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EE401 Power Systems

Module 4: AC Transmission Lines and


underground cables (book chapter 4)

Dr. Venkata Yaramasu
Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering
Phone: +1‐928‐523‐6092
Email: Venkata.Yaramasu@nau.edu
Office Hours: Tues. 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. in 090‐113

Source: BPA and American Electric Power
Thought of the Day

#2
Topics From Textbook

Chapter 4 AC TRANSMISSION LINES AND UNDERGROUND CABLES 4-1


4-1 NEED FOR TRANSMISSION LINES AND CABLES 4-1
4-2 OVERHEAD AC TRANSMISSION LINES 4-1
4-3 TRANSPOSITION OF TRANSMISSION LINE PHASES 4-3
4-4 TRANSMISSION LINES PARAMETERS 4-4
4-5 DISTRIBUTED-PARAMETER REPRESENTATION OF 4-11
TRANSMISSION LINES
4-6 SURGE IMPEDANCE Z c AND THE SURGE IMPEDANCE 4-13
LOADING (SIL)
4-7 LUMPED TRANSMISSION LINE MODELS IN STEADY STATE 4-15
4-8 CABLES 4-18
REFERENCES 4-19
PROBLEMS 4-19

#3
Topics for Module 4

1. Need for Transmission Lines

2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines

3. Transposition

4. Transmission Line Parameters

5. Distributed Parameter Representation

6. Surge Impedance Loading

7. Lumped Model of Transmission Lines

8. Underground Cables
#4
Relationship Between Previous Chapters

In this module, we will study about the transmission lines which forms an 
important link between the generation and distribution. We will study how 
to operate transmission lines more efficiently and stably.
#5
1. Need for Transmission Lines

YouTube Channel: American Transmission Co.
Video: How Transmission Works #6
1. Need for Transmission Lines

Why do we need new transmission?
 Meet regulatory reliability and public policy requirements
 FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) order no. 1000
 Public Policy
 Least Cost
 Economic Operation
 Meet the growing need for safe and reliable electricity
 Connect new generation sources to the grid
 Improve reliability and efficiency 
 Renewable portfolio standards and integrating renewables
 Access additional resources to reduce cost, diversify risk
 Reduce congestion
 Improve economics
Slide credit: www.westgov.org
#7
1. Need for Transmission Lines
The most common methods for transfer of electric power: 
 Overhead AC
 Underground AC (also submarine AC)        
Q: Where we use it?
A: To connect offshore wind farms to grid
 Overhead DC
 Underground DC (also submarine DC)          
Q: Where we use it?
A: In cities and congested areas

 Other (wireless power transfer)
Q: Examples?
A: Cell phone and EV charging

Source: Sameer Gupta, Slidehare.net

#8
1. Need for Transmission Lines

 High voltage AC (HVAC) and high voltage DC (HVDC) transmission are commonly used 

systems in electric power transfer. The overhead and underground concept applied to both 

HVAC and HVDC.

Q: Which transmission is used for high‐power transfer over long distances?

A: HVDC transmission

Underground Transmission Lines

Source: Siemens Source: www.osha.gov


#9
1. Need for Transmission Lines

345 kV+ Transmission Growth at a Glance 

The high voltage transmission line installations are growing rapidly. 
#10
1. Need for Transmission Lines

The U.S. electric grid is a complex interconnected system of electric 
transmission lines linking generators to the loads.

Federal Emergency
Management
Agency (FEMA)

#11
1. Need for Transmission Lines

345 kV Transmission Line – Sidney to Bensenville (IL)

#12
1. Need for Transmission Lines

345 kV Transmission Line – Sidney to Kansas (IL) 

#13
1. Need for Transmission Lines

345 kV Transmission Line – Sidney to Rising (NE)

#14
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines

Different notations in different countries, webpages, and books. Follow the 
notation expressed in course slides. We have most up‐to‐date information here.

 Residential voltages: 120 V (single‐phase), 208 V (three‐phase)
 Most of the AC transmission lines are three‐phase.
 Increase in transmission voltage requires: large separation between the 
conductors and between the conductors and tower.

