The Cable

The Cross-Sound Cable consists of two (2) power cables and one (1) fiber optic cable that are bundled together. Each power cable is made specifically for Direct Current transfer and its strength and flexibility are ideal for a submarine cable. The cable consists of steel armor and solid flexible plastic to protect and insulate the copper wire. It measures 4.1 inches in diameter and contains no insulating and/or cooling fluids.

 

The Path

The southern most point of Cross-Sound Cable is located at Tomson Converter Station in Shoreham, NY. At this station the converter connects to the 138kV grid operated by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). The cable crosses Long Island Sound, enters New Haven Harbor and comes to land on the eastern shore of New Haven, CT. The northern most point of Cross-Sound Cable is located at Halvarsson Converter Station in New Haven, CT. At this station the converter connects to the 345kV grid operated by the United Illuminating Co. (UI).

 

Operation

A Cross-Sound Cable Converter Station converts the Alternating Current “AC” received from the supplying power grid to Direct Current “DC”. The DC power is transferred across Long Island Sound and to the other identical converter station. The converter station takes the DC and converts it Back to AC for the receiving power grid. The conversion to DC allows for precise control of the power flow in either direction and reduces the required number of cables when compared to more commonly used AC transmission.

*A typical Converter station for an HVDC Light System

 

*A basic system schematic for Cross Sound Cable