance from center of T/L to end
of an arm is about 11m and distance between two poles is 22m.
Table 5. Air clearance with swing angle
Swing angle
Case of clearance
Line Type Insulator type
[degree]
15
Standard insulation distance
Suspension
20
Minimum insulation distance
60
Abnormal insulation distance
Power
line
5
Standard insulation distance
Supporting
15
Minimum insulation distance
/jumper
40
Abnormal insulation distance
Suspension
Neutral
line
Supporting/
Jumper
15
20
60
5
15
40
Insulation distance
[mm]
6,070
2,890
1,300
6,070
2,890
1,300
1,010
260
220
1,010
260
220
changing the locations of the conductor to carry out the test in variable conditions.
Center
Negative
10G3, 100G1
Charged Voltage(Disk)
4
4
1
1
Charged Voltage(Disk)
10G5, 100G2
10G1, 100G2
Charged
Voltage(Cylinder)
Ion Current Density
Electric Field
6
4
Meteorological Factors
12
Sum
56
Probability, %
100
75
Negative Pole
50
Positive Pole
25
0
-40
-30
-20
-10
10
20
30
Figure 7. Cumulative distributions of the electric Figure 8. Lateral profiles of the electric field
field intensity on the ground under the
intensity on the ground
test line
The electric field intensity on the ground around the DC overhead transmission line varied
according to the weather conditions such as the wind velocity and humidity, among which the wind
velocity had the greatest effect [10]-[13]. The wind direction and velocity were assessed by analyzing
the data from the case in which the wind blew towards the vertical direction to the test line, as shown
in Fig. 9. The wind direction of 25 from left to right vertical to the test line was chosen for the
analysis of the data for the determination of the electric field intensity on the ground in the wind
vertical to the test line. Fig. 10 shows the results of the analysis of the case with the wind direction
from the positive pole to the negative pole. In the case of the wind velocity at less than 1 m/s that had
almost no wind, the electric field intensity on the ground appeared to have had similar absolute values
simply opposite the symbols around the ground surfaces of the positive line and the negative line; but
in the case with the wind velocity 5 m/s and higher, the intensity on the ground of the positive line
appeared smaller than that in the case with no wind, and the maximum value of the negative line was
detected not directly under the line but as moving in the wind movement direction. Fig. 11 shows the
result of the case in which the wind blew from the negative pole to the positive pole.
The results of the statistical process of the productions according to the temperature, humidity and
rainfall intensity, using the electric field meter directly under the positive pole to assess the generation
characteristics of the electric field intensity according to the changes of weather condition, showed
that the electric field intensity on the ground tended to slightly decrease as the temperature increased.
The electric field intensity tended to significantly increase when the humidity increased; therefore, the
humidity changes were confirmed as important meteorological factors of the electric field intensity on
the ground.
o
(+)
Tower #2
(-)
Tower #3
Figure 10. Electric field intensity on the ground Figure 11. Electric field intensity on the ground
according to the wind speed in the
according to the wind speed in the
case with the wind blowing from the
case with the wind blowing from the
positive pole
negative pole
5.3.2 Charged Voltage
To investigate the characteristics of the charged voltage generated in the surrounding charged body
by the ion from the corona discharge of the DC overhead transmission line, the charged bodies with
10G and 100G resistance values were manufactured to measure the charged voltages. Fig. 12
presents the lateral profile of the charged voltage from the DC test line. The absolute values of the
charged voltages according to the polarity in both the left and right sides of the transmission line
appeared almost identical and were recognized to have been produced directly under each pole.
Figure 12. Lateral profiles of the charged voltage by 10 G around the test line
The charged voltage was measured in the long term to assess the generation characteristics of the
charged voltages from the DC line according to the weather conditions. The statistical results showed
that the voltage hardly differed with the changes in the temperature and the rainfall intensity, but
slightly decreased with the humidity increase.
5.3.3 Ion Current Density on the Ground
The ion current density on the ground was measured with 11 units of plate-type electrodes that had
guard electrodes on the ground surface and that were installed vertical to the test line to detect the
lateral profile according to the distance from the line. Fig. 13 shows the results of the statistical
process for the ion current density on the ground.
Figure 13. Lateral profile of the ion current Figure 14. Lateral profile of the ion current
density, L50% on the ground
density according to the wind speed
in the case with the wind blowing
from the positive pole
Fig. 15 shows the results of the measurement of the ion current density with a wind velocity of 3 m/s
and above and with almost no wind, to assess the wind influence. The analysis results showed the
amount of the interference for the upstream wind tended to decrease, and that for the downstream
wind tended to increase.
The results of the statistical process for the generation amounts according to the temperature and
the humidity showed generation characteristics that were similar to those of the charged voltage
directly under the positive pole in the assessment of the generation characteristics of the ion current
density on the ground according to the weather conditions at the DC test line.
5.3.4 Radio Noise
The IEEE standard loop antenna (Rohde& Schwarz, HFH2-Z2) for the measurement of the radio
interference was installed 2 m above the ground. A non-radio frequency was selected within the range
of 0.50.1 MHz [14]-[15]. The lateral profile of the test line was apprehended by installing four units
of antennas vertical to the test line. The ambient noise of the test yard was measured to have been
about 38~42 dB (V/m). The radio interferences generated from the test line were assessed at the
standard position 15 m to the vertical direction directly under the positive pole. Fig. 15 shows the
results of the statistical process for the radio noise measured at the assessment position. The corona
discharges, which were produced according to various surrounding conditions in fair weather, showed
an about 15dB difference between the maximum and minimum values, as presented in Fig. 15; and
the difference in the foul weather appeared to have been the same as that in the fair weather because
the foul weather was more stable than the fair weather.
The radio noise produced in foul weather was the same as that in fair weather in the DC
transmission line, unlike in the AC transmission line; but the L50% value of the radio noise appeared
to have been about 3 dB larger than that in fair weather, as shown in Fig. 15. This was considered to
have been the value within the measurement errors of the measurement device and because the
measurement period did not have many rainfall conditions; but it was confirmed to correspond with
the theory that the radio noise caused by the corona discharge in foul weather will be the same as that
in fair weather according to the DC corona discharge characteristics.
AN4
110
41.4
48.6
Fair
Foul
Wind influence
Wind velocity influence
Temperature influence
25 ~ 23
Yes
Yes
Yes (inversely
proportional)
Moisture influence
Yes (proportional)
Rainfall intensity
influence
No
-50 ~ 110
Yes
Yes
43.01
Yes
Yes
20 ~ 15
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes (proportional)
Yes (inversely
proportional)
Yes (inversely
proportional)
Yes (inversely
proportional)
Yes (inversely
proportional)
Yes (inversely
proportional)
40.0
Table 9. Summary of the assessment of the long-term environmental full-scale test at the 500kV DC
test transmission line
Interference
Electric field (kVdc/m)
Radio interference dB(V/m)
Audible noise [dB (A)]
Ion current density (nA/m2)
Measurement
18.42
SNR 31
40.6
95.7
Guideline
Below 25
Above SNR 24
Below 50
Below 100
Assessment
Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Satisfactory
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