Rockwill’s Self-Developed 816kV DC Disconnector Successfully Passes 4,500m Altitude Insulation Test
Rockwill’s Self-Developed 816kV DC Disconnector Successfully Passes 4,500m Altitude Insulation Test
On February 27, excellent news arrived from Rockwill: the company’s independently developed 816kV DC disconnector successfully passed the 4,500-meter altitude insulation verification test at the Xi'an High Voltage Apparatus Research Institute. This critical breakthrough not only marks significant progress in the product's development but also provides core technical support and equipment assurance for the ±800kV UHVDC transmission project from Southeast Tibet to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (hereinafter referred to as the "Tibet-Guangdong DC Project").
Once completed, the Tibet-Guangdong DC Project will become the world’s most powerful, technologically advanced, and largest-investment flexible DC transmission project. Spanning approximately 2,681 kilometers, it crosses four provinces/regions: Tibet, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guangdong. After commissioning, the Southeast Tibet clean energy base will transmit over 43 billion kWh of 100% clean energy annually to the load centers of the Greater Bay Area. This is expected to replace approximately 12 million tons of standard coal consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 3300 million tons, effectively promoting the large-scale development of clean energy in Southeast Tibet and alleviating power shortages in the Greater Bay Area.
The sending-end Changdu Converter Station is located in an area with an elevation of 4,300 meters, making it the highest converter station in the world. In this extreme environment, electrical equipment faces severe challenges: thin air at high altitudes leads to a significant drop in insulation strength; research on insulation characteristics at altitudes of 4,000 meters and above is insufficient; and standards are incomplete, making conventional designs inadequate. Furthermore, the lack of insulation correction standards for 4,500-meter equipment and gaps in long-gap insulation design data added further difficulty to the R&D process.
In response to challenges such as reduced insulation strength, strong sandstorms, and ultra-low temperatures, Rockwill mobilized a "Party Member Commando Team." Led by technical backbone members, the team focused on key links like insulation performance and environmental adaptability. Through repeated simulation calculations and comparative analysis, they optimized core design parameters from hundreds of datasets, overcoming technical hurdles such as external insulation optimization for ultra-high altitude DC disconnectors and mechanical reliability enhancement at ultra-low temperatures. The launch of this product provides valuable experience and a reference model for power equipment R&D in extreme environments, supporting the self-controllable development of China’s high-end power transmission and transformation equipment.
As a pillar enterprise in the national electrical industry, Rockwill is committed to solving "bottleneck" technical problems. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," its self-developed 816kV DC disconnectors have been applied in several major national UHVDC projects, including Baihetan-Jiangsu, Longdong-Shandong, Gansu-Zhejiang, and Jinshang-Hubei.
During this period, Rockwill has intensified its scientific and technological innovation. Sixty results and new products have passed national identification, with 50 reaching international leading levels. The company has garnered 63 science and technology awards at or above the provincial/ministerial level, including the National Science and Technology Progress Award. It has led or participated in the formulation of 1 international standard, 19 national standards, and 12 industry standards. From the world’s first 800kV 80kA circuit breaker to this 4,500m-altitude 816kV DC disconnector, Rockwill continues to write a glorious chapter in Chinese power equipment manufacturing through self-reliance.
Looking ahead, Rockwill will continue to focus on the main track of UHVDC technology innovation, aiming for "independent controllability." The company will align with the national "Dual Carbon" goals and the construction of new power systems, providing core equipment with completely independent intellectual property rights to safeguard national energy security and drive the green, low-carbon transition.
