The International Conference on Electrical Engineering 2009

Study on the electrical characteristics of the

UHV system with double-circuit transmission
lines on the same tower
Dingxiang Du , Zexin Zhou, Yanjun Li ,Zhongqing Li, Chunxia Zhou

Abstract-- In order to analyze the electric characteristics of

the UHV double circuit transmission line system , a simulation
model is built on the Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) based
on the design parameters of the very first UHV double circuit
transmission line system in China .To study and master the
electric characteristics of the UHV double circuit transmission
line system thoroughly special compare between the UHV
double circuit transmission line system and the UHV single line
system and the compare between the UHV and EHV double
circuit transmission line system model are made . It can be
concluded the double circuit transmission line system has the
following features: The ingredient of the harmonics in the fault
current and voltage are redundant .There are large DC
components included in the fault current and the decaying
process are very slow. The amplitude of the recovery voltage are
quite high ,and the beat frequency are less visible compared to
the EHV system. The capacitance current of the system are high
before the compensation . The fault current with high resistance
are much higher in the near side than in the far side.
KeyWords-- double-circuit lines on the same tower system ,
Electrical characteristics ,Real Time Digital Simulator , Ultra
High Voltage

I. INTRODUCTION
The AC Ultra High Voltage pilot project has now
successfully run into operation, which means that the voltage
level and the electric power transmission ability in China is
now going into a new high level. According to the planning
of the State Grid of China Cooperation the first Ultra High
Voltage system with double-circuit transmission lines on the
same tower will be built in East China. Follow this, the
research of the UHV system with double-circuit transmission
lines will be push into deep degree. Based on the practical
project, the modeling system are built on the Real Time
Digital Simulator in the dynamic lab of China Electric Power
Research Institute . The characteristics of the modeling
system are analyzed .Conclusions are drawn based on the
dynamic simulation and test which can be used to the type
selection of the protection relays in the practical project.

The dynamic simulation model are made with the

parameters from the actual project . After the analysis of the
system electrical characteristics , comparison of the electrical
characteristics among the UHV system with double circuit
transmission lines and the UHV system with single line
transmission line and the EHV system with double-circuit
transmission lines are made in great detail. The prototype of
the UHV system with double circuit transmission lines is the
HaiNan to WanNan project (East line project) . The prototype
of the UHV system with single line transmission line model is
the first UHV pilot project which goes from JingDongNan to
Nanyang to Jingmen . The prototype of the EHV system with
double-circuit transmission lines is based on one of the
classical practical system.

II. THE BUILDING OF THE MODEL SYSTEM

HE UHV double-circuit transmission line system is

focused on one section of the East project ,which is the
transmission line from HuaiNan to WanNan . The other parts
of the actual system are electrically equalized according to
its short circuit characteristics. That is to say the short circuit
current and the DC decaying time constant remains the same
as the actual system. The length of the transmission line and
the parameters of the shunt reactance are also the same with
the practical system.
The short circuit current at the HuanNan side and
WanNan side are 7.8kA and 13.7kA separately. The
decaying time are 204ms and 103ms separately. which
means the system angles are 89.3 degree and 89.2 degree.
The length of the lines is 322 km with a shunt reactance at
both sides of the lines whose capacitance is 720MVar. The
neutral reactance of 700 ohm. The ratio of the CTs are 3000
to1 and the ratio of the CVTs are 1000 to 0.1kV.The model
figure is shown as bellows.

This work was supported by the State Grid of China Cooperation.

