This article is an excerpt from Zhao Yining's “Great Power Project”. The author goes deep into the first line of research to interview the four Chinese superengines: high-speed rail, UHV, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. He listened to Chinese scientists, engineers, and business managers, and workers talked about major projects in China. How to achieve independent innovation.
Chen Weijiang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Deputy Director of the State Grid Corporation of Communications Ministry of Construction. He was awarded the 2012 National Science and Technology Progress Award Special Prize (ranked 2nd). Chen Weijiang presided over the construction of China’s No. A UHV AC transmission test base has hosted a number of key UHV AC transmission technology research projects, which has made important contributions to the construction of UHV power grids in China, and has thus established his authority in the field of high voltage research in China. status.
First, China's transmission grid has lagged behind the West for 20 years
Zhao Yining: In the field of transmission technology, how much is the gap between China and developed countries in the 20th century?
Chen Weijiang: From the perspective of the development of the world power grid, the transmission grid has been used for more than 100 years. Looking at the process of transmission technology from low voltage to high voltage level, the Western countries have been leading. China has higher voltage level transmission than the developed countries in the world for the first time. The time of the network (UHV transmission grid) was also about 20 years later. On June 16, 1972, the first 330 kV EHV power transmission and transformation line that was designed and constructed by China and was self-manufactured and installed on its own— Liu (Liujiaxia) - Tian (Tianshui) - Guan (Guanzhong) line - put into operation, and Sweden had built a 380 kV transmission project as early as 1952. Not only that, but also in the 750 kV transmission technology, we are It was 40 years late. In 1965, Canada first built the 735 kV transmission project in Montreal, Quebec City, and the city of Maniquergan. In China, for the first time, China fully mastered the construction and operation of 750 kV power grids. It was built in 2005. Gansu Lanzhou East Power Transmission and Transformation Project.
Table 31
Zhao Yining: From the construction history of Chinese and foreign transmission lines (see Table 31), how long is the period for the voltage level increase of the transmission grid?
Chen Weijiang: Under the premise of continuous increase of electricity load, the period of the transmission network from low-voltage level to high-voltage level is generally 10 to 20 years. The period of low-voltage transmission network upgrade is relatively short, and the high-voltage transmission network from R&D The time span for operations is generally around 20 years, and the increase from ultra-high pressure to UHV has experienced nearly 20 years.
Zhao Yining: Why is China's first light to shine only three years behind the birth of the world's first light bulb, and there will be a 20 to 40 year gap in grid construction?
Chen Weijiang: Yes, in July 1882, Shanghai lighted 15 lamps for the first time. It was not long before the birth of the world’s first lamp in October 1879. However, the development of transmission technology and the construction of power grids are closely related to the economic development level of a country. Since the reform and opening up, China's power industry has developed rapidly. By the end of 2013, the country’s total installed power capacity reached 1.23 billion kilowatts, which surpassed the U.S. to become the world’s largest country with the largest installed capacity of electric power. Not only has power production been positively related to economic growth, but also The development of technology is also in line with the development of economic development. For a long time, the western countries have a relatively economically developed economy, and there is a large demand for upgrading the power transmission technology. Naturally, technological development is relatively fast. Until 2009, China built an UHV transmission project. Began to change this pattern.
II. Exploration and Fate of UHV Transmission in Various Countries of the World
Zhao Yining: The world’s first UHV transmission line was built in the Soviet Union in 1985. Why did it not operate for a long time?
Chen Weijiang: You were right. The Soviet Union built a 1 750 kV transmission line in Ekibastuz-Kocchetav-Kurtanay in 1985 with a total length of 900 km, but only intermittently operated for 5 years. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the UHV transmission project was discontinued, from the original 1,150 kV to 500 kV. There are three reasons for this: The first is political reasons. The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the route not being in Russia. But in Kazakhstan, the second is economic reasons. After the Soviet Union disintegrated, the economy of the 15 affiliated countries fell rapidly, and the demand for electricity dropped drastically. The third reason was technology, not only the equipment, but also the transmission line technology. The control of the electromagnetic environment, etc., is not very good. The combined effects of the above factors make it down to 500 kilovolts.
Zhao Yining: When did countries around the world start researching and constructing the UHV transmission grid?
Chen Weijiang: In the 60s-90s of the 20th century, the United States, Japan, the Soviet Union, and Italy had rapid economic growth at that time, and the demand for electricity was very strong, which had a great impetus for the construction of UHV power grids. However, only the Soviet Union completed the project, although it later reduced its operation. Voltage, no other country has completed a complete project.
