Thyristors: future workhorses in power transmission

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · IEEE Spectrum; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/MSPEC.1982.6366915· OSTI ID:5758474

Kaplan, G

Reports on research under way to cut energy losses in high-power thyristors while improving reliability and reducing costs. Thyristors are being used in at least 2 areas of power transmission: control of reactive power flowing along ac lines, and conversion of ac power into dc, and vice versa, for transmission over long distances or for tying together neighboring asynchronous power grids (back-to-back arrangements). Thyristor ''valves'' have replaced mercury-arc valves in HVDC systems. Thyristor-based, or static, var compensators have substantially replaced synchronous condensers-rotating machines that require extensive maintenance and therefore are costly to operate. The thyristor-based var compensators are also more flexible to operate than are synchronous condensers. Table of worldwide sales of thyristor-based systems for back-to-back interconnections and high-voltage dc (HVCD) transmission shows that the US lags in thyristor sales.

• Research Organization: IEEE Spectrum
• OSTI ID: 5758474
• Journal Information: IEEE Spectrum; (United States), Vol. 19:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
THYRISTORS
POWER TRANSMISSION
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY LOSSES
RELIABILITY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
USES
LOSSES
POWER
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
200300* - Electric Power Engineering- Power Transmission & Distribution- (-1989)