New type of high-tension network: An interconnecting system for the supply of electric power over large areas

The purpose of the paper is to present for consideration a new method of interconnecting sources of power and load centers in a large district with a well developed and well distributed load. The central idea is the superposition of a high tension network of single-circuit lines over the whole district for the purpose of supplying a medium in which current may flow in any general direction as changing conditions may dictate. This is similar to the underground network of the Edison Companies in the large cities. With a such a layout available, power anywhere in the district may be fed into the network and it may be taken out at any other point without serious loss of energy. The network is connected directly to load centers as well as to existing generating centers and thus greatly assists the present distribution lines distributing power and also stabilizes the potential at each load center reached. The charging current of the network may largely neutralize the lagging component of the load with favorable design. A concrete illustrative network is worked out in considerable detail, covering the present load with an equal amount of new future load in the interconnected systems of Alabama, the. Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee, with a branch to the Appalachian Power Company in Virginia. The result shows a very effective, efficient and low cost system for this territory. The plan is applicable to other districts as well. Details are given as to the layout taken and the operating characteristics of the system.