#15
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines

 Shield/Ground wire: used primarily  Shield wire


for protection from lightning strikes 
and corresponding surges Insulators

 Insulators: used to contain, separate,  Conductors
or support electrical conductors 
 Conductors: metal cables used for 
carrying electric current
 Structures: support structures to hold 

www.westgov.org
up the conductors
 Foundation: system which transfers 
to the ground the various dead and 
live loads of the tower and  Structure
conductors
 Spacer dampers: will be used if  Foundation
vibrations excited by wind need to be 
expected.

#16
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Typical Transmission Line

500 kV Transmission Line
5 towers per mile www.electricaltechnology.org
#17
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Towers

Types of transmission structures

H-frame Monopole Lattice Turning Underground


Structure structure Structure Structure Structure

#18
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Towers
Alternative Structure Types

H-Frame Monopole

Steel Lattice

 Factors that dictate structure types used: 
 Size of conductor dictates load carrying capacity
 Company /geographic preference or policy

Q: In which locations, APS prefers wooden poles?
A: Where machines can not be taken for repairs on lines #19
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Towers
source: www.osha.gov

345 kV transmission lines


Some typical transmission line structures
HVDC

Subtransmission lines above


and distribution lines below Transmission lines above -
230 kV wood transmission line towers subtransmission below
#20
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Insulators

YouTube Channel: EEQ&A
Video: INSULATOR ‐ Different types of Insulators
#21
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductors

Conductor Alternatives
 Typically aluminum or copper conductors are used. 
 Aluminum is preferred over copper for its lower cost and lighter 
weight, however, this comes at the price of some energy loss that 
doesnʹt occur with copper.
 Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) – includes                         
steel strands wrapped around aluminum conductors to add                      
strength. This is the most commonly 
used conductor. 

#22
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductors

 Typical transmission lines use multi‐strand conductors

 ACSR (aluminum conductor steel reinforced) conductors are most common.  

A typical Al. to St. ratio is about 4 to 1.

 Aluminium is less expensive compared to steel.

#23
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductors

Different Aluminium and Steel combinations

#24
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductors

 Steel core provides tensile strength and reduces excessive “sagging” in 
between the towers.

 Aluminum has high conductivity 7 times higher than steel; so, the 
current  is confined to the outer surface. This is called “skin effect”.

For alternating current, the current density 
decreases exponentially from the surface towards 
the inside. The skin depth, δ, is defined as the 
depth where the current density is just 1/e (about 
37%) of the value at the surface; it depends on the 
frequency of the current and the electrical and 
magnetic properties of the conductor.
Source: Wikipedia
#25
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductors

YouTube Channel: Kedar Nimbalkar


Video: #12 High Voltage Skin Effect #26
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductors

Electrical Discharges: Corona
 Corona – electrical breakdown of the air near high voltage conductors 
into charged particles. 

 Corona can cause audible noise and radio and television interference, 
electromagnetic interference, insulation damage, etc. 

 Corona from transmission lines can create buzzing, humming, or 
crackling.

 Corona can progressively damage the insulation inside these devices, 
leading to equipment failure.

#27
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductors

YouTube Channel: CumminsISBe
Video: 500kV line opened under load, corona discharge #28
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductors

YouTube Channel: Deonrossouw
Video: Corona on 400kV strain tower #29
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductor Bundling

 To increase the capacity of high voltage 
transmission lines, it is very common to 
use a number of conductors per phase.  
This is known as conductor bundling.
 To minimize electric strength at the 
conductor surface to less than 16 kV/cm
 345 kV Lines
 2 conductor‐bundle with 18 inches 
spacing
 500 kV Lines
 3 conductor bundle with 18 inches 
spacing
 765 kV Lines
 4 conductor bundle with 18 inches 
spacing
#30
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductor Bundling

Advantages of conductor bundling:
 Increases power handling capacity
 Reduces electric field strength at conductor surface
 Reduces or eliminates corona effect
 Reduces power loss
 Reduces communication interference and audible noise
 GMR (Geometric Mean Radius) increases, therefore reduces series inductance and 
increases shunt capacitance, both of which are beneficial in loading of lines to 
higher power levels

Disadvantages of conductor bundling:
 Increases cost
 Requires more clearance from the tower

#31
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductor Bundling

Two conductor Three conductor Four conductor

#32
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Conductor Bundling

The AEP Wyoming‐Jackson
Ferry 765 kV line uses
6‐bundle conductors.
Conductors in a bundle are
Photo Source: BPA and American Electric Power at the same voltage!

