Current Carrying Capacity of Overhead Transmission Line ACSR

Conductor.
21.1 INTRODUCTION
21.1.1 The thermal capabilities of transmission transmission lines in Power System are evaluated based
on the criteria of maximum operating or design temperatures of the transmission line conductors and
the transmission losses.
21.1.2 The thermal rating of conductor is dependent on the following factors :

A. Meteorological/Environmental Conditions
1. Solar radiation.
2. Wind velocity.
3. Ambient temperature.
B. Conductor surface Characteristics
1. Age of the Conductor.
2. Maximum design conductor temperature.
3. Allowable losses of strength of aluminium metal at design temperature.
21.1.3 The maximum value of temperature at which transmission metal at design temperature. Operate
0
in India is 65 C for conductors as per provisions of IS:802 (Part-I) 1973. However, to increases loading
capabilities of transmission lines, the matter is under active consideration by Bureau of Indian
Standards, Central Electy. authority, State Electy Boards and other utilities etc. for increasing the
0
0
maximum conductor design temperature from 65 C to 75 C as it has been observed that there is no
0
loss of strength of aluminium metal at 65 C. But it has to be ensured that the transmission line towers
are designed suitably, fo that there is no violation of ground clearance under any circumstances due to
safety considerations. This would significantly help in improving thermal loading capability of
transmission lines, without infringement in ground clearances.
21.2 HEAT BALANCE EQUATION OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS
The current carrying capacity rating is computed by using the following formula under steady state
condition of wind velocity, temperature, solar radiation and electric current.
2
Qc + Qr = I R + Q s
Where2
I R = Heat generated in the conductor due to flow of current ' I ' in Amperes, R is the resistance of the
conductor per meter.
Q8 = Solar Heat Gain in Watts per meter of Conductor.
Qc = Convection heat loss in Watts per meter of Conductor
Qr = Radiated Heat Loss in Watts per meter of Conductor.
From the above equation, current carrying capacity I can be determined asI = Qc + Qr - Qs / R Ampere
The effect of Heat Gain due to Magnetic Heat and Corona Heating and Heat Loss due to Evaporation is
usually negligible, hence not considered.

21.3 CURRENT RATING OF VARIOUS CONDUCTORS

21.3.1 The size of the conductor used for transmission lines of various voltage class has now been
standardized, which are as fallows400kv - 'Moose' ACSR
220kv - 'Zebra' ACSR
132kv - 'Panther' ACSR
21.3.2 However, recently in some cases 'moose' conductor has been used on 220kv lines for
evacuation of bulk power from generating station, such as Unchahar Power Project, In case of 66kv
lines which have been up-graded to 132kv, the conductor used is 'Dog' ACSR. Accordingly, the current
0
capacities of the above conductors are temperature of 47.5 C. for new as well as old conductors for the
0
0
designed maximum conductor temperature of 65 C as well as 75 C.
TABLE 21-II
Sl.
No.

Size of Conductor
(Code Name)

Current carrying Capacity in Amperes

0

At maxim. designed Temperature of 65 C

At maxim. designed temperature of 75 C

New Conductor (Up

to one year)

Old Conductor
(Beyond 10 years)

New Conductor (Up

to one year)

Old Conductor
(Beyond 10 years)

1.

'Dog' ACSR

141.12

150.20

229.65

245.06

2.

'Panther' ACSR

179.89

200.60

340.83

371.42

3.

'Zebra' ACSR

201.26

249.51

496.46

553.70

4.

'Moose' ACSR

133.60

218.89

530.51

603.78

NOTE :

1. It is observed that the temperature at some place of UP State goes as high 47.5 0 C during the

2.

months of April, May & June. Therefore current carrying capacities of conductors indicated
above, are for worst condition of ambient temperature. However, the current carrying capacity
of the conductor of the increases as the ambient temperature decreases.
The current carrying capacity of the conductor also increases with the age of the conductor as
would be observed from the above table.

21.4 POWER TRANSMITTED

21.4.1 The power transmitted for any size of conductor depends on its current carrying capacity and can
be calculated from the following formulaPower in KW = 3 V I Cos
Power in MW = 3 V I Cos / 1000
WhereCos = Power Factor (P.F.)
V = Voltage in KV
I = Current in Amp.
Assuming Power Factor of 0.8 lagging, power transmitted at various voltages can be calculated
approximately as follows-

a. At 132 kv

Power in MW = 3 132 x I x 0.8 / 1000

b.
c.

