HVDC transmission advantages

No Skin Effect: In HVDC transmission current distributes

uniformly over the cross section of the conductor. Hence
no loss due to skin effect is encountered. For the same
current carrying capacity HVDC lines have lesser cross
section compared to ac HV lines
Lower Transmission Losses: HVDC transmission
requires only two conductors. Therefore the power loss in
dc line will be lesser compared to ac line
Good voltage Regulation: In dc lines voltage drop does
not exist due to inductive reactance. Voltage Regulation
will be better in HVDC transmission
Surge Impedance Loading: Long EHV lines are loaded
to less than 80% of natural load. No such condition is
applicable in HVDC transmission
No Line Loading Limit: The permissible loading limit on
EHV AC lines are limited by the transient stability limit and
the line reactance to almost one third of the thermal rating
of the conductors. No such limit exist in the case of HVDC
line
Lesser Coronal Loss and Radio Interference: Corona
Loss directly proportional to frequency. Therefore in DC
line corona loss will be lesser compared to AC line
Higher Operating Voltages: Design of Insulation of the
conductors for high voltage transmission lines depends on
the switching surges but not on lightning surges (for
voltages beyond 400kV switching surges are more severe
than lightning surges). The level of switching surge will be
lesser in dc line compared to ac line. Hence less insulation
is required in dc line
Reactive Power Compensation: Unlike AC line DC line
does not require any reactive power compensation

devices. This is because of the absence of charging

currents and power factor operation.
Short circuit currents during fault in dc line will be lesser
compared to ac lines.
Absence of the charging currents and limitations on the
cable lengths
Economical and greater reliability

High voltage Transmission Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:
With increase in the transmission voltage size of the
conductors is reduced (Cross section of the conductors
reduce as current required to carry reduces).
As the reduction in current carrying requirement losses
reduces results in better efficiency
Due to low current voltage drop will be less so voltage
regulation improves
Limitations:
With the increase in the voltage of transmission, the
insulation required between the conductors and the
earthed tower increases. This increase the cost of line
support
With increase in the voltage of transmission, more
clearance is required between conductors and ground.
Hence higher towers are required.
With increase in the voltage transmission, more distance is
required between the conductors. Therefore cross arms
should be long