#33
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Cost

Cost of 345 kV Lines
 0.5 M$ per mile in rural areas 
 2 M$ per mile in urban areas
 0.75 M$ per mile average cost
 69 kV overhead single‐circuit transmission line costs 
approximately 0.285 M$ per mile 
 69 kV underground line costs 1.5M$ per mile
 138 kV overhead line costs approximately 0.39 M$ per mile
 138 kV underground line costs 2 M$ per mile

#34
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Construction

YouTube Channel: MYRGroupVideo
Video: One Nevada Transmission Line (ON‐Line) – Sturgeon Electric Company, Inc. #35
2. Overhead AC Transmission Lines
Maintenance

YouTube Channel: pgevideo
Video: PG&E Teaches Linemen How to Work on Energized Power Lines #36
3. Transposition

Q: Is the spacing between the conductors same? 

Q: What happens if the spacing is not same?

A: Inductance and voltage drop in each phase become equal

Q: How to make the spacing symmetrical?

A: By transposition of lines
#37
3. Transposition

a
D2
D1 b
D3
c
1 cycle
(a ) ( b)

 Inductance and voltage drop in each phase become equal
 The transposition under power lines reduce the electrostatic unbalance among 
the three phases. it also used to stabilize the voltage unbalance.
 The transposition arrangement of high voltage lines also helps to reduce the 
system power loss.
 Transposition is not much significance for short lines of 100 kilometers or less
 In long lines, 1 cycle of transposition (“barrel” or three sections) is recommended 
for every 150 kilometers for triangular configuration
 Horizontal or vertical lines require more frequent transposition
 We assume balanced lines in this course
#38
3. Transposition

Line Transposition Example

Photo Source: Wikipedia

#39
4. Transmission Line Parameters

Transmission line parameters (distributed throughout line):
 Resistance, R
 Conductance, G
 Inductance, L
 Capacitance, C

Per‐phase analysis is used to analyze the parameters assuming balanced 
three‐phases.

line
line R L

C
neutral (zeroimpedance)

#40
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Line Resistance, R

Important to minimize losses
 9% power is lost in transmission and distribution
 Keep resistances small; I2R losses will be small

 Bundled conductors decrease overall resistance.   Q: Why? A: Large A
 ACSR conductors are assumed hollow.              Q: Why? A: Skin effect

l 2
Line Resistance: R Skin Depth:  
 2 f  
A
J
T

D
surface towards center
(a ) ( b)
Fig. 4-4 (a) Cross-section of ACSR conductors, (b) skin-effect in a solid conductor.

#41
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Line Resistance, R

Conductor resistance depends upon

 Spiraling (1‐2% longer conductor, therefore 1‐2% more resistance )

 Because ACSR conductors are stranded, actual resistance, inductance and 
capacitance needs to be determined from tables.

 Temperature (proportional)

 T2  T 
T 2  T 1  
 T1  T 
Resistivity and hence line resistance increase as conductor temperature increases 
(changes is about 8% between 25oC and 50oC)

#42
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Example 4.1

The skin effect results in a resistance only slightly higher at 60 Hz compared to at DC 
in such a “hollow” conductor, where the resistance at DC is listed as 0.0787 
ohms/mile versus 0.0811 ohms/mile at 60 Hz, both at the temperature of 25o C.
#43
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Shunt Conductance, G

 Inverse of resistance (Mho)

 Conductivity σ = 1/𝜌

 Represents power loss between conductors or between conductors and ground 
(leakage current flowing through the insulator)

