Electrical Dimensioning

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Overhead Transmission Lines

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 Main steps of Electrical Design of OHTL

? Voltage level selection

? Conductor selection
? Evaluation of Corona, Radio and TV Interference
(RIV,TVI), Audible Noise (AN)
? Electrical clearances and choice of Insulator and
Insulator Strings
? Lightning performance evaluation
? Risk of flashover for Switching Impulse (When
Necessary)
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Some steps must be repeated when accurate

value are available from following steps

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 Voltage level selection

? The voltage level of a Transmission line depends on

Transmitted Power, Transmission Distance and on the
network general design
? It influences the surge impedence loading (SIL), the
reactive generation and the cost per unit length
? Network studies (load flow,stability, etc.) are carried out
with provisional characteristic of the design of the line
? If voltage higher than 400 kV or 525 kV is necessary for
the given voltage over the given length, series
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compensation is generally considered before deciding to

design a UHV system

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 Voltage level selection
Effect of Voltage Level on Transmission Cost for different
Transmitted Power (Terminal cost not considered)
180

160

140
Transmission cost [c$/kWkm]

120

100 132 Single

230 Single
345 Double
80 500 Triple

60

40
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20

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100
Transmission Power [MW]

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 Conductor selection

? The selected cross section (aluminum cross section for ACSR) is

that that minimize total cost (investment plus cost of losses)
? The technical constrains are thermal (expected over-temperature)
and corona behavior
? Over-temperature are computed under reference condition (e.g. no
wind, given ambient temperature, given solar radiation)
? Splitting in bundle is normally necessary in EHV range or (split
bundle is used to minimize EMF also at HV level)
? The type of conductor (ACSR, AAAC, ACAR, etc.) influences the
sag and tension characteristics of the line. Selection is carried out
also on the base of ambient conditions
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 Conductor selection
Effect of Bundling
Natural Impedence and SIL at 500 kV versus subconductors in bundle
ACSR Rook Phase to Phase distance = 12 m

1400

1200
Natural Impadence in Ohm and SIL in MW

1000

800
Zs [W]
SIL a 500 kV [MW]

600

400
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200

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Subconductors in bundle

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 Conductor Selection
Effect of non Bundling
Natural Impedence and SIL of single conductors having alluminum cross
section closest to 2,3,4, Rook
Phase to phase distance = 12 m

700

600
Natural impedence in Ohm and SIl in MW

500

400
Zs [W]
SIL a 500 kV [MW]
300

200
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100

0
Rook Bittern Chukar Thrasher
Conductors

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 Conductor selection
The concept of Optimum Cross Section
Line cost versus aluminum cross section
Costs [k$/km]

Line cost per unit length

Cost of losses per unit length
Total Cost per unit length

0
0 1000 2000
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Aluminum cross section per

phase or pole [mm2]

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 Conductor selection
Examples of conductor ampacity
Ambient
temperature Line latitude
°C Ampacity of ACSR conductors
40 20° North
3500

Line altitude Sun 3000

(m) Declination
2500

Ampacity (A)
0 23 ° Falcon
2000 Chukar
1500 Bluebird
Time Athmosphere Thrasher
1000
Noon Clear
500
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0
Line direction Wind direction
0 2 4 6 8 10

North-South Across
Wind speed (m/s)

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 Corona, RIV, TVI, AN

? In the range of clearances applicable to a given voltage, Corona,

RIV, TVI, AN are not largely effected by the exact clearance value
? All the figure depend on ambient condition (i.e. fair or foul weather)
? With provisional clearances, different empiric relations permit the
evaluation of Corona losses, RIV, TVI and AN
? Formulas, different for HV, EHV and UHV, are derived by past
experimental work (e.g. Hydro Quebec, Enel, CESI, EPRI, EDF,
etc.)
? Power corona losses (for sending end dimensioning) are generallly
considered under foul weather
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? Energy corona losses are evaluated with a given ratio of foul over
fair weather day per year
? RIV, TVI and AN are checked against specified acceptable levels

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 Electrical clearances

? Dpg phase to ground distance to withstand the worst

case over-voltage
? Dpp phase to phase distance to withstand the worst case
over-voltage
? Conductor to ground or grounded objects (building, etc.)
are defined by safety Standards and rules (e.g. NESC,
CENELC, etc.) as
? the sum of a part that depends on obstacle nature
? plus Dpg (often expressed as k x nominal voltage)
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? Ambient conditions and wire geometry should represent the

worst case

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 Electrical clearances
? Conductor to tower and phase to phase clearances are based
on the following criteria
? When the insulator string is in stand still position the minimum distance
between conductor and tower and between conductors must be Dpg
and Dpp
? The string must also withstand the foreseen pollution level at the
maximum operating voltage
? When the string swings due to given wind pressure the above distance
can be reduced (normally with a wing having a time to return of 3 year
the line has to withstand the switching impulse)
? At the maximum design wind the distances are those necessary for
withstanding the maximum operating voltage
? Phase to phase clearance must be checked for ice shedding,
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unbalanced wind, short circuit motion and, when applicable,

gallopping

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© ABB Solutions S.p.A. -PTPS Electrical clearances

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 Selection of insulator string

? Define the nature and level of ambient pollution (marine,

industrial, desert, etc.)
? Profile of insulators (anti-fog, normal, open, aerodynamic, etc.)
depends on the nature of pollution
? specific creepage distance (mm/kV) depends on level of
pollution
? The length of the string is the longer for withstanding
pollution or assuring Dpg
? Definition of type and level of pollution could require an
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extensive data analysis

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 Lightning performance

? The Lightning Performance of an OHTL depends on

keraunic level, line geometry (height, position of ground
wires, etc.) and footing resistance of towers
? The Lightning Performance, expressed as number of
flashover per year per 100 km, is computed according,
for example, the procedure of publication CIGRE 63
? Typical target for EHV line is 1 flashover/100km/year
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 Risk of flashover for Switching Impules
? The operation causing the worst generation of Switching Impulse
(SI) on a transmission line are:
? energization
? fast re-closing
? Mitigation of the stress can be achieved with the use of insertion
resistors, surge arresters, synchronized switching
? Once the expected SI level - generally expressed as 2% level - is
known the risk of flashover (phase to tower or phase to ground) is
computed, for example according IEC 71-2
? Statistic of wind swing can also be considered, typically with a
Montecarlo approach
? Typical target value for Risk of flashover is 10-4 - 10-3 per 100 km
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per switching event

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