Field Training

ELEN 399

Dr. Hassan Mohamed Wedaa-Elrab Abdel-Daiem

Electric Power Transmission System

Figure (1): Electric power system

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Mechanical Design of Overhead Transmission Lines
Electric power can be transmitted or distributed either by means
of underground cables or by overhead transmission lines. The
underground cables are rarely used for power transmission due to
two main reasons.
❑ Electric power is generally transmitted over long distances to
load centers. Therefore, the installation costs for underground
transmission will be very high.
❑ Electric power has to be transmitted at high voltages for
economic reasons. It is very difficult to provide proper
insulation to the cables to withstand such higher voltages.
Therefore, as a rule, power transmission over long distances is
carried out by using overhead transmission lines. With the
growth in power demand and consequent rise in voltage levels,
power transmission by overhead transmission lines has assumed
considerable importance.

The overhead transmission line is subjected to weather conditions

and other external interferences. This calls for the use of proper
mechanical factors of safety in order to ensure the continuity of
operation in the transmission line. In general, the strength of the
transmission line should be such to provide against the worst
probable weather conditions.
Some important points in the mechanical design of overhead
transmission lines will be discussed.

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 (1) Potential Distribution over Suspension Insulator String

❑ A string of suspension insulators consists of several porcelain

discs connected in series through metallic links. Figure (2-a)
shows three-disc string of suspension insulators. The porcelain
portion of each disc is in between two metal links. Therefore,
each disc forms a capacitor C as shown in Figure (2-b). This is
known as self-capacitance.
❑ Note that the voltage across each disc is the same and equals V/3
because the charging current is the same through all the discs as
shown in Figure (2-b).
❑ However, in actual practice, capacitance also exists between
metal fitting of each disc and grounded tower. This is known as
shunt capacitance C1. Due to shunt capacitance, charging
current is not the same through all the discs of the string.
Therefore, voltage across each disc will be different as shown in
Figure (2-c). Note that the disc nearest to the line conductor will
have the maximum voltage.

(a) (b) (c)

Figure (2): Voltage distribution along a string of suspension insulators.

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❑ This unequal voltage distribution is undesirable and is usually
expressed in terms of string efficiency.
❑ The ratio of voltage across the whole string to the product of
number of discs and the voltage across the disc nearest to the
conductor is known as string efficiency.

where n = number of discs in the string.

❑ The greater the string efficiency, the more uniform is the
voltage distribution. Thus 100% string efficiency is an ideal
case for which the voltage across each disc will be the same.
Although it is impossible to achieve 100% string efficiency, yet
efforts should be made to improve to be near this value.

If the insulation of the highest stressed insulator (nearest to

conductor) breaks down or flash-over takes place, the breakdown
of other units will take place in succession. Thus, it is necessary to
equalize the voltage across the various discs of the string to improve
the string efficiency. The various methods for this purpose are :
❑ By using longer cross-arms
In order to reduce shunt capacitance, the distance of conductor from
tower must be increased (longer cross-arms should be used).
However, limitations of cost and strength of tower do not allow the
use of very long cross-arms.
❑ By grading the insulators
In this method, insulators of different dimensions are so chosen that
each has a different capacitance. The insulators are assembled in the
string in such a way that the top disc has the minimum capacitance.
This method has the disadvantage that many different-sized
insulators are required.

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 ❑ By using a guard ring
The voltage across each disc in a string can be equalized by using
a guard ring which is a metal ring electrically connected to the
conductor and surrounding the bottom insulator as shown in the
Figure (3). Guard ring serves two purposes:
(1) Equalizing the voltage drop across each insulator disc.
(2) With the arcing horn, they protect the insulators against flash
over.

Note that the arcing horn is fixed at the top end of the string as
shown in Figure (3). The combination of the arcing horn and
guard ring provides a path through the air.

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Figure (3): Guard ring with arcing horn

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(2) Corona in Overhead Transmission Lines
The phenomenon of corona is affected by the physical state of the
atmosphere as well as by the conditions of the transmission line. The
following are the factors upon which corona depends :

(i) Atmosphere
As corona is formed due to ionization of air surrounding the
conductors, therefore, it is affected by the physical state of atmosphere.
In the stormy weather, the number of ions is more than normal and as
such corona occurs at much less voltage as compared with fair weather.

(ii) Conductor surface conditions

The corona effect depends on the conditions of the conductors. The
rough and irregular surface will give rise to more corona.

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(iii) Spacing between conductors

If the spacing between the conductors is made very large as
compared to their diameters, there may not be any corona effect. It is
because larger distance between conductors reduces the electric
field at the conductor surface, thus avoiding corona formation.

(iv) Line voltage

The line voltage greatly affects corona. If it is low, there is no change
in the condition of air surrounding the conductors and hence no
corona is formed. However, if the line voltage has such a value that
electric field developed at the conductor surface make the air around
the conductor conducting, then corona is formed.

(v) Conductor Size

The voltage at which corona occurs can be raised by increasing
conductor size. Hence, the corona effect may be reduced.

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 (3) Sag in Overhead Transmission Lines
❑ The difference in level between points of supports and the lowest
point on the conductor is called sag.
❑ If the conductors are too much stretched between towers, the
stress in the conductor may reach unsafe value and in certain
cases the conductor may break due to excessive tension. In order
to permit safe tension in the conductors, they are not fully
stretched but can have a sag.

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Conductor sag and tension.

❑ This is an important consideration in the mechanical design of
overhead lines. The conductor sag should be kept to a
minimum in order to reduce the conductor material required
and to avoid extra tower height for sufficient clearance above
ground level.
❑ It is also desirable that tension in the conductor should be
low to avoid the mechanical failure of conductor and to
permit the use of less strong supports.
❑ However, low tension and minimum sag are not possible. It
is because minimum sag means a tight wire and high tension,
whereas a low tension increases the conductor sag.
❑ Therefore, in actual practice, a compromise in made between
the two.
❑ Tower height depends on the length of span. With long spans,
few towers are required but they must be tall with high cost.
However, the lightning hazards increase as the height of the
conductors above ground is increased.
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 Maintenance of Overhead Transmission Line
❑ A transmission line has an average life span of 30 years, however,
if properly maintained, it can operate for up to 50 years.
❑ Maintenance process can take hours, days and even weeks. This
depends fundamentally on the ease with which they can get to the
towers, as well as the complexity of the maintenance operation.
❑ There are two types of maintenance carried out in transmission
line,
❖ Cold line maintenance.
❖ Hot line maintenance.
❑ In the cold line method, the maintenance is carried out in the
inoperative line. Since there is an interruption in the line, there is
huge revenue loss and customer dissatisfaction, which are the
main disadvantages of cold line maintenance. Therefore, hot line
(live line) maintenance is preferable and adopted wherever
possible.

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❑ In general, there are several methods of live-line maintenance

such as:
❖ Hot sticks.
❖ Barehand method.
❑ In various methods, they all serve to prevent current flowing
from the live line through the lineman.
❑ Hot sticks
They are used in live line work by having the worker remain at a
specified distance from the live parts and carry out the work by
means of an insulating stick. Tools can be attached to the stick,
allowing work to be performed with the worker himself safely
away from the live conductors. It is used with medium voltages.
❑ Barehand method
The lineman is shielded by wearing conductive suit and it gets
bonded to an energized conductor, he can work on the conductor
and associated hardware without shock.

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 Live maintenance of transmission lines using the hot stick.
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Marker Balls

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Vibration Dampers

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