Dingxiang Du is with China Electric Power Research Institute, Haidian
District, Beijing ,China (e-mail: lilac866@yahoo.com.cn).
Zexing Zhou is with China Electric Power Research Institute, Haidian
District, Beijing ,China (e-mail: Zhouzx@yahoo.com.cn)

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Fig. 1. The UHV double-circuit transmission line model system connecting

figuret

The shunt reactance compensation rates are 82% in the

UHV double-circuit transmission line system, 88.1%
( JingDongNan to NanYang )and 86.3% (Nan Yang to
JinMen ) in the UHV single transmission line system and
75% in the EHV double-circuit transmission line system. The
quality of the positive sequence reactance is 300 and 150 for
the neutral reactance.
The short circuit current at he JingDongNan side is
5.75kA and 7.22kA at the JinMen side according to the pilot
project. The short circuit current in the 500kV system are the
same as that of the East Project.The system impedance angle
of the 500kV system are 78 degree at the N side and 79.8
degree at the L side. The length of the 500kV model is the
same as the UHV double-circuit project. The length of the
1000kV single line model is 363km from JingDongNan to
Nan Yang and 291km from NanYang to JinMen which is
exactly the same as the pilot project. The CT ratio in the
1000kV system is 3000 to 1 A and 1250 to 1A in the 500kV
system . The CVT ratio in the 1000kV system is 1000 to 0.1
kV and 500 to 0.1kV in the 500kV system .The parameters of
the CVT model are the same as the actual CVT used in the
pilot project.

following test results.

The first condition is that the two lines are on normal
operation condition ,that means that the two lines are both on
service. When a single-phase-to-ground fault is applied at
different position of the one line ,the induced current in the
parallel line are compared between two voltage level. The
detailed induced current are listed in TABLE I to TABLE III.
We can draw the conclusion that the induced current is
higher at the further side of the fault point and the induced
current is higher with the 1000kV double-circuit on the
same tower transmission line system than that in the
500kVsystem.
TABLE I The Induced Zero Sequence Current With The Fault Point At The End
Of The Parallel Line

TABLE II The Induced Zero Sequence Current With The Fault Point At The
Original Terminal Of The Parallel Line

TABLE III The Induced Zero Sequence Current With The Fault Point In The
Middle Of The Parallel Line

The second condition is that one line of the double-circuit

lines are out of service for inspection ,which means that both
ends of the line are connected to the ground. Comparison
between the fault current and the zero sequence current on the
The analysis of the electrical transmission line system is
healthy line are made between the two system of 1000kV and
made in the following aspects.
500kV with double-circuit transmission line on the same
tower
A. The influence of the mutual inductance
In non-mutual inductance system, the current of the faulty
To get intuitive understand of the mutual inductance
between the double lines on the same tower in 1000kV system. phase are equal with the zero sequence current when a singlethe comparison between the mutual inductance of the 500kV phase-to-ground fault occurred and the direction of the two
double circuit line system and that of the 1000kV double current are opposite. But when there exists a mutual
circuit line system are made. The induced current in the two inductance between the two lines , the zero sequence current
will be influenced by the mutual inductance and will not the
system are also analyzed.
The line parameters of the two system with different same as the faulty phase current. The zero sequence current at
voltage level are different especially the zero impedance. the near side of the fault position will increase and the remote
There are two zero impedance . One is the zero impedance side of the fault position will decrease. And if the position is
with only one of the double-circuit lines on service. The in the middle of the line ,the zero sequence current will not
other is the zero impedance with the two of the double-circuit influenced by the mutual inductance. Overall the influence in
lines on service. The two zero impedance of the 1000kV the 1000Kv system are greater than in the 500kV system.
TABLE IV The Faulty Current And The Zero Sequence Current With The
system are greater than that of the 500kV system which
Single-Phase-To-Ground Fault At The End Of The Line, When The Parellel
means that the mutual impact between the two lines in the
Line Out Of Service For Inspection
1000kV double-circuit line system is stronger.
We can see the different mutual inductance level in the
III. ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTRICAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DOUBLE-CIRCUIT
TRANSIMISSION LIN E ON THE SAME TOWERSYSTEM

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TABLE V The Faulty Current And The Zero Sequence Current With The
Single-Phase-To-Ground Fault At The Original Terminal Of The Line, When
The Parallel Line Out Of Service For Inspection

