Currently, the transmission of electrical power from bulk power generators all the way to household,

commercial and industrial consumers is made through high voltage alternating current (AC)
transmission and distribution systems, and through a series of voltage transformations to reduce
losses and minimize cost. Voltage levels used are of standard values.
AC system is used in the transmission of bulk power, instead of DC (Direct Current), because of its
ability to transform voltage to various levels by using a transformer. The voltage transformation
follows the faradays Law which states;The emf induced in a circuit is directly proportional to the time
rate of change of magnetic flux through the circuit.
Note that, at higher voltage, the current was reduced thus line losses was also reduced.

Ability to transform voltage and to flow power in two opposite directions (bidirectional) are the only
advantages of AC system over DC system.
DC transmission system on the other hand has more advantages over AC transmission system:

1. Reactance.
DC system does not introduce a reactance in the line.

2. Resistance
DC system reduces the amount of resistance in the line.

3. Power
In DC system, the power is just the real component.

4. Frequency
In DC system, the frequency is zero, thus no frequency variation to monitor. Connection will not also
require synchronization.

5. Susceptance
DC system does not introduce susceptance in the line thus removing the effect of charging current.

6. Analysis
Analysis of AC system always involved complex numbers, while DC is only a real number, thus
simplifying the analysis.

7.Number of conductors.
A DC system requires only two conductrs as compare to three for ac system.

8.Absence of inductance.
A DC system has no inductance as a result the voltage drop in DC system is less than that of AC
system for same load and sending end voltages and hence a better voltage regulation.

9.NO skin effect.

A DC system has no skin effect so we can utilize entire cross section area of line conductor.

10.Less insulation require.

A DC system require less insulation than an AC system because of less potential stress for same
working voltage.

11.absence of capacitance.
Absence of capacitance in DC system leads to less power loss because there will not be charging
and discharging of capacitance.

If DC system has the ability to transform voltage into various levels, efficiently, the DC transmission
system will the more efficient, stable, easy to monitor, and most importantly, easy to analyze than
AC system.
Currently, the transformation of DC voltage into another level involves 3 steps;
1. AC to DC Rectification
2. AC to AC transformation, and
3. DC to AC Conversion

If compared to AC system voltage transformation, steps 1 and 3 are the only added steps.
Unfortunately, these steps incur additional heavy losses. However, modern technology
converter/inverter has attempted to reduce the amount of this loss. A 1000 MW, 230 KV AC - 450
KV DC/ 450 KV DC - 230 kV AC converter/inverter, for example, has a combine power loss of
around 1.6 %.
The use of DC system in the transmission of power will be more economical if the price from its
benefits is higher that the cost incurred from the addition of rectifier and converter.