The HVDC Itaipu is a High Voltage Direct Current transmission line in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 from the Itaipu hydroelectric power plant to the region of São Paulo

São Paulo

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

. The project has two bipolar lines, which run from the generator site at Foz do Iguaçu

Foz do Iguaçu

Foz do Iguaçu is the 7th largest city in Paraná state, Brazil, with a population of 255,900 inhabitants. It is located approximately 650 km west of Curitiba, Parana's capital city, being the westernmost city in that state...

 in Paraná

Paraná (state)

Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...

 to the "load" (user) site

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...

 Ibiúna near São Roque, São Paulo. The lines were put in service in several steps between 1984 and 1987, and are among the major installations of HVDC in the world.

Technical description

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) was chosen both because this technique allows long transmission lines with little loss compared to other systems (like AC), and also allows interchange of the Paraguayan 50 Hz input and the Brazilian 60 Hz input and user grid.
Both lines operate at ±600 kV and are built as overhead lines with a length of 818 (North line) and 807 (South line) kilometer. Away from their terminal stations, the two lines are at least 10 km apart to reduce risks. Each one is designed for 3150 MW at ± 600 kV D.C. and 2625 A. The lines are 4 x 689 mm² (about 30 mm ∅) ACSR cables.

Incoming is 500 kV AC from the hydro dam (Foz do Iguacu), outgoing is 345 and 500 kV AC into the South/Southeastern grid (Ibiúna, São Paulo). At 1/3 into the route, at Ivaiporã (Parana)

Ivaiporã

Ivaiporã is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...

, there is a branch into 500 kV, 60 Hz AC, delivering into the Southern grid.

By introducing, in 1989 and later, series capacitors in Ivaiporã (at ⅓ of the line) and Itaberá

Itaberá

Itaberá is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 is 19,430 and the area is 1085.3 km². The elevation is 651 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning Ita = stone; Berá = that shines....

 (at ⅔) the capacity grew from 4300 MW to 6300 MW.

Waypoints

Site	Station type	Line	Coordinates
Foz do Iguaçu	Static Inverter Plant		25°27′58"S 54°32′33"W
Ortigueira	PLC repeater station	northern line	24°01′51"S 51°05′52"W
Ortigueira	PLC repeater station	southern line	24°19′16"S 50°51′22"W
Ibiúna	Static Inverter Plant		23°40′02"S 47°06′19"W