Non-sinusoidal Power Transmission System for Urban Grid Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Urban power grids face challenges with insufficient transmission capacity, high short-circuit currents, and difficulty in reactive power voltage regulation due to increased load and interwoven grid structures, which are exacerbated by the limitations of existing alternating current transmission systems, particularly in cable lines where insulation and capacitance issues restrict power transmission.

Innovation Solution

A power transmission system utilizing non-sinusoidal alternating current transmission with bidirectional current conductivity through voltage source current converters and switch handover devices, which converts sine waves to alternating square waves and back, maximizing transmission capacity without increasing short-circuit currents and maintaining insulating properties, while providing dynamic reactive power compensation and harmonic suppression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If alternating current transmission capacity is increased by adding FACTS devices or building new lines, then transmission capacity is improved, but device complexity and land requisition resistance increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the waveform parameter of the transmitted current from sinusoidal to square wave. This parameter change allows the system to utilize the full insulation strength of the line, increasing transmission capacity by up to 60% without requiring additional FACTS devices or new infrastructure, thereby avoiding increased device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs periodic switching of the third polar lead connection between the first and second polar leads using switch handover devices. This periodic action enables bidirectional current conductivity and allows uniform distribution of line loss among the three leads, improving transmission capacity while maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Power

If new alternating current lines are built to solve insufficient power supply, then transmission capacity is improved, but short-circuit current increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidshort-circuit current
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces dynamic control through switch handover devices that periodically connect and disconnect the third polar lead between different polar leads. This dynamic switching enables the system to adapt current flow paths in real-time, increasing transmission capacity while controlling short-circuit current levels through intelligent path management rather than simply adding more lines

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If alternating current cable lines are used for power transmission, then transmission flexibility is improved, but capacitance current restricts transmission length

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission flexibilityVSAvoidtransmission length
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the current waveform parameter from sinusoidal to square wave, which fundamentally alters the capacitance current characteristics. In square wave transmission, steady-state capacitance current is reduced to only the ripple voltage component, extending the practical transmission length of cable lines from limited distances to much longer distances while maintaining the flexibility advantages of cable line deployment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Power

If alternating current cable lines are converted to direct current operation to extend transmission length, then transmission length is improved, but space charge accumulation causes insulator breakdown

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission lengthVSAvoidinsulator reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of converting to direct current as conventionally done, the invention inverts the approach by using alternating current with a square wave waveform. This inverted approach maintains the benefits of extended transmission length while avoiding space charge accumulation because the alternating polarity continuously clears accumulated charges, preventing insulator breakdown and maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the waveform parameter from sinusoidal to square wave, which creates periods of zero voltage stress on insulators. During these zero-voltage periods, space charges are cleared from the insulator surfaces, preventing the accumulation that leads to breakdown. This parameter change enables long-distance cable transmission without the reliability issues of direct current operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3076511B1Power transmission system for improving transmission capacity of urban power grid through non-sine alternating current power transmission
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA
  • EP3076511B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3076511B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3076511B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a power transmission system for improving the transmission capacity of an urban power grid through non-sine alternating current power transmission. The system comprises a first waveform conversion system and a third waveform conversion system both for converting a sine wave into an alternating square wave, and a second waveform conversion system and a fourth waveform conversion system both for converting the alternating square wave into the sine wave; the first waveform conversion system is connected with the second waveform conversion system through a first polar wire and a second polar wire, and the first polar wire is arranged parallelly to the second polar wire; the third waveform conversion system is connected with the fourth waveform conversion system through a third polar wire. Through the use of the capability of bidirectional current conduction of voltage source converters and with the help of switching devices, the power transmission system provided in the present invention well solves the problem as to capacity expansion of alternating current transmission lines without increasing the short-circuit current level of the power grid, and moreover, the power transmission system has transient functions, such as dynamic reactive power compensation, and consequently is of great importance to addressing the contradiction between the increasingly growing loads in large cities and the gradually rising difficulty in building new transmission lines.