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Nelson River DC Transmission System
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<p>The Nelson River DC Transmission System, also known as the Manitoba Bipole, is an <a href="/facts/Electric_power_transmission/I9w3lRmM">electric power transmission</a> system of three <a href="/facts/High-voltage_direct_current/FDIob86A">high voltage, direct current</a> lines in <a href="/facts/Manitoba/QuCdIDYB">Manitoba</a>, Canada, operated by <a href="/facts/Manitoba_Hydro/PAyDKDzK">Manitoba Hydro</a> as part of the <a href="/facts/Nelson_River_Hydroelectric_Project/DslBQd3W">Nelson River Hydroelectric Project</a>. It is now recorded on the <a href="/facts/List_of_IEEE_Milestones/AGELIPBq">list of IEEE Milestones</a> in <a href="/facts/Electrical_engineering/YYXW1KLW">electrical engineering</a>. Several records have been broken by successive phases of the project, including the largest (and last) <a href="/facts/Mercury-arc_valve/mDFqcNV4">mercury-arc valves</a>, the highest DC transmission voltage and the first use of <a href="/facts/Water_cooling/XLrzhCJS">water-cooled</a> <a href="/facts/Thyristor_valve/uNaqwz78">thyristor valves</a> in HVDC. </p><p>The system transfers electric power generated by several <a href="/facts/Hydroelectric/zEeJIK2B">hydroelectric</a> power stations along the <a href="/facts/Nelson_River/NLxPtnzL">Nelson River</a> in <a href="/facts/Northern_Manitoba/9z7rDyzA">Northern Manitoba</a> across the wilderness to the populated areas in the south. </p> <p>It includes two <a href="/facts/Static_inverter_plant/7AgDIU86">rectifier</a> stations, Radisson Converter Station near <a href="/facts/Gillam%2c_Manitoba/h99fJBP5">Gillam</a> at <a href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Nelson_River_DC_Transmission_System¶ms=56_21_41_N_94_36_48_W_type:landmark&title=Radisson+Converter+Station">56°21′41″N 94°36′48″W / 56.36139°N 94.61333°W / 56.36139; -94.61333 (Radisson Converter Station)</a> and <a href="/facts/Henday_Converter_Station/2jTYFmGw">Henday Converter Station</a> near <a href="/facts/Sundance%2c_Manitoba/EeFDJ69X">Sundance</a> at <a href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Nelson_River_DC_Transmission_System¶ms=56_30_14_N_94_08_24_W_type:landmark&title=Henday+Converter+Station">56°30′14″N 94°08′24″W / 56.50389°N 94.14000°W / 56.50389; -94.14000 (Henday Converter Station)</a>, one <a href="/facts/Static_inverter_plant/7AgDIU86">inverter station</a>, Dorsey Converter Station at <a href="/facts/Rosser%2c_Manitoba/8YHAP7kP">Rosser</a> located 26 kilometres (16 mi) north west of <a href="/facts/Winnipeg%2c_Manitoba/zvwJ8fBz">Winnipeg</a> at <a href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Nelson_River_DC_Transmission_System¶ms=49_59_34_N_97_25_42_W_type:landmark&title=Dorsey+Converter+Station">49°59′34″N 97°25′42″W / 49.99278°N 97.42833°W / 49.99278; -97.42833 (Dorsey Converter Station)</a>), and two sets of high-voltage direct current transmission lines. Each HVDC transmission line has two parallel overhead conductors to carry the positive and negative feeds. </p><p>A third line, Bipole 3, was completed in 2018, running from the new Keewatinoow Converter Station along the west side of Lake Manitoba to the new Riel Converter station on the east side of Winnipeg. </p><p>There are no intermediate switching stations or taps. All three <a href="/facts/High-voltage_direct_current/FDIob86A">bipolar</a> systems have extensive ground return electrodes to allow use in <a href="/facts/High-voltage_direct_current/FDIob86A">monopolar</a> mode. </p>