HVDC Vancouver Island
Encyclopedia
The HVDC Vancouver Island is the name for HVDC interconnection between the Vancouver Island Terminal (VIT) near North Cowichan, British Columbia
on Vancouver Island
at 48°49′39"N 123°42′55"W and the Arnott Substation (ARN) near Delta, British Columbia
at 49°5′31"N 123°2′31"W on the Canadian
mainland, which went into operation in 1968 and was extended in 1977. HVDC Vancouver Island consists of three overhead line sections with a total length of 42 kilometres and two submarine cable sections with a length of 33 kilometres.
After its departure of Arnott Substation the overhead power line on the mainland split at 49°3′38"N 123°4′30"W into two branches, one running to a terminal at 49°3′6"N 123°7′22"W and the other running to a terminal at 49°1′40"N 123°6′1"W, where the first submarine cable section begins.
At 48°55′07"N 123°24′15"W, the first submarine cable sections ends and a short overhead line section running southwestly across Galiano Island starts. The overhead line leaves Galiano Island south of Montague Harbour in a 880 metres long span, which starts at 48°52′51"N 123°23′21"W and ends on Parker Island at 48°52′48"N 123°24′04"W.
A bit westward on Parker Island at 48°52′45"N 123°24′9"W the overhead line ends and the second submarine cable section begins.
At 48°51′2"N 123°25′31"W the cable reaches Salt Spring Island and the third overhead line section starts. It crosses Salt Spring Island westsouthwestly. North of Mawell Point at 48°49′54"N 123°33′50"W and Arbutus Point at 48°49′40"N 123°35′21"W the overhead line crosses in a 1900 metres long span Sansum Narrows
, the strait between Salt Spring Island and Vancouver Island. After this span the overhead line runs westward to Vancouver Island Terminal.
In 1968 the first pole of the HVDC Vancouver Island went into service. Its static inverter
s use mercury vapor electric rectifiers. The maximum transmission rate of this pole is 312 megawatts. Its transmission voltage is 260 kV. In 1977 the HVDC Vancouver Island was supplemented by installing a second pole. This pole uses thyristor
valves in its static inverters and can transfer at an operating voltage of 280 kV with a maximum power of 370 megawatts. Currently a submarine cable for three-phase alternating current is being constructed between the Canadian mainland and Vancouver Island, that will replace the HVDC line.
North Cowichan, British Columbia
North Cowichan is a District municipality on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada and is in the Cowichan Valley Regional District...
on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
at 48°49′39"N 123°42′55"W and the Arnott Substation (ARN) near Delta, British Columbia
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
at 49°5′31"N 123°2′31"W on the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
mainland, which went into operation in 1968 and was extended in 1977. HVDC Vancouver Island consists of three overhead line sections with a total length of 42 kilometres and two submarine cable sections with a length of 33 kilometres.
After its departure of Arnott Substation the overhead power line on the mainland split at 49°3′38"N 123°4′30"W into two branches, one running to a terminal at 49°3′6"N 123°7′22"W and the other running to a terminal at 49°1′40"N 123°6′1"W, where the first submarine cable section begins.
At 48°55′07"N 123°24′15"W, the first submarine cable sections ends and a short overhead line section running southwestly across Galiano Island starts. The overhead line leaves Galiano Island south of Montague Harbour in a 880 metres long span, which starts at 48°52′51"N 123°23′21"W and ends on Parker Island at 48°52′48"N 123°24′04"W.
A bit westward on Parker Island at 48°52′45"N 123°24′9"W the overhead line ends and the second submarine cable section begins.
At 48°51′2"N 123°25′31"W the cable reaches Salt Spring Island and the third overhead line section starts. It crosses Salt Spring Island westsouthwestly. North of Mawell Point at 48°49′54"N 123°33′50"W and Arbutus Point at 48°49′40"N 123°35′21"W the overhead line crosses in a 1900 metres long span Sansum Narrows
Sansum Narrows
Sansum Narrows is a strait or channel between Vancouver Island and Saltspring Island in the Southern Gulf Islands region of British Columbia, Canada. It is crossed by a BC Ferries route from Crofton to Vesuvius Bay on the northwestern shore of Saltspring...
, the strait between Salt Spring Island and Vancouver Island. After this span the overhead line runs westward to Vancouver Island Terminal.
In 1968 the first pole of the HVDC Vancouver Island went into service. Its static inverter
Inverter (electrical)
An inverter is an electrical device that converts direct current to alternating current ; the converted AC can be at any required voltage and frequency with the use of appropriate transformers, switching, and control circuits....
s use mercury vapor electric rectifiers. The maximum transmission rate of this pole is 312 megawatts. Its transmission voltage is 260 kV. In 1977 the HVDC Vancouver Island was supplemented by installing a second pole. This pole uses thyristor
Thyristor
A thyristor is a solid-state semiconductor device with four layers of alternating N and P-type material. They act as bistable switches, conducting when their gate receives a current trigger, and continue to conduct while they are forward biased .Some sources define silicon controlled rectifiers and...
valves in its static inverters and can transfer at an operating voltage of 280 kV with a maximum power of 370 megawatts. Currently a submarine cable for three-phase alternating current is being constructed between the Canadian mainland and Vancouver Island, that will replace the HVDC line.
Electrodes
The electrode on the Canadian Mainland is a land electrode situated at Boundary Bay at 49°03′25"N 123°01′46"W . It is connected with Arnott Substation by an overhead pole line. The electrode on Vancouver Island is a shore electrode in a bay at Sansum Narrows at 48°46′22"N 123°34′24"W . It is connected with Vancouver Island Terminal by a overhead electrode, which is mounted between Vancouver Island Terminal and a point northwest of Maple Bay at 48°49′35"N 123°37′38"W on the towers of the main HVDC line. From this point the line runs as separate pole line to the electrode.See also
- Jordan River DamJordan River DamThe Jordan River Dam, officially the Jordan River Diversion Dam, and known locally simply as Diversion Dam, is a dam located in Jordan River, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on Vancouver Island....
- Powerlines connecting Vancouver Island with Canadian MainlandPowerlines connecting Vancouver Island with Canadian MainlandThe power grid of Vancouver Island is connected with that of the Canadian Mainland by AC and DC submarine cables. It is according to all available information the only electricity grid on the Island, which is connected with the electricity grid of the mainland by AC and DC cables.These links, which...
External links
- http://www.bctransco.com/regulatory/applications/Vancouver+Island+Transmission+Reinforcement+Project+CPCN+Application.htm
- http://web.archive.org/web/20051115122606/www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/VANCOU.htm
- http://web.archive.org/web/20051115122606/www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/Vancou+Pictures.pdf