‫جمهورية العراق‬

‫وزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي‬

‫جامعة الموصل ‪ /‬كلية الهندسة‬

‫تقرير بعنوان‬

‫‪Choose the transmission voltage‬‬

‫تقرير مقدم كجزء من متطلبات االمتحان النهائي لمادة‬

‫( القدرة الكهربائية )‬

‫للمرحلة الثالثة ‪ /‬قدرة ومكائن‬

‫في قسم الهندسة الكهربائية‬

‫التقرير مقدم من قبل الطالب‬

‫سرحان سويد عيسى‬

‫بإشراف‬

‫دكتور عبدالغني‬

‫‪0202-0202‬‬
 Choose the transmission voltage
Introduction
In electrical generating power stations, electrical power is generated at
medium voltage level that ranges from 11 kV to 25 kV.

This generated power is sent to the generating step up transformer to

make the voltage level higher. From this point to the user end voltage
level varies in different levels. We can realize this voltage level variation
step by step.
 At 11 kV or more than that up to 25 kV voltage level is maintained
at alternator stator terminals to generate electrical power in the
generating station.
 This generated power is fed to the generating step up
transformer to make this medium voltage level to higher level, i.e.
up to 33 kV.
 Power at 33 kV is sent to the generating substation. There the
transformer increases the voltage level to 66 kV or 132 kV.
 From this generating substation power is sent to the nearer
substation to increase the voltage level higher than previous. This
level of voltage is increased at different suitable levels, it may be
at 400 kV or 765 kV or 1000 kV. This high voltage or extra high
voltage level is maintained to transmit the power to a long distant
substation. It is called primary transmission of power.
 At the end point of primary transmission of power, in
the substation, the step down transformers are used to step down
the voltage level to 132 kV. Secondary transmission of power
starts from this substation.
 Power transformer at the end of the secondary transmission, just
makes 132 kV voltage level steps down to 33 kv or 11 kV as per
requirement. From this point, the primary distribution of power
starts to distribute power to different distribution stations.
 At the end of the primary distribution, the distribution stations
receive this power and step down this voltage level of 11 kV or 33
kV to 415 V (Line Voltage). From these distribution stations to
consumer ends, 415 V is kept to sustain for utilization purpose.
Type of Power Lines

From the very beginning of power generation to the user end

transmission lines are broadly classified based on different voltage
levels.
Why High Voltage is used for Long Transmission Line?
Generally long distant transmission lines are designed to operate at
high voltage, extra high or ultra high voltage level. It is because of line
power loss reduction purpose.

Practically long distant transmission line resistance is comparatively

more than medium and short transmission line. Due to this higher
valued transmission line resistance considerable amount of power is
lost. So we need to decrease the amount of current through each
conductor by making the operating voltage very high for same amount
of power transmission.
We know that the power in AC system to transmit is

Total power loss PLoss = 3IL2R considering three phases altogether.

R is the resistance in ohm per phase of the transmission line.
Now, rearranging Equation (1) we get,

So,

Again in DC system, there is no phase difference between voltage and

current, i.e. cosƟ = 1, and only two conductors (positive and negative)
are used. So, in DC system transmitted power P = VI, and power loss

From equation (2) and (3), it is clear that power loss in transmission line
is inversely proportional to the square of line voltage. The higher value
of line voltage the lesser amount of power loss occurs. Hence
transmission line conductor is used with less diameter, hence savings
of conductor material.

Why HVAC is Used for Long Transmission Line?

Now-a-days electrical energy is generated, transmitted and distributed
in AC form. Especially for long distant transmission line high voltage AC
is transmitted for several reasons, they are:

1. AC voltage can be stepped up or down as per requirement easily

by transformer.
2. Maintenance of AC substation is easy and cheaper.
 3. Throughout electrical power system AC voltage is handled. So no
extra hazard of rectification or inversion like DC voltage
transmission.
Why HVDC is Used for Long Transmission Line?
High Voltage DC is used at extra or ultra high voltage level. HVDC
transmission is used at fixed level of voltage in primary transmission
only as it cannot be stepped up or down by transformer. Only in long
distant transmission line it is used only, because:

1. Only two conductors (positive and negative) are required as

compared to three of AC transmission.
2. The absence of inductance, capacitance and phase displacement
power loss is very less. Hence better voltage regulation.
3. Surge problem never occurs.
4. No skin effect.
5. Less insulation requires due to less potential stress.
6. Less corona discharge (i.e. the corona effect), and hence less
power loss.
7. Highly stabilized and synchronized.
Why Low and Medium Voltage is Used in Distribution Line?
In primary distribution, power is handled at 11 kV or 33 kV. As voltage
level gets stepped down from 132 kV to 11 kV or 33 kV, current level
gets higher valued. But this high valued current distributed among
various local distribution stations (distribution transformers) nearby.
These distribution transformers again steps down the voltage to 415 V.
It is because; Power at 415 V is used at the user end. Distance between
these distribution transformers and the primary distribution stations is
very short, hence conductor resistance is not large. Very small amount
of power is lost in this section.
Disadvantages of AC or HVAC Transmission
The main disadvantages of AC transmission are

