Eel River, New Brunswick
Encyclopedia
The Eel River Converter Station is a high-voltage direct current
(HVDC) static inverter plant
in Eel River Crossing, New Brunswick
, Canada; it is the first operative HVDC station in the world equipped with thyristors.
The Eel River Converter Station was the first operating fully solid-state HVDC converter station in the world, although some stations in Europe had mixed thyristor valves in with their original mercury-arc valves. The design and equipment for the Eel River HVDC station was provided by General Electric with its commissioning being completed in 1972.
The Eel River Converter Station consists of two separate 12-pulse bidirectional solid-state non-synchronous HVDC ties of 4800 thyristor valves (each nominally rated 160 MW) connecting 230-kV transmission systems of Hydro-Québec
and NB Power
. The converter station has a nominal throughput rating of 40 MW to 320 MW and an overload capability of up to 350 MW.
The station was built to provide Hydro-Québec with its first major power interconnection with the remainder of eastern North America to enable export of surplus energy made available by the completion of the Churchill Falls hydro-electric project in Labrador. For the first thirteen years of its operation, Eel River operated at a capacity factor of over 100%, making it the most heavily utillized HVDC station in the world.
A report by New Brunswick Systems Operator in 2009 said:
The station was named an IEEE Milestone in 2011.
High-voltage direct current
A high-voltage, direct current electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance transmission, HVDC systems may be less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses...
(HVDC) static inverter plant
Static inverter plant
A static inverter station, also known as an HVDC Converter Station, is the terminal equipment for a high-voltage direct-current transmission line, in which direct current is converted to three-phase alternating current, and, usually, the reverse...
in Eel River Crossing, New Brunswick
Eel River Crossing, New Brunswick
Eel River Crossing is a Canadian village in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.Usually simplified to simply Eel River, the village is situated on the Eel River...
, Canada; it is the first operative HVDC station in the world equipped with thyristors.
The Eel River Converter Station was the first operating fully solid-state HVDC converter station in the world, although some stations in Europe had mixed thyristor valves in with their original mercury-arc valves. The design and equipment for the Eel River HVDC station was provided by General Electric with its commissioning being completed in 1972.
The Eel River Converter Station consists of two separate 12-pulse bidirectional solid-state non-synchronous HVDC ties of 4800 thyristor valves (each nominally rated 160 MW) connecting 230-kV transmission systems of Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
and NB Power
NB Power
NB Power , formerly known as New Brunswick Power Corporation and New Brunswick Electric Power Commission is the primary and former monopoly electrical utility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
. The converter station has a nominal throughput rating of 40 MW to 320 MW and an overload capability of up to 350 MW.
The station was built to provide Hydro-Québec with its first major power interconnection with the remainder of eastern North America to enable export of surplus energy made available by the completion of the Churchill Falls hydro-electric project in Labrador. For the first thirteen years of its operation, Eel River operated at a capacity factor of over 100%, making it the most heavily utillized HVDC station in the world.
A report by New Brunswick Systems Operator in 2009 said:
Eel River HVDC was commissioned in 1972 and was built as the world’s first solid state back to back converter stations. There has been no major refurbishment done to the station except for the replacement of the converter transformers in the mid-1980’s due to a design defect.
A recent engineering study of the Eel River facility recommended the replacement of the HVDC converter stations controls and the upgrades of the air cooled thyristor valves with conventional liquid cooled thyristor valves. Both projects would require multiple years to complete. The planning is underway for this project.
The station was named an IEEE Milestone in 2011.