TABLE VI The Faulty Current And The Zero Sequence Current With The
Single-Phase-To-Ground Fault In The Middle Of The Line, When The Parallel
Line Out Of Service For Inspection

Since that the mutual inductance of the 1000kV doublecircuit on the same tower system is greater that that of the
500kV double-circuit on the same tower system .the
influence between the lines are greater in the 1000kV
system .Because of this characteristics the ground distance
element in the protection relays will not work properly,
the protection reach will be reduced or exaggerated .Thus
the operation of the relay will be affected.
B. Harmonic analysis
The harmonic constituents in the fault current are
analyzed with single phase to ground fault and three phase
fault.
The harmonic constituents in the first cycle of the fault
current after a single-phase-to ground fault are listed in
TABLE VII and the harmonic constituents in the second
cycle of the fault current after a single-phase-to ground fault
are listed in TABLE VIII .Only those harmonics whose
percentage are above three are listed in the TABLE. The
fault point is K3 , at side L and the fault type is A phase to
ground fault.
TABLE VII The Analysis Of The Harmonics In The Fault Current For The First
Cycle After A Remote Single Phase To Ground Fault

TABLE VIII The Analysis Of The Harmonics In The Fault Current For The
Second Cycle After A Remote Single Phase To Ground Fault

From the test result we can see that the harmonics in the
1000kV system are richer and greater than that in the 500kV
system. Among the harmonics in the 1000kV system , the
main parts are three ,four, six and nine harmonics. Among
the harmonics in the 500kV system , the main parts are two
and three.
For three phase fault we can see the same results.
That harmonics in the 1000kV system are richer and greater.
With further frequency spectrum analysis , we made some
statistic about the fractional harmonics. The fractional
harmonics in the 500kV double-circuit lines on the same
tower system are mainly 5.5 and 14 harmonics. But for the
1000kV double-circuit lines on the same tower system 3.5
and 5.5 harmonics are the main constituents and 3.7 and 1.6
for the single line system of 1000kV.
By using the harmonic analyzing tool, the fault current
and voltage on both sides of the UHV double-circuit system
are analyzed when three phase fault were applied at the fault
point K3 and K1 respectively .
First three phase fault at K3 side L of the line are exerted.
The harmonics in the current of both sides are mainly 5.5 and
the contents range up to 15%The harmonics in the voltage
of side N are mainly 3.5 and 5.5,which reach 3%.
Then three phase fault at K1 sideN of the line are exerted.
The harmonics in the current of both sides are mainly 3.5 and
6.0 and the contents range up to 8%The harmonics in the
voltage of side L are mainly 3.5 which reach 5.8%.
The capacities of the 1000kV double-circuit lines are
greater than that in the 500kV system ,which lead to the rich
harmonics during fault transient process. This characteristics
may have some affect on the fast protection and transient
protection relays.
The conductors in the 1000kV transmission line are 8
bundled conductors, which means the capacitance of the
transmission will increase. That will bring out the high
frequency of free oscillations in the transient procedure. The
exist of the harmonics will affect the accuracy of the classical
distance protection relays and will lead to the overreach of the
distance relays. By using an analogy filter or a digital filter
the high frequency harmonics can be filter off. But to the free
oscillations harmonics, the oscillating frequencies are near
power frequency, special attention should be paid and special
band stop filter can be used to avoid the mal-operation of the
relays.
C. The decay of the DC component
Simulate a three phase permanent fault at the end of the
line, the fault injection angle is zero degree of one phase of

