How Simulation Enhances High-Voltage Transmission and Submarine HVDC Cable Design

Laboratory or in-field measurements are often considered the gold standard for certain aspects of power system design. However, measurement approaches always have limitations. Simulation can help overcome these constraints by accelerating the design process, reducing costs, and evaluating scenarios that are impractical or impossible to measure directly.

In this presentation, we examine two real-world examples from the power system industry where simulation plays a critical role.

Case 1: Corona Performance Testing for High-Voltage Transmission Hardware

Corona-free insulator hardware is essential for the reliable operation of high-voltage transmission lines, particularly at voltages of 500 kV, 765 kV, or higher. While laboratory mockups are commonly used to verify corona performance, physical space constraints typically limit testing to partial single-phase setups. Establishing equivalence between these laboratory conditions and real-world three-phase environments can be challenging.

Modern simulation capabilities provide a solution by enabling accurate translation of single-phase laboratory results into reliable three-phase performance predictions for 500 kV and 765 kV systems.

Case 2: Electric Fields Around HVDC Submarine Cables

High-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cables are widely used for offshore wind farm interconnections. Traditionally, HVDC cables are assumed to be environmentally inert from an external electric field perspective, as their electric fields are contained within the cable and their static magnetic fields do not induce external voltages.

However, simulation reveals a previously overlooked phenomenon: ocean currents moving through the static magnetic field of these cables satisfy the relative motion requirement of Faraday’s law. This interaction generates externally induced electric fields around the cables, which fall within a detectable range for various aquatic species.

Key Takeaways

• Translate laboratory results to real-world performance: Use modern simulation to convert single-phase corona mockups into accurate three-phase performance predictions for 500 kV and 765 kV transmission systems.
• Understand overlooked environmental impacts: Explore how ocean currents interacting with HVDC submarine cables create induced electric fields—a phenomenon often missed but detectable by aquatic life.
• Reduce design costs and overcome testing limitations: Leverage simulation to bypass physical space constraints and accelerate the design process while cutting costs.
• Apply electromagnetic theory in practice: See how relative motion in static magnetic fields necessitates simulation when direct measurement is unfeasible.

Register now for this free webinar to gain actionable insights and practical applications of these critical concepts.