For example, in the United States, the characteristics of 1000 kV UHV transmission began to be studied in 1967. At that time, the technology that led the research was American Electric Power (AEP) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). They built some experimental facilities and even planned the project, but the plan was not put into practice. The main reason was that it met the oil crisis of the 1970s. In addition, the imbalance of energy supply and demand in the United States is not very prominent. The large-capacity transmission demand is no longer urgent with the slowdown of economic growth and industrial restructuring. The originally planned UHV power grid construction and the application of technology have all been shelved. Objectively speaking, the United States was in the 20th century. The countries that study the UHV transmission technology in the world are relatively advanced, but the United States has not achieved engineering applications.
Zhao Yining: What about Japan?
Chen Weijiang: Japan is a multi-island and small country with a land area of less than 380,000 square kilometers. Objectively speaking, the demand for large-capacity transmission of UHV long-distance and large-capacity is not as strong as the demand of large countries. However, Japan’s economy developed rapidly during the 1960s and 1970s, and resource shortages occurred. , Plan for a 10 MW nuclear power project. The load center is in the coastal area of Tokyo Bay. If 500 kV is used for transmission, the transmission line will be dense and occupy a large area of corridors; if the voltage level is increased, the transmission efficiency will be improved and the land will be saved. Resources. Japan has also begun to study UHV transmission technology based on this demand.
Japan has developed UHV transmission related equipment, and also built two UHV AC transmission lines with double circuits on the same tower, one of which is the line from Fukushima to Tokyo. The two transmission lines are about 430 kilometers, respectively, in 1992. It was built in 1999. Although two lines were built, the equipment was also available, but it was not a complete project because the substation used 500 kV equipment. The Japanese 1000 kV UHV transmission line was operated down to a 500 kV level. The reason is still that the economic crisis has led to a drop in demand. The large-scale nuclear power projects originally planned have not been implemented. Before the Fukushima nuclear power plant did not fail, we asked whether the counterparts of the Tokyo Electric Power Co., Ltd. in Japan actually launched the UHV power transmission project. At that time, they also said that they The project will be launched as soon as possible. However, after the Fukushima nuclear accident, Japan is even less likely to launch an UHV transmission project.
Zhao Yining: Is Italy also conducting UHV transmission project practice?
Chen Weijiang: Italy is considered to be a strong industrial base in Europe. Generally speaking, the highest voltage level in the European power grid is 380 kilovolts and the maximum operating voltage is 400 kilovolts. At that time, Italy was relatively industrially developed and wanted to send southern coal to the north. For this purpose, UHV transmission technology was studied. At that time, the nominal voltage selected in Italy was 1050 kV. A test station was established. Some research on the characteristics of insulators and the electromagnetic environment was conducted, and several tens of kilometers of test lines were built. However, Because of economic reasons, the originally planned project was not launched. The U.S., Japan, and Italy have all studied and developed UHV transmission technology, but in the end, due to economic reasons, the project has stagnated or suspended or reduced the voltage level.
In 1988, the International Power Grid Commission established a working group to conduct a survey and summary of the development of UHV transmission technology worldwide. The conclusion is: UHV AC transmission technology has no insurmountable obstacles, and it has basically reached the applicable level. In view of the above-mentioned national practices, UHV transmission has no technical obstacles.
Zhao Yining: The UHV transmission research conducted by these countries in the 1970s was based on the premise that the future electricity demand was expected to increase rapidly. If the grid is not launched with new voltage levels, the grid may not be able to meet the demand. But actually in the late 1970s, The economic development of these countries has slowed down, and the annual growth of electricity demand is only 1% to 2%. Therefore, UHV power transmission research has been shelved and the UHV transmission plan has been cancelled. This is in contrast to the theory of production potential boundary in economics.
Chen Weijiang: Yes, although developed countries have researched and developed UHV transmission technologies, due to the economic downturn leading to the idleness of technologies, they have not been able to achieve the maximum integration of economic resources and production technologies. China has precisely the potential for economic growth, that is, the existence of production. The possibility and market demand. In addition, the 20th century UHV transmission technology and equipment are not mature, and there are no relevant technical standards and specifications.
Third, why is China's UHV transmission independent innovation?
Zhao Yining: When it comes to UHV power transmission, what I hear most is “independent innovation.” My problem is that before us, we have already practiced in Europe and the United States. How can we “autonomously” and “innovate”?
Chen Weijiang: For a long time, the development of China’s electric power technology, from the development of high-voltage to ultra-high voltage transmission technology, actually took the path of “introducing absorption, digestion, and innovation”, or called the tracking technology development route. Regarding UHV power transmission, China’s What innovations? If we follow the development model of the past, can we still follow the path of 'introducing digestion and re-innovation'? The answer is no.
Zhao Yining: Why?
