ABB has announced a
breakthrough in the ability to
interrupt direct current,
solving a 100-year-old electrical
engineering puzzle and paving the
way for a more efficient and reliable
electricity supply system, an official
statement noted.
After years of research, ABB has
developed the world's first circuit
breaker for high voltage direct current
(HVDC). It combines very fast
mechanics with power electronics,
and will be capable of 'interrupting'
power flows equivalent to the output
of a large power station within 5
milliseconds, which is thirty times
faster than the blink of a human eye.
The breakthrough removes a 100-
year-old barrier to the development
of DC transmission grids, which will
enable the efficient integration and
exchange of renewable energy. DC
grids will also improve grid reliability
and enhance the capability of existing
AC (alternating current) networks.
ABB is in discussions with power
utilities to identify pilot projects for
the new development.
The Hybrid HVDC breaker
development has been a flagship
research project for ABB, which
invests over $1 billion annually in
R&D activities. The breadth of ABB's
portfolio and unique combination of
in-house manufacturing capability
for power semiconductors,
converters and high voltage cables
(key components of HVDC systems)
were distinct advantages in the new
development.
HVDC technology is needed to
facilitate the long distance transfer
of power from hydropower plants,
the integration of offshore wind
power, the development of visionary
solar projects, and the
interconnection of different power
networks. ABB pioneered HVDC
nearly 60 years ago and continues to
be a technology driver and market
leader with many innovations and
developments.
Deployment of HVDC has led to an
increasing number of point-to-point
connections in different parts of the
world. The logical next step is to
connect the lines and optimize the
network. ABB is already working on
the construction of multi-terminal
systems and the latest DC breaker
innovation is a major step in the
evolution of HVDC grids, the
statement added.