Transmission Voltage

Current
Power loss (P = I2R)

Power loss over 150km at 500MW

330 kV
66 kV
1.5 kA
7.6 kA
13.5 MW
347 MW

% loss

2.7%

70%

Use of transmission
voltage (discussed in
class?)

Other transmission
towers

Other transmission
lines / towers

11 kV
45 kA
12,150 MW
Transmission not
possible
Power lines on the
street

Power plants near Sydney (outside the basin, about 150km away):
Near Mt Piper (near Wollongong)
Near Lithgow
Near Gosford (Lake Macquarie)
At 11kV: Transformers (in green containers on the ground) along our street convert 11kV to 240V.
Older streets hang the transformer high up on the electricity pole.
AT 240V: Household wires are 240V.
As the transmission voltage decreases, the current must increase (BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THE
LINEAR PROPORTIONAL RELATIONSHIP OF OHMS LAW).
Voltage is the likelihood that electrons will flow from one end to another (electrical potential
energy). HOWEVER, less electrons go at a time (hence a lower current). This obeys the Law of
Conservation of Energy (potential energy increases, but the movement of electrons is less).
Our transmission lines are made of iron. It is not the best electrical conductor (all conductors are
good; some better than others) but we use it for its mechanical strength and cheap cost.
- Thin exposed wires wrapped together
- Thicker wires with insulation
Metal connectors between wires are to prevent them touching. Exposed wires touching one another
will short circuit / spark / arc; particularly from wind at high altitudes.
There are also earth / lightning wires to prevent lightning strikes hitting the tower (often the highest
point in the local area) from coming along the wire and generating excess voltage (millions of V)
through this distribution system to our power points; destroying our electronic equipment.
The power loss occurs on a non-ohmic scale. The resistance is NOT fixed / constant. The resistance
here is not constant due to heat, length (power losses over distance), etc.
High current to heat loss, etc. -> known as line loss
From the table, we know that therefore MOST OF THE POWER LOSS THAT OCCURS IS IN THE
TRANSMISSION, NOT THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY. We therefore minimise power loss by
transmitting with a low current, highest POSSIBLE voltage.