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voltage. The decaying time of the DC component in the fault

current are compared.
In the 1000kV double-circuit and single line system, the
fault taken palace when A phase voltage pass zero. The
decaying time of the A phase current at side N is about 160ms
to 170ms.While for the 500kV double-circuit line system ,the
decaying time is about 80ms to 90ms.
The positive impedance angle of the 1000kV line are 2.6
degree higher than that of the 500kV line ,which lead to the
increase of the decaying time of the aperiodic component of
the current at the remote side .
In the UHV transmission line ,the line inductance is low
the impedance angle is high and the decaying time constants
large and the shunt reactance are there .All the above factors
result in that the current can not change abruptly when the
fault occurred and thus large decay DC component grow out
and the decaying process are very slow. The decaying DC
component will have bad effect on the saturation of the
current transformers. Only if the TPY type CT are used and
sufficient margin are left, the decaying time constants will not
threat the reliability of the protection relays. .
D. The dissipate of the voltage
One of the double-circuit lines are on service normally, the
tested line is one side energized. Open the breakers on the
energizing terminal abruptly , the voltage of the line are
analyzed and compared. For the 1000kV system, the time
from the open of the breakers to the voltage drop to 20
percent of the normal voltage before the operation is about
1.8s. But for the 500kV system this time is about 1.6s.
.The decaying time after the breakers open are
determained by the determined by the angle of the line
impedance and the quality factor of the shunt reactance.
The line impedance angle for the 1000kV system is
88.5degree and 86.2 degree for the 500kV system. The
compensation rate of the modeling system are 82% for for the
1000kV system and 75% for the 500kV system. The quality
factor of the shunt reactance are the same 300 for positive
sequence and 150 for the neutral reactance.

capacitance charging current increased quite a lot .Thus the

theory based on the equivalency of the resistance and
reactance as lumped impedance and neglect of the line
capacitance is not so accurate . That will make the classical
distance relays less precise and need improvement. Actually
because the existence of the dispersed capacitance ,the angle
and magnitude of the current at both terminals are affected
and changed. If the load current is low enough , this will
affect the reliability and sensitivity of the differential relays.
Which will lead to refusing action of the relays under the
fault with high resistance. So we need to apply shunt
reactance to compensate the capacitance current to improve
the reliability and sensitivity of the differential relays.
F. The recovery voltage
The recovery voltage after the breakers tripped by relays or
any other reason are simulated and analyzed in the 1000kV
and 500kV double circuit lines on the same tower system .
Double circuit lines on service, an A phase-to-ground
metallic fault at side L is applied , the line breakers at the
near side tripped after 50ms, and 100ms for the remote
breakers. The wave of the voltage are compared and analyzed.
From the compensation ,the recovery voltage in the
1000kV system are higher that that in the 500kV system , and
the beat frequency in the 1000kV double-circuit lines on the
same tower system is not so sufficient compared to that in the
500kV system .In the 500kV double-circuit lines on the same
tower system the wave with a beat frequency of 10Hz can be
seen visibly .The magnitude of the recovery voltage with base
frequency in the 1000kV system is one to three volt higher
than that in the 500kV system

E. The capacitance current

The actual capacitance current of the three model system
before compensation are 840A for the 1000kV double-circuit
line on the same tower system and 450A for the 500kV
double-circuit line on the same tower system 720A for the
1000kV single line system respectively And after
compensation the capacitance current are 75A for the 1000kV
double-circuit line system and 106A for the 500kV doublecircuit line and 30A for the single line 1000kV system .We
can see that the capacitance current after reactance
compensation are quite low .
From the analysis of the construction of the transmission
lines, the equal diameter of the bundle conductors is increased
for the UHV system. The capacitance between the phases and
from phase to ground is also increased, which leads to the

Fig. 2 . The recovery voltage after the trip of a single phase fault

G. The fault current with high resistance

Under different load levels, high resistance fault are
applied at different position along the line . The zero
sequence current flow through the relay and the fault point to

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ground are measured. These current values can be reference

to the setting of the relays. The detailed test result are listed
as below table IX . The resistance is 600 ohm and the fault
position are K1 K2 and K3 which are located at the original
terminal the middle and the end of the line.
TABLE IX The Fault Current With Fault Resistance Of 600 ohm

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

From the figures in the table above , the fault current

decreased along with the increase of the load current. If the
load is less that 3000MW, the fault current flow through the
fault point is higher than 800A.If the fault points are at the
terminals of the line , the zero sequence current at the near
side are high and the remote side low . The zero sequence
voltage is very low, especially true for the remote side, under
which condition the sensitivity of the zero sequence element
and the correct of the zero sequence element need to be
considered. If the fault need to be cleared quickly special
consideration need to be made with the setting sensitivity or
the protection utilizing the faulty electrical component need
to be used to clear the slight fault.