 Shunt admittance becomes importance in the presence of corona effect

 Usually ignored in power systems studies due to small magnitude

 Can be represented by G in shunt with Capacitance

 Negligible and therefore neglected

#44
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Series Inductance, L

 Balanced three‐phase line: ia  ib  ic  0
 Inductance in any phase = ratio of the total flux linking to its current.
 Three currents contribute to the flux linkage.
a ,total 1
La 
ia

ia

a ,ia  a ,ib  a ,ic 

Flux linkage due to self‐current:

 0  
a ,i   d x ,i   ia ln r
 2 
a a
r

#45
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Series Inductance, L

Flux linkage due to other two currents:
     
a ,i   0 bi ln a ,i   0  ic ln
b
 2  D c
 2  D

By superposition, total flux linkage is obtained by:
 0    
a ,total  a ,i  a ,i  a ,ic    ia ln   ib  ic  ln 
a b
 2   r D
 0  D
ia  ib  ic  0 a ,total    ia ln
 2  r
  D D Applicable only when D>>r; not very 
L 0  ln  2 10 7 ln 
 2  r r practical equation.
Geometric mean distance (GMD): D  3 D1 D2 D3
#46
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Series Inductance, L

Practical Equations (not in textbook):

Solid cylindrical conductor: L  2  10 7 ln

D
 H /m
 r 
 Geometric mean radius (GMR): r   e 1/ 4 r  0.7788 r
7  GMD 
 Composite conductors: L  2  10 ln   H / m / phase
 GMR 
 Deq 
 Bundled conductors:  L  2  10 ln  H / m / phase
7

 DSL 
 Two conductor bundle: DSL  4 Ds  d 2  Ds  d

 Three conductor bundle: DSL  9 Ds  d  d 3  3 Ds  d 2


 Four conductor bundle: DSL  16 Ds  d  d  d 2 4
 1.091 4 Ds  d 3

#47
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Series Inductance, L – Solved Example

#48
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Series Inductance, L – Solved Example

#49
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Series Inductance, L – Solved Example

Bundling of conductors decreases the inductance by:
 0.7 times for 3‐conductor bundle
 0.8 times for 2‐conductor bundle
#50
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Shunt Capacitance, C

c c
qc
C hypothetical
neutral
qa qb C n C
a b
a b
D
(a ) ( b)
2 0
C D  3 D1 D2 D3
Shunt capacitance per unit length: D F/m
ln
r

Bundling of conductors increases the capacitance by:
 1.4 times for 3‐conductor bundle
 1.25 times for 2‐conductor bundle Solve Example 4.2
#51
4. Transmission Line Parameters
Typical Parameters

Table 4-1
Transmission Line Parameters with Bundled Conductors (except at 230 kV)
at 60 Hz [2, 6]
R ( / km )  L ( / km ) C (  / km )

Nominal Voltage

230 kV 0.055 0.489 3.373

345 kV 0.037 0.376 4.518

500 kV 0.029 0.326 5.220

765 kV 0.013 0.339 4.988

#52
5. Distributed Parameter Representation

For medium length (300 km) lines, it is reasonable to assume that resistance is lumped.
I x ( s)
I S ( s) R sL I R (s)
  
1
VS ( s ) Vx ( s ) VR ( s )
sC
  

x 0

Fig. 4-9 Distributed per-phase transmission line ( G not shown).

Per‐Phase: s  j
Voltage at distance x: Vx  VR cos x  j Z c I R sin x
VR
Current at distance x: I x  I R cos x  j sin x
Zc
L
Propagation constant:    LC Surge impedance: Z c 
C
#53
6. Surge Impedance Loading (SIL)

Assume that lossless line (R and G neglected) is loaded by Zc

IS j L
IR
  VS VR
1
VS j Zc VR  VR 0
C
 
x
(a ) (b) 0
F ig . 4 -10 P er-p hase tran sm ission lin e term inated w ith a resistan ce equ al to Z c .

