The world's best transmission line is put into operation

Heavy

As the whole country celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China, I have good news to share with you——

Just now, the world's best transmission line built by the State Grid Corporation of China was officially put into operation!

The best wire, how good is it? This is not an ordinary wire, it is so powerful that you can never imagine it——

Great Power

Set the world's most

It has multiple world championship titles, each of which is very powerful.

What kind of wire can have such a big effect?

The mystery is lifted. It is the State Grid Corporation of China that started construction in January 2016, and it was officially put into operation on September 26, 2019, which is today.——

Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV

UHV DC Transmission Project

Let us learn more about this magical wire.

Cross 6 provinces

Fantian Mountains and Qinling Mountains, across the Yellow River and the Yangtze River

The Zhundong-Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project starts at Changji Converter Station in Changji Prefecture, Xinjiang, ends at Guquan Converter Station in Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, passing through six provinces including Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Henan, and Anhui. At present, the DC transmission project with the highest voltage level, the largest transmission capacity, the longest transmission distance and the most advanced technology in the world.

Since our protagonist is too slender, I'm afraid I can only go to space to see the whole thing, so let's meet everyone from head to toe.

In Xinjiang

In Xinjiang, the starting point, the project line is about 600 kilometers long, with a total of 1,109 bases of iron towers, passing through deserts and windy areas, and over the Eastern Tianshan Mountains. It also broke through technical and construction problems, and crossed the 750 kV power grid of "Xinjiang Power Transmission" twice in the hinterland of the Gurbantunggut Desert and Hami.

▲±1100 kV Changji converter station panorama.

▲Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project in Xinjiang section.

After leaving Xinjiang, the project passed through Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Henan. The terrain along the way was complex and varied, and it crossed the Yellow River and Qinling Mountains.

In Gansu

The Gansu section of the project is about 1,280 kilometers in length, with a total of 2,289 iron towers, crossing the Yellow River once, ±800 kV UHV Qi-Shao line once, and 750 kV line 8 times.

▲The Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project crosses the Yellow River in Gansu.

In Ningxia

The Ningxia section of the project is about 190 kilometers long and has a total of 340 iron towers.

▲Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project in Ningxia section.

In Shaanxi

The Shaanxi section of the project has a total length of about 400 kilometers, with a total of 734 iron towers, spanning 10 expressways, 3 high-speed railways and Longhai Railway.

▲The construction site of the Shaanxi section of the Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project across the Qinling Mountains.

In Henan

The total length of the line in Henan is about 540 kilometers, with a total of 1010 iron towers.

▲Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC Transmission Project Henan Section.

In Anhui

In Anhui, where the project is located, the length of the project is about 300 kilometers, with 598 bases of iron towers. The river flows vertically and horizontally along the line, with dense river networks, multi-base iron towers are adjacent to live objects, and they cross the Yangtze River once when the wires are deployed, and cross high-speed railways, highways, and power lines of 1000 kV, 500 kV, 220 kV and other voltage levels. The construction technology is unprecedentedly difficult.

▲Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project across the Yangtze River in Anhui.

▲The ±1100 kV Guquan Converter Station in Xuancheng, Anhui is the receiving end of the project, covering an area of 565 mu, equivalent to the size of 50 standard football fields. It has the world's largest converter transformer, the heaviest indoor smoothing reactor, the highest indoor DC field, the most complicated network-side AC system hierarchical intervention, and the first UHV 5G base station in China.

Why build more than 3,000 kilometers long

Super wire?

Some people may want to ask, why is it necessary to spend so much effort to build such a long project across so many provinces?

Those who are familiar with energy distribution must know that my country's energy resources and electricity demand are distributed in reverse. The western and northern parts of my country are rich in energy. Xinjiang, the starting point of this project, is one of my country's five major comprehensive energy bases, with the conditions for large-scale development of coal power, wind power and solar power. But it is far away from the load center, and the local area can't use so much electricity at all.

▲The construction site of Zhundong-Wannan ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project.

