Square Butte
Encyclopedia
Square Butte is the designation of a high voltage direct current transmission line in the USA between the Milton R. Young Power Plant
near Center, North Dakota
at 47°4′18"N 101°11′45"W and the Arrowhead converter station near Adolph, MN (a suburb of Duluth, Minnesota
) at 46°46′25"N 92°17′39"W. It was built by Minnkota Power Cooperative
and Minnesota Power and went in service in 1977. Recently, an agreement was executed between the two companies whereby Minnkota gets the rights to all the power currently transmitted over the line (and will build a new line to carry said power later) while Minnesota Power takes full ownership of the line to transmit power from new sources in the Center area.
Square Butte can transfer up to 500 megawatts at a symmetrical voltage of 250 kV. The whole line is implemented as overhead line on aluminum towers, with a single conductor per pole, with a length of 449 miles (749 kilometers). The line crosses the Missouri River
north of Price between 47°5′30"N 100°56′28"W and 47°5′30"N 100°55′54"W in a 718 metres long span. As is the case for modern HVDC-systems thyristor
static inverters are used.
, at 47°02′48"N 100°05′49"W Square Butte crosses CU
, another HVDC powerline. This is the only crossing point of two HVDC overhead powerlines in the Western hemisphere.
Milton R. Young Power Plant
Milton R. Young Power Plant is a coal-fire power plant located in Oliver County, near Center, North Dakota. It consists of 2 units, which went in service in 1970, respectively 1972 and have a generation capacity of 250 MW, respectively 455 MW. The used coal comes from Center Mine. Milton R...
near Center, North Dakota
Center, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 678 people, 279 households, and 196 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,743.8 people per square mile . There were 310 housing units at an average density of 797.3 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 93.81% White, 0.44%...
at 47°4′18"N 101°11′45"W and the Arrowhead converter station near Adolph, MN (a suburb of Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
) at 46°46′25"N 92°17′39"W. It was built by Minnkota Power Cooperative
Minnkota Power Cooperative
Minnkota Power Cooperative is an electrical generation and transmission cooperative based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It wholesales electric power to rural electric cooperatives in North Dakota and Minnesota.-Member cooperatives:...
and Minnesota Power and went in service in 1977. Recently, an agreement was executed between the two companies whereby Minnkota gets the rights to all the power currently transmitted over the line (and will build a new line to carry said power later) while Minnesota Power takes full ownership of the line to transmit power from new sources in the Center area.
Square Butte can transfer up to 500 megawatts at a symmetrical voltage of 250 kV. The whole line is implemented as overhead line on aluminum towers, with a single conductor per pole, with a length of 449 miles (749 kilometers). The line crosses the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
north of Price between 47°5′30"N 100°56′28"W and 47°5′30"N 100°55′54"W in a 718 metres long span. As is the case for modern HVDC-systems 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...
static inverters are used.
Crossing another HVDC line
Southeast of Wing, North DakotaWing, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 124 people, 68 households, and 32 families residing in the city. The population density was 210.3 people per square mile . There were 89 housing units at an average density of 150.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.19% White, and 0.81% from...
, at 47°02′48"N 100°05′49"W Square Butte crosses CU
CU (Powerline)
CU is the designation of a line for high voltage direct current transmission between the Coal Creek Station power plant south of Underwood, North Dakota at and the Dickinson converter station near Rockford, Minnesota at ....
, another HVDC powerline. This is the only crossing point of two HVDC overhead powerlines in the Western hemisphere.
Electrode Line
The electrode line starting at Adolph Static Inverter Plant is installed on portal pylons of the three phase AC-powerline from Adalp Static Inverter Plant to Marble Substation.External links
- ABB (2005). Upgrade of control system for CU and Square Butte HVDC projects. Retrieved March 27, 2005.
- http://web.archive.org/web/20051115122606/www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/SQUARE.htm
- http://web.archive.org/web/20051115122606/www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/Square%20Pictures.pdf