 Surge impedance loading (SIL) of a transmission line is the MW loading 
of a transmission line at which natural reactive power balance occurs.
 Voltage magnitude is same at both sending‐end and receiving‐end.
 Reactive power consumed by the line everywhere is the same as the 
reactive power produced:  LI x2  Vx2C
 Surge Impedance Loading is a very essential parameter when it comes to 
the study of power systems as it is used in the prediction of maximum 
loading capacity of transmission lines.
VLL2 L   j LC  j 
SIL  Zc     LC
Zc C
#54
6. Surge Impedance Loading (SIL)
Typical SIL Values

Table 4-2
Surge Impedance and Three-Phase Surge Impedance Loading [2, 6]

Nominal Voltage Z c () SIL ( MW )

230 kV 375 140 MW

345 kV 280 425 MW

500 kV 250 1000 MW

765 kV 255 2300 MW

 The above tables shows that for bulk power transfer, transmission lines 
should operate with higher voltages. Example, 500 kV for 1000 MW 
power transfer.

#55
6. Surge Impedance Loading (SIL)
Example 4.3

From example 4.2:

#56
6. Surge Impedance Loading (SIL)
Load ability of Transmission Lines

 The Surge Impedance Loading (SIL) provides a benchmark in terms of 
which the amount of maximum loading of a transmission line can be 
expressed. 
 This loading is a function of the length of the transmission line so that 
certain constraints are met.
 Long lines above 300 km can be loaded to around the SIL because of the 
stability limit so that the phase angle of the voltage between the two ends 
does not exceed 40 to 45 degrees.
Table 4-3
Loadability of Transmission Lines [6]

Line Length (km) Limiting Factor Multiple of SIL

0 - 80 Thermal >3

80 - 240 5% Voltage Drop 1.5 - 3

240 - 480 Stability 1.0 – 1.5

#57
7. Lumped Model of Transmission Lines
Classification of Transmission Lines

 Depending upon the manner in which capacitance is taken into account, 
the overhead transmission lines are classified as follows:
No. Line Length Voltage Parameter
1 Short 0‐80 km 11 & 33 KV R & L
2 Medium 80‐240 km 66 & 132 KV R, L & C
3 Long Above 240 km Above 132 KV. R, L & C

IS Z series IS Rline j Lline IS Rline j Lline


IR IR IR
   2   
j
VS Yshunt Yshunt VR VS
Cline VR
2 VS VR
2 2 j
   Cline   
(a ) ( b) (c)
Long-line Medium-line Short-line

Slide credit: vishalgohel12195 on slideshare.net


#58
7. Lumped Model of Transmission Lines
Long‐line

I S ( s) Z series I R ( s) Z series  Z c sinh  


  
VS ( s ) Yshunt Yshunt tanh  
VR ( s ) Yshunt  2 
2 2 
  2 Zc

s  j   ( sL  R )( sC  G )    j 
V ( s )  V  V v
sL  R
Zc 
sC  G

#59
7. Lumped Model of Transmission Lines
ABCD Parameters

#60
7. Lumped Model of Transmission Lines
ABCD Parameters – Solved Example

#61
7. Lumped Model of Transmission Lines
ABCD Parameters – Solved Example

#62
7. Lumped Model of Transmission Lines
ABCD Parameters – Solved Example

#63
8. Underground Cables

 The underground transmission cable usage in the United States is very 
small: less than 1 percent of overhead line mileage.
 The highest underground cable voltage that is commonly used in the 
United States is 345 kV.
 Underground cables have much larger capacitance than the overhead 
lines and hence their characteristic impedance Zc is much smaller. 
 However, in spite of lower values of Zc and higher values of SIL, loading 
of cables is limited by the problem of getting rid of the dissipated heat.

Fig. 4-13 Underground cable.


#64
End Note

 Review Module 4 Slides and Textbook Chapter 4.

 Watch YouTube Videos from BbLearn

 Read “United States Electricity Industry Primer” Document in “Supplementary 

Material” Section.

 Review and Print Module 5 Slides by the Next Lecture.

#65

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