[8]

[9]

Ruisheng Li and Jiale Suonan, "The Unique Problems in the 750kV

Transmission Line System and its Effect on the Line Protection Relays," in
Proc.2005. The 10th Seminars of Protection &Control in China., pp. 32-34.
Yongli Li and Yang Li, "The Influence of the Transient Characteristics in
the 750kV Transmission Line to the Protections," in Proc.2005. The 10th
Seminars of Protection &Control in China., pp. 25-27.
Jiming Chai, Yuping Zheng, Tong Wu, " Problems in the Distance Relay
for 1 000 kV UHV AC Transmission Lines," Automation of Electric
Power Systems, vol. 31,No 12, June 25,2007, pp. 55-60.
Bo Yu, Qixun Yang, Ying Li, Wei Fan, " Research on Fault Phase
Selector of Protective Relay For Double Circuit Lines On The Same
Tower " Proceedings of CSEE, vol. 23,No 4, pp. 38-42 , Apr 2003
Juankun Yang, Hongyang Zhangl, and Haiyan Hong, " Distance protection
of double-circuit lines on the same pole," Guang Dong Electric Power , vol.
18, No 10, pp. 9-12 , Oct 2005
Yuping Zheng and Xiao Cheng, " Protection And Reclosure For DoubleCircuit Lines On The Same Tower," in Proc. The 28th China Grid
Dispatching & Operation Conf., pp. 1-8.
Hejun Mao, Liming Wang, " Study of the Features and Relay Protection of
UHV Transmission Line," China Science and Technology Information , vol.
19, pp. 9-12 , Oct 2007
Li Zhao, Yong Mei, WeiBin Kong " Idea about Protection of 1 000 kV
UHV AC Transmission System," Guang Dong Electric Power , vol. 20,
No 1, pp. 15-18 , Oct 2007

H. Conclusion
Through the test and analysis of the 1000kV double-circuit
lines on the same tower system, the following conclusion can
be drawn:
The harmonics during the fault process are more rich and
the content is higher compared with the 500kV system. They
are mainly fractional harmonics like 3.5 and 5.5 . The decay
time constant is high and the DC component are decayed
slowly. After a single-phase-to-ground ,the magnitude of the
recovery voltage of the tripped faulty phase are high and the
beat frequency is not so obvious compared with the 500kV
system .Before compensation the capacitance current is quite
high ,but after the shunt reactance compensation ,the
capacitance current too low to have great influence on the
differential relays. The high resistance fault current is low
and the zero voltage are also quite low. The sensitive and the
correction of the zero element need to be considered carefully.
IV. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of
Yanjun Li and Zhongqing Li for their work on the analysis of
the relay operation l and the building of the simulation mode.
V. REFERENCES
Periodicals:
[1]

Danhui Hu,Caiqi Tu, Hansheng Cai " Study on the Selection of Grounding
Switch for 500 kV Common-tower Double-transmission Line," High
Voltage Engineer, vol. 31,No 4, , pp. 21-23., Apri 2005

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VI. BIOGRAPHIES
Dingxiang Du was born in ShanXi
Province in China, on October 5, 1977.
She graduated from the North China
Electric Power University, BaoDing.
Her employment experience included the China
Electric Power Research Institute.
Dingxiang received her masters and bachelors
degrees from North China Electric Power University in
the year of 2002 and 1999