How It Works

Real Time Ampacity

Mar 2011
 RT Ampacity Determination
Two equations :

1. Sag – temperature
The State Change Equation
detailed f.e. in Kiessling et al Overhead Power lines,

Dynamic Rating (Ampacity) Springer 2003, page 546, section 14.5

2. Conductor temperature –
line loading & environment conditions
The IEEE thermal model
IEEE Std 738 - 2006

Mar 2011 2
 1. State Change Equation
(8f2 / 3L2) - (pL2 / 8f ES) - aT = Cte (*)

with variables: f = sag, T = conductor mean temperature

and constants related to physical properties of the line :

  thermal expansion coefficient (a)
  Young modulus (E)
  conductor cross section (S)
  conductor weight per meter (p)
  ruling span length (L)

These constants can be known with relative good accuracy and do not
tend to change in time.
(*) SI Units

Mar 2011 3
 1. State Change Equation - Known State

To obtain a useful formula the constant must be determined from a

known state (f,T). This “Known State” is obtained as follows:

•  The sag is obtained directly from the fundamental span frequency,

with very good accuracy not needing any other parameters or any
calibration. We can therefore consider that the sag is measured
“directly”. (See HIW Sag)
•  The Conductor Mean Temperature is obtained using the IEEE
dynamic thermal model. This model suffers from possible
inaccuracies from its parameters, mainly the environmental data
(wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, ambient temperature).
•  Good accuracy of the “Known State” is obtained by observing during
best, stable conditions. This is during night when there is no direct
solar radiation, with stable wind (over minimum level). Several nights
are observed.

Mar 2011 4
 1. State Change Equation – Known State
Ampacimon Monitor Weather Station TSO

Ambient (*) Conductor Line

Ruling Span Sag Loading
Conditions Constants

IEEE
Thermal Model

Conductor Mean
Temperature

State Change Equation

Constant
(Known State)
(*) Stable observation conditions

Mar 2011 5
 2. IEEE dynamic thermal model
The IEEE model is a differential equation due to the thermal inertia of
the conductor.

Joule losses + Solar Radiation = Convection + Radiation

The parameters of the IEEE model are:

•  Environmental parameters
–  Ambient temperature
–  Solar radiation
–  Wind speed & direction
•  Conductor constants
–  Thermal conductivity
–  Specific Heat
–  Emissivity and absorbtivity
•  Line loading
–  Line current

Mar 2011 6
 2. IEEE model – IEEE parameters

Solar radiation:
•  Full / Cloudy
•  Evolution curve in function of localisation, moment of year and
orientation of the span
Absorptivity: = 0.9 (Cigre TB299 - conservative)
Emissivity: = 0.7 (Cigre TB299 – conservative)
Rain:
not directly considered, compensated by effective ambient
conditions

Mar 2011 7
2. IEEE model - Effective Ambient Conditions

The accurately measured sag is converted to the mean conductor

temperature using the State Change Equation (once the Constant
has been determined from a Known State).

The conductor temperature is also simulated using the IEEE model with
the actual current (from TSO) and environmental conditions (from
web/weather station).

Deviations may be due to limitations of the thermal model or

inaccuracies of weather data (local variations). To match with the
actual behaviour of the span, the environmental parameters (wind
speed and solar radiation) are adapted to effective values. This is
done in a conservative way, avoiding overestimation of windspeed
and thus ampacity.