The location of the line is economically developed in East China, but power supply and demand are tight, and energy and land resources are relatively scarce. It is not suitable for rebuilding large-scale power plants and requires external power support.

My country's unique UHV power transmission technology, with long transmission distance, large capacity, low loss, and small land occupation, can send the surplus power in the west out and solve the urgent need for electricity in East China.

It is an optimal solution to construct a UHV line to send electricity from Xinjiang to East China.

Why use such a high voltage?

Before the State Grid Corporation of China has built 10 ±800 kV UHV DC transmission lines, why should the voltage be upgraded to ±1100 kV this time?

When the power transmission distance is increased to 3000 kilometers and above, the power transmission technology of ±1100 kV must be adopted. The reasons are detailed below. The technical and economic transmission distance of ±1100 kV power transmission can reach 5000 kilometers, which can run through the east and west of my country. The distance between the starting point and the drop point of this UHV line has exceeded 3000 kilometers.

As a result, the world's best wire came into being.

▲Henan section of Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project.

What are the benefits of building this wire?

The construction of Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project is a world-class power grid innovation project. It has significant economic, social and environmental benefits. It is of great significance for promoting the development of Xinjiang energy base, ensuring reliable power supply in East China, stimulating economic growth, realizing Xinjiang's leap-forward development and long-term stability, and implementing the air pollution prevention and control action plan. It is a well-deserved "big power weapon."

Ultra-efficient power transmission, ultra-saving resources

Zhundong-South Anhui ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project has obvious advantages compared with ±800 kV UHV DC project——

The project further improved the efficiency of DC transmission, saved valuable land and corridor resources, and improved economic and social benefits.

▲In Qingdawei, Digang Town, Fanchang County, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, the construction staff of Anhui Power Transmission and Transformation Company installed the Zhundong-Wannan ±1100 kV UHV DC transmission project across the tower cross arm at an altitude of 220 meters.

Upgrade industries, increase employment, and stimulate GDP growth

UHV power grids have large investments and significant medium- and long-term economic benefits. They have the advantages of long industrial chain and strong driving force, which can effectively drive upstream and downstream industries such as power supply, electrical equipment, energy equipment, and raw materials, and contribute to stable growth, structural adjustment, and benefits for the people. Health has a very important pulling effect. engineering——

Breakthroughs in key technology and equipment research

In order to build this world’s best electric wire, the State Grid Corporation of China organized more than 50 scientific research, universities, design units and equipment manufacturers at home and abroad to carry out in-depth development of ±1100 on the basis of the successful application of ±800 kV UHV DC technology research and development and engineering. The research of kilovolt UHV DC technology and equipment research and development have made major breakthroughs in key technology research and key equipment research and development, laying a solid foundation for the smooth implementation of project construction.

▲±1100 kV inside Changji converter station.

Make the sky bluer and water greener

After the project is put into operation, it will have the capacity to transmit 60 to 85 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which will effectively promote the realization of the air pollution control target in the Yangtze River Delta. Engineering environmental protection is of great value——

UHV power transmission is my country's independent research and development, the world's leading power transmission technology, is the "golden business card" of China Power.

The world's best wire——

Occupies the highest point in the field of power transmission technology in the world today,

Promote my country's electrical equipment manufacturing capabilities to achieve a new leap,

My country has achieved important improvements in power transmission from west to east and large-scale optimization of energy allocation capabilities.

It is an important milestone in the development history of my country's electric power industry!

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China, and the UHV family has added important members. We look forward to the continuous growth of the UHV family led by the world's best electric wires, and inject stronger impetus into my country's economic and social development!

Big country heavy equipment, power transmission Quartet, mission must be achieved!

Special thanks: State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power, State Grid Anhui Electric Power, State Grid Gansu Electric Power, State Grid Ningxia Electric Power, State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power, State Grid Henan Electric Power.

Special thanks: Zhu Anda, Zhang Yuanxi, Fan Jie, Wang Zhen, Xue Baodi, Liu Liang, Dai Xiaolong, etc.

Writer & Editor | Wang Yifan

Graphics | Li Yan

Executive Audit|Song Weijie