Chen Weijiang: Although the developed countries have conducted UHV power transmission test research, the Soviet Union has also built UHV power transmission projects, but it has not formed mature technologies and equipment, and there is no complete technical standard system for reference. Although the International Power Grid Committee believes that there are no obstacles. However, if we are still on the road, we will soon have a problem: When China builds a 500 kV grid, we can also buy the equipment of the '8-nation coalition', but build a 1000-kilovolt power grid, where are the technologies and equipment? Even if we are rich, we cannot even buy it on the international market! In addition, although UHV power transmission technology has been studied abroad, it does not necessarily mean that you have mastered the study of other countries; in addition to the 20th century technology level, it is already the same as current science. The level of technology cannot be compared. Many new materials have emerged one after another. The rapid development of electronic information technology, especially transmission lines are more sensitive to the changing environment, which has led to the impossibility of copying the original technology. The key issue is that foreign technologies exist Certain flaws, even though the Soviet Union built a complete project, but at the time the substation used an open cloth. This technology obviously lags behind. Under such circumstances, the technical problems we face are solved by adopting the 'introduction, digestion, and re-innovation' technical route, and it is impracticable to take the road of independent innovation.
Zhao Yining: This technical route is very unique. It is different from our country's R&D routes for high-speed rail and large aircraft. It is somewhat similar to the R&D routes for atomic bomb and space technology in China.
Chen Weijiang: Whether it is Siemens, ABB or Japan's three major electrical equipment manufacturing companies, even if they have UHV power transmission equipment manufacturing technology, they will not be given us free. Of course, the law of science and technology development is borderless, UHV transmission technology research and development ideas, The method and part of the conclusions can be referred to. Unfortunately, we are glad that: In today's world, there is no mature technology and equipment for UHV power transmission, and the acquisition of key parameters and technical characteristics can only be based on independent innovation. Therefore, UHV power transmission is A historic opportunity for China to achieve leapfrog development and independent innovation.
Zhao Yining: But its difficulty is also obvious.
Chen Weijiang: Yes. The history of China's power grid technology development is tracking development. It is difficult to close the gap and catch up with the world advanced level. Now we must go beyond the developed countries to raise a voltage level, which means to break through the existing industry. Basic restrictions, breakthroughs in existing technology and talent reserve limits, and a comprehensive grasp of UHV transmission technologies, the difficulty of independent research and development is indeed great.
Zhao Yining: At the end of 2004, State Grid Corporation of China formally proposed the development of UHV transmission technology. Why can we build an UHV transmission demonstration project in just 5 years?
Chen Weijiang: In fact, China’s research in the field of UHV transmission technology has been tracking the development of foreign technologies. The scientific research units of the power sector have done some follow-up feasibility and experimental studies since 1986, but the depth of research In 2004, the State Grid Corporation of China proposed to develop and apply ultra-high voltage transmission technology in China. We have established an ultra-large-scale innovation team and formed a veritable collaborative innovation model of production, learning, and research. The UHV Transmission Construction Department was set up specifically to organize tens of thousands of people to participate in technological R&D and engineering construction.
Zhao Yining: In addition to technology tracking, what kind of boosting effect does China's system have?
Chen Weijiang: Why we can spend a short period of time to achieve success, of course, benefits from China’s institutional advantages. Our system’s superiority is best reflected in the ability to concentrate on doing big things, especially in the ability to allocate resources, organizational coordination, and Really realize the collaborative innovation between industry, universities, and research institutes. In this respect, the counterparts of Russia, the United States, Japan, and Italy cannot compare with us.
Zhao Yining: What external effects does the construction of China’s UHV transmission project bring?
Chen Weijiang: The most important thing is to promote China's electric power technology to achieve major progress, and greatly enhance China's influence and discourse in the international electrician field. Since China’s first high-voltage transmission project has completed its first demonstration project, it has completed 180 key technical research topics. 429 patents, established a UHV AC transmission standard system consisting of 79 categories of 7 categories, covering system research, equipment manufacturing, commissioning tests, and operation and maintenance. At present, China’s UHV AC transmission standard voltage has been recommended as international Standard voltage, the International Power Grid Commission and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers successively established nine UHV transmission work groups led by China, and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) established the UHV AC Transmission System Technical Committee (TC122). The United States, Germany, Britain, France, and Japan, the sixth permanent member of the International Electrotechnical Commission, have significantly increased their discourse power and influence in international standard setting. The standardization level is not only an important measure of a company’s core competitiveness, but also a measure of An important indicator of the industry’s core competitiveness and even the national competitiveness. Technical high ground, has become an important way to world-renowned enterprises to participate in global competition, improve the core competitiveness.