= 0.1828992 x I
= 0.183 x I
At 220 kv
Power in MW = 3 220 x I x 0.8 / 1000
= 0.305 x I
At 400 kv
Power in MW = 3 400 x I x 0.8 / 1000
= 0.554 x I

Thus value of power transmitted can easily be calculated at 132 kv or 200 kv or 400 kv for a given value
of current.
21.4.2 Normally for continuous operation the transmission lines used on various voltage are designed to
0
carry or transmit maximum power loads at the designed maximum conductor temperature of 65 C as
follows
At 132 kv with 'Panther' ACSR = 75 MVA
At 220 kv with 'Zebra' ACSR = 200 MVA
At 400 kv with 'Moose' ACST = 500 MVA
21.4.3 It is worth considering that the maximum permissible conductor temperature for continuous
0
operation on transmission lines may be introduced as 75 C in order to raise the current rating of the
conductor. This issue is under active consideration and IS:802-1973 is under revision.
21.4.4 It is observed that the current carrying capacity of any conductor at any particular temperature is
0
lowest during 10 to 14 hours of a day. Assuming maximum permissible conductor temperature of 75 C,
the value of current carrying capacities of 'Dog', 'Panther', 'Zebra' and 'Moose' ACSR conductor during
10 to 14 hours of a day at different ambient temperatures for various months of a year for the conductor
of ages (a) up to one year (b) between 1 to 10 years and (c) Above 10 years given in the Table I, II, III &
IV respectively hereinafter.
TABLE 21-II
TABLE 21-IV
TABLE 21-V
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

21.5 CONTINUOUS CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY OF ACSR CONDUCTORS

21.7 CONTINUOUS CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY OF ACSR CONDUCTORS
21.8 CONTINUOUS CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY OF ACSR CONDUCTORS

Code Name & Size

Overall diameter
0
Resistance at 20 C
Maximum Design Temp. of
conductor
Region

Month

Ambient
Temperature in
C

January

47.5
45.0

ACSR 'Dog'
14.15mm
0.2792 ohms/Km
0

75 C
Northern

Continuous current carrying capacity in Amp during 10 to 14 HRS

for conductor of age
Up to one year
Between one to Ten Beyond 10 years
years
252.46
263.43
269.12
268.06
279.70
285.48

40.0

296.87

309.67

315.64

32.5

335.18

349.38

355.60

20.0

390.01

405.95

412.51

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

47.5
45.0

244.49
260.56

254.83
271.61

260.71
277.57

40.0

290.12

302.39

308.50

32.5

329.21

342.94

349.28

20.0

384.89

400.42

407.07

47.5
45.0

237.01
253.56

246.76
264.05

252.82
270.17

40.0

283.85

295.62

301.86

32.5

323.70

336.99

343.43

20.0

380.19

395.33

402.07

47.5

230.37

239.58

245.82

45.0

247.36

257.36

263.63

40.0

278.33

289.65

296.02

32,5

318.87

331.77

338.31

20.0

376.09

390.89

397.70

47.5
45.0

231.59
248.50

240.89
258.58

247.10
364.83

40.0

279.33

290.74

297.09

32.5

319.75

332.72

339.24

20.0

376.83

391.69

398.49

47.5
45.0

229.65
266.74

238.80
256.63

245.06
262.93

40.0
32.5

277.73
488.42

289.01
513.25

295.39
525.82

20.0

581.71

609.99

622.97

47.5
45.0

341.41
370.17

359.68
389.85

372.02
402.94

40.0

421.94

443.98

556.32

32.5

488.82

513.68

526.24

20.0

582.05

610.35

623.32

47.5
45.0

342.99
370.63

361.37
391.40

373.65
403.65

40.0

423.22

445.35

457.66

32.5

489.98

514.86

527.40

20.0

582.98

611.35

624.30

47.5
45.0

358.00
385.53

377.40
406.25

389.17
418.06

40.0

435.47

458.45

470.41

32.5

500.5

526.24

538.50

20.0

591.94

620.95

633.71

October

November

December

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

47.5
45.0

365.75
392.73

385.66
413.94

397.19
425.54

40.0

441.86

465.27

477.07

32.5

506.12

532.19

544.33

20.0

596.65

626.01

638.67

47.5
45.0

378.44
404.58

399.20
426.58

510.35
437.84

40.0

452.42

476.55

488.08

32.5

515.36

542.08

554.00

20.0

604.52

634.44

646.93

47.5
45.0

387.56
413.12

408.92
435.69

419.81
446.72

40.0

460.08

484.73

496.06

32.5

522.09

549.28

561.05

20.0

610.26

640.60

652.97

Code Name & Size

Overall Diameter
0
Resistance at 20 C
Maximum Design Temp. of conductor
Region

Month

Ambient
Temperature in
"C

January

47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5

February

March

April

ACSR 'Zebra'
28.62mm
0.06888 ohns/Km
0
75 C
Northern

Continuous current carrying capacity in Amp during

10 to 14 HRS for conductor of age
Up to one year
Beyond 10 years
Between one to
Ten years
580.38
619.16
638.95
621.77
662.58
682.56
697.27
714.63
762.03
796.22
844.93
865.99
935.83
989.97
1012.02
551.61
588.83
609.60
595.01
734.33
655.17
673.52
716.50
737.59
775.50
822.96
844.57
918.26
971.29
993.76
524.11
559.85
581.67
569.61
607.53
629.26
651.18
692.89
714.68
756.19
802.48
824.63
902.01
954.00
976.87
499.18
533.61
556.45

45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

1.
2.