1. AC lines require more conductor material than DC.

2. AC transmission line construction is more complicated than DC.
3. Effective resistance is increased due to skin effect, hence power
loss.
4. Continuous power loss due to charging current because of line
capacitance.
Disadvantages of DC or HVDC Transmission
The main disadvantages of DC transmission are

1. Electric power is not generated in HVDC form due to commutation

problem. Only HVDC is achieved for transmission from HVAC by
rectification. So special arrangement is required for this
conversion.
2. DC voltage cannot be stepped up or down for transmission.
 3. DC switches and circuit breakers are expensive and with certain
limitations.
Economic choice of transmission voltage
By Kiran Daware Power System Economics
While designing any transmission line, economy is one of the most
important factors the engineer must consider. An electrical power
transmission line must be designed in such a way that the maximum
economy is achieved. Economics of electric power transmission is
influenced by various factors such as the right of way, supporting
structures, conductor size, transmission voltage etc. Transmission
voltage closely influences the economics of power transmission.
Generally, electric power is transmitted using 3-phase AC system at
high voltages. Before studying how to choose economic transmission
voltages, one should know the advantages and limitations of high
voltage transmission.
Advantages of high voltage transmission
 Efficient transmission of larger amounts of power:
In a 3 phase AC system, power is calculated as P=√3*VIcosɸ. It is
clear that, for a large amount of power to be transmitted at a lower
voltage, the amount of current will be very large. Let's take an
example, 200 MW of power is to be transmitted at 11kV and
consider cosɸ = 0.8 lagging. In this case, the amount of current that
will flow through the line would be 200,000,000 / (√3 * 11,000 * 0.8) ≈
13,122 A. For safely carrying this much large current, a conductor
with very large diameter or much more number of conductors in
bundled form may be required. And if the same power is transmitted
at 220kV, the current would be 200,000,000 / (√3 * 220,000 * 0.8 ) ≈ 656
A. As the power lost in a conductor is given as I2R, you can see large
saving in losses can be achieved by transmitting electricity at higher
voltages. From this example, it is clearly not feasible and practical to
transmit larger power at lower voltages. Also, transmission of
electricity at higher voltages is more efficient.
 Saving in conductor material: As shown above, for the same amount
of power transmitted at a higher voltage the current will be relatively
lower. Current carrying capacity of a conductor depends on the
 diameter of the conductor (conductor size) along with few other
factors. That means, for larger currents to be transmitted, the
conductor size must be larger. Hence, transmitting power at higher
voltages will reduce the amount of current to be carried and
consequently the required conductor size would also be lesser.
 Improved voltage regulation:
Decreased current will also result in decreased voltage drop across
the line. Voltage regulation is defined as (VS - VR)/VS. As voltage drop
is decreased, the difference between sending end voltage and
receiving end voltage is also decreased. Thus, voltage regulation is
improved.
Limitations of high transmission voltage
With increase in the transmission voltage
 cost of insulators increases
 cost of transformers increases
 cost of switchgear increases
 cost of lightning arrestor increases
 cost of support towers increases (as taller towers with longer cross
arms are required)
Economic choice of transmission voltage
From the above advantages and limitations of high voltage
transmission, we can say that with increase in transmission voltage the
cost of conductor material can be reduced and the efficiency can be
increased. But the cost of transformers, insulators, switchgear etc. is
increased at the same time. Thus, for overall economy, there is
an optimum transmission voltage. The limit to use of higher
transmission voltage is reached when the saving in cost of conductor
material is offset by the increased cost of transformers, switchgear,
insulators etc. The economical transmission voltage is one for which the
sum of cost of conductor material, transformers, switchgear, insulators
and other equipment is minimum.
If the power to be transmitted and the length of transmission are known,
calculations are made for various transmission voltages. Initially, some
standard transmission voltage is selected and the relative total cost of
equipment is determined. A graph is drawn for the total cost of
transmission with respect to various transmission voltages as shown in
the figure at right. The lowest point on the curve gives the optimum
transmission voltage. As here in the graph, point P is the lowest and the
corresponding voltage OA is the optimum transmission voltage.
The above method of finding economical transmission voltage very
rarely used as it is hard to pre-determine the costs of various
equipment. Instead, an empirical formula, according to the American
practice, is used. According to this formula, an economical transmission
voltage for a 3 phase AC system is given as,

Where, V = line voltage in kV

P = maximum power per phase (in kW) to be delivered over single
circuit
L = distance of transmission in km
Economical transmission voltage depends on the power to be
transmitted and the length of transmission. If the power to be
transmitted is large, cost per kW of terminal equipment reduces. This
results in increased economic transmission voltage. If the distance of
transmission is increased, saving in the cost of conductor material can
be significantly increased by increasing the transmission voltage.

References
References:

 https://www.electricaleasy.com/2016/04/economic-choice-of-

transmission-voltage.html

 https://www.electrical4u.com/voltage-in-power-lines/

 Acourrse in electrical power P.V.GUPTA

 The transmission and Distribution of Electrical Energy H.

COTTON