Mar 2011 8
2. IEEE model - Effective Ambient Conditions
Ampacimon Monitor TSO

Conductor RT Line
Ruling Span Sag
Constants Loading

State Change
Equation

Mean Conductor IEEE

Temperature Thermal Model

Effective
Ambient
Conditions (*)

Mar 2011 (*) Effective wind & solar radiation 9

2. IEEE model - Effective Ambient Conditions
The Effective ambient conditions are conservative:

1.  Measured Sag > Simulated Sag + tol (*)

Conductor Temp: Real > Simulated

Dissipation / Ampacity : Real < Simulated

The simulated sag is matched onto

the measured sag:

•  The wind speed is reduced

(perpendicular wind)
•  At wind speed = 0  the solar
radiation is increased
•  At solar radiation = 1000 W/m^2 :
Warning Log
Mar 2011 10
2. IEEE model - Effective Ambient Conditions

2.  Measured Sag < Simulated Sag – tol (*)

Conductor Temp: Real < Simulated

Dissipation / Ampacity : Real > Simulated

The simulated sag is matched onto

the measured sag + tol :

•  The solar radiation is reduced

•  At solar radiation = 0  the wind
speed is increased
•  At wind speed increase = 5 m/s
(max) : Warning Log

Mar 2011 11
 3. IEEE dynamic model - RT Ampacity

The RT Ampacity of each potentially critical span is determined for the

maximum sag or the maximum conductor temperature whichever
comes first.

To determine the Ampacity the IEEE dynamic model is used with the
effective wind speed and solar radiation.

Note that as the sag increases, the system becomes obviously more
and more accurate. For a limit situation where the measured sag
equals the maximum sag, the Ampacity is then exactly reached ! In
such safety situation, Ampacimon only relies on its measurement of
the span fundamental frequency without any other parameter or
calibration !

Mar 2011 12
3. IEEE dynamic model – RT Span Ampacity
TSO TSO TSO

Maximum Max Design (*)

Conductor
Span Sag → Conductor
Constants
Ruling Span Sag Temperature

Effective
State Change
Ambient
Equation
Conditions

Maximum
IEEE
Conductor MIN
Thermal Model
Temperature

RT Span
Ampacity
(*) < Annealing temperature

Mar 2011 13
 3. RT Ampacity – Static Rating Safety
In some cases the RT Ampacity cannot be determined :

•  Missing Line Current value

•  Missing or faulty weather data
•  Missing Sag measurement (low line current, analysis not concluding)

Then the Ampacity is determined using the IEEE thermal model with
Safe Static Rating conditions:

•  Wind speed : 0.5 m/s

•  Solar radiation: 1000 W/m^2
•  Ambient temperature: defined per localisation & season

Mar 2011 14
3. IEEE dynamic model - RT Line Ampacity

The RT Line Ampacity finally is the minimum Ampacity of all the

observed spans. Note that there is absolutely no need that these
spans belong to the same section.

The Ampacity is determined dynamically taking into account the

thermal inertia (thermal time constants). This allows to calculate in
RT the Dynamic Ampacity for a given duration. The information is
shown to the Dispatching Operator in a simple graph to assist him
for Congestion Management or Dynamic Line Rating (DLR)

Ampacity is indicated as total intensity (A) or as transit (MVA).

Mar 2011 15
 3. RT Line Ampacity
Monitors may be installed in same or/
and in different sections !

Span #1 Span #2 Span #3 Span #4

RT Span RT Span RT Span RT Span

Ampacity Ampacity Ampacity Ampacity

MIN

RT Line
Ampacity

TSO

Mar 2011 16
3. RT Ampacity - Dispatching Operator Screen

Mar 2011 17
 3. RT Sag & RT Ampacity / Time

Mar 2011 18
 Ampacimon RT Ampacity - Conclusions

•  Ampacimon determines RT Ampacity using the IEEE thermal model with

adjusted effective ambient parameters (wind speed), making full profit of
the intrinsic accuracy of the Ampacimon vibration monitors to measure
the Sag.

•  The sag - conductor temperature equation is set by recent measured

values instead of installation values that may have become inaccurate.

•  Ampacimon integrates the Ruling Span concept while measuring locally

on potentially critical spans for optimum accuracy.

•  Ampacimon RT Ampacity is dynamic, assisting the dispatching operator

safely and efficiently in Congestion Management & DLR.

•  Commissioning is fast: < 4 weeks with no calibration needs towards

transit intensity.

Mar 2011 19