32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.4
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0

Code Name & Size

Overall Diameter

546.75
631.29
739.13
887.76
503.78
550.96
634.94
742.24
890.35
496.46
544.27
629.14
737.29
886.23
497.55
545.26
630.00
738.02
886.84
500.54
547.99
632.27
740.04
888.52
528.75
573.88
654.92
759.41
904.71
543.19
587.20
666.63
769.53
913.23
56.66
608.98
685.89
786.28
927.38
583.42
624.60
699.80
798.44
937.71
ACSR 'Moose'
31.77mm

583.44
671.86
784.40
938.84
538.45
587.87
675.71
787.70
941.60
530.74
580.81
669.58
782.45
973.21
531.89
581.86
670.49
783.23
937.86
535.04
584.74
672.99
785.27
939.65
564.74
612.04
696.84
805.90
956.88
579.94
626.10
709.22
816.63
965.93
604.69
649.08
729.59
834.38
980.98
622.35
665.57
744.30
847.27
991.97

606.03
694.31
807.05
962.07
561.09
610.29
698.04
810.25
964.76
553.70
603.50
692.11
805.15
960.48
554.80
604.51
692.99
805.91
961.11
559.82
607.28
695.41
807.99
962.86
586.37
633.61
718.51
827.96
979.68
601.03
647.20
730.52
828.40
988.52
624.94
669.46
750.32
855.71
1003.24
642.05
685.46
764.63
868.28
1013.98

3.
4.
5.

Resistance at 20 C
Maximum Design Temp. of conductor
Region

Month

Ambient
Temperature in
C

January

47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
32.5
20.5
47.5
45.0
40.0

February

March

April

May

June

32.5
20.0
July

August

0.05595 ohms/Km
0
75 C
Northern

Continuous current carrying capacity in Amp during 10

to 14 HRS for conductor of age
Up to one year
Beyond 10 years
Between one to
Ten years
637.49
686.07
710.72
685.66
736.61
761.41
773.28
828.37
853.58
887.67
947.87
973.80
1048.65
1115.27
1142.39
601.14
648.10
674.14
652.00
701.39
727.39
743.59
797.21
823.37
862.93
920.77
947.44
1062.96
1092.32
1119.92
566.09
611.58
639.10
619.84
667.78
695.04
715.56
767.80
794.94
837.87
895.43
922.84
1006.84
1071.05
1099.18
534.03
578.23
607.27
590.70
637.38
665.88
690.48
741.51
769.58
816.55
872.91
901.08
989.17
1052.77
1080.98
539.97
584.40
713.15
596.08
642.98
671.25
695.08
746.34
774.22
820.45
877.09
905.05
992.39
1055.77
1084.29
530.51
574.56
603.78
587.52
634.06
662.70
687.75
738.66
766.83
814.25
87057
898.73
987.28
1050.36
1079.02

47.5
45.0

531.92
588.79

576.03
635.39

605.18
663.98

40.0

688.84

739.80

676.93

32.5

815.17

871.54

899.67

20.0

988.04

1051.16

1079.81

47.5

535.79

580.05

609.00

September

October

November

December

45.0

592.29

639.03

667.46

40.0

691.83

742.92

770.95

32.5

817.70

874.20

902.25

20.0

990.12

1053.37

1081.96

47.5
45.0

572.01
645.26

617.76
673.44

645.02
700.42

40.0

720.27

722.74

799.70

32.5

841.89

899.68

926.94

20.0

1010.19

1074.59

1102.63

47.5
45.0

590.43
642.14

636.93
691.08

663.41
717.45

40.0

734.96

788.15

814.61

32.5

854.50

912.94

939.83

20.0

1020.72

1085.73

1113.49

47.5
45.0

620.18
669.40

667.99
719.80

693.28
745.16

40.0

759.07

813.45

839.11

32.5

875.32

934.87

961.15

20.0

1038.22

1104.24

1131.54

57.5
45.0

641.30
689.21

690.06
740.33

714.57
765.01

40.0

776.42

831.67

856.79

32.5

890.41

950.76

976.62

20.0

1050.97

1117.72

1144.71