The impact of HTS cables on power flow distribution and short-circuit currents within a meshed network

With the demonstration of the first high temperature superconducting cable to be fully installed within a utility´s network, in Detroit, there is a realistic expectation of the installation of more superconducting cables in large complex networks in the near future. HTS cables are viable alternatives in areas were space considerations are extremely costly or where overhead lines cannot be built due to public concern and sentiment. This paper presents the results of a power system study conducted on the Detroit Edison transmission system, which compares load flow impacts of HTS cables in a meshed transmission network. In this study, a new 120 kV link was applied to an existing system to solve future load growth expectations. A comparison of alternative technologies was also conducted and evaluated versus the effects of the introduction of a HTS cable. Two methods of alternative reinforcements were created, one focused on using the same circuit paths and space occupancy, the other compared circuits with the same overall capability excluding space constraints, both methodologies were evaluated in terms of system power flow impacts along with impacts in short circuit current levels. Through variations in load, and generation dispatch patterns the reliability impact of the cable was evaluated using N-1, and N-2 (line and generator outage) simulation. Analysis of the resulting voltage profiles and power flow distribution were also used for comparing alternative system impacts