38kV Overhead Lines

Gate 3 Liaison Group

Eoin Waldron
Overhead Networks Engineer Asset Management ESB Networks

Original 38kV Network System

Current 38kV Network System

Introduction
Profile 38kV Overhead Overhead Network 38kV Network - Age Profile
1600 1600 1400 1400

First lines were built by Siemens in late 1920s and early 1930s Currently there is 5,700kMs of 38kV Overhead Line There are a large amount of original Siemens lines still in service Over 4,000km of network is more than 10 years old Almost 60% of the network is over 30 years old

1200 1200 1000 1000 800 800

600 600
400

200 200 0 0 Pre 1940 1940 Pre 1940-49 1940-49 1950-59 1950-59 1960-69 1960-69 1970-79 1970-79 1980-89 1980-89 1990-99 1990-99 2000-09 2000-09

KMs of 38kV Overhead Line by Conductor Type

KMs Other 170 KMs 35 & 50 Copper 1003

Other 35 & 50 Copper 200 & 300 ACSR 150 AAAC 100 ACSR

KMs 100 ACSR 3407

KMs 200 & 300 ACSR 435

KMs 150 AAAC 567

Design History
ESB adapted the German design in the 1940s based on their own experience From 1940s to 1980s ESB built 38kV lines on portal structures Mainly built with 92mm2 ACSR conductor Conductor suspended from double woodpole structure on strings of disc insulators Mainly Steel Towers on angle Positions Designed with span lengths of between 150m to 200m.

Design History
In the 1980s the design was changed to a single pole design Still used 92mm2 ACSR conductor Conductor supported on pin-insulators Lines look more like Medium Voltage Lines Used heavier wood poles than Portal lines Usually Wood Poles at Angle Structures Maximum span length of 190m

Design History
In the 1940s the maximum design operating temperature for 92mm2 ACSR was 40oC. At that time it was not envisaged that lines would be loaded above 40oC Over time the maximum operating temperature was increased In the 1980s the maximum operating temperature for ACSR conductor was 60oC Lines were designed to give a minimum of 6.0m ground clearance at maximum operating temperature In older ACSR lines the grease in the conductor is the limiting factor

Current Design
All lines are now designed to operate at 80oC All lines designed since 2003 are designed to have a minimum of 7.0m of ground clearance at maximum design temperature 7.0m clearance required where a line is being restrung with new conductor or thermally up-rated
The reasons for these changes is: Higher operating temperature increased thermal capacity Higher ground clearance increased safety margin under 38kV lines

Case Study No. 1

Existing 92mm2 ACSR line built before 1980 - Of which there are 2,000km Designed to 50oC and 6.0m of ground clearance Average span length of 150m Increase in load requires it to be thermally up-rated to 80oC Increase in Load of 6MVA
Using 13m Poles 13.0m - 2.3m Foundation 6.67m Ground Clearance OK

Sag @ 50oC = 3.43m

- 0.6m Insulators
- 3.43m Sag = 6.67m GC

Case Study No. 1

Existing 92mm2 ACSR line built before 1980 - Of which there are 2,000km Designed to 50oC and 6.0m of ground clearance Average span length of 150m Increase in load requires it to be thermally up-rated to 80oC Increase in Load of 6MVA
Using 13m Poles 13.0m - 2.3m Foundation 6.15m Ground Clearance Must Have 7.0m

Sag @ 50oC = 3.43m Sag @ 80oC = 3.95m

- 0.6m Insulators
- 3.95m Sag = 6.15m GC

Case Study No. 2

Existing 92mm2 ACSR line built after 1980 on single wood poles Designed to 60oC and 6.0m of ground clearance Average span length of 150m Increase in load requires conductor to be changed to 150mm2 AAAC Increase in Load of 14MVA ~ 50% increase in capacity
Using 12m Poles 12.0m + 0.4m Insulators 6.49m

Sag @ 60oC = 3.61m

- 2.3m Foundation
- 3.61m Sag = 6.49m GC

Ground Clearance OK

Case Study No. 2

Existing 92mm2 ACSR line built after 1980 on single wood poles Designed to 60oC and 6.0m of ground clearance Average span length of 150m Increase in load requires conductor to be changed to 150mm2 AAAC Increase in Load of 14MVA ~ 50% increase in capacity
Using 12m Poles 12.0m + 0.4m Insulators 6.06m Must Have 7.0m

Sag @ 60oC = 3.61m Sag of Mulberry

@ 80oC = 4.04m

- 2.3m Foundation
- 4.04m Sag = 6.06m GC

Ground Clearance

Re-Using Existing Material

In general when a line is rebuilt all wood poles / crossarms / insulators etc. are replaced
Changing from 50mm2 Copper to 150mm2 AAAC
Wishbone crossarms are not suitable for 150mm2 AAAC Single poles used on 50mm2 Copper are too light for 150mm2 AAAC 50mm2 Copper hardware not suitable for 150mm2 AAAC

Changing from 92mm2 ACSR to 150mm2 AAAC / 300mm2 ACSR

Heavier crossarms required for 150mm2 AAAC & 300mm2 ACSR In general poles would be replaced due to pole strength and ground clearance

Thank You

Questions??