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EHV 500KV TRANSMISSION LINE DESIGN

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DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35057.51046

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Addis Ababa Science and Technology University
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

EHV 500KV TRANSMISSION LINE DESIGN

Prepared by: Demsew M.

JULY 2017
 Content
• Introduction
• Economic Size of Conductor
• Transmission Line Parameter Calculation
• Transmission Circuit and Bundle Conductor Calculation
• Surge Impedance Loading (SIL) of the line
• Sag-Tension Calculation of conductor
• Insulator Sizing
• Field Effect of EHV transmission line
• Environmental Criteria
Electrical Design Parameters
 Introduction
• Voltage Classes:

o Low Voltage (LV) (<1 kV)

o Medium Voltage (MV) ≥1kV and ≤72.5kV),

o High Voltage (HV) ≥72.5kV and ≤242kV),

o Extra-High Voltage (EHV) ≥242kV and <1000kV),

o Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) ≥1000kV).

 Design Input
• 500kV EHV transmission line Design Parameters:

o Transmission distance 600mile

o Plant generation capacity 1000MW

o System power factor 0.90

o Design Voltage level 500kV and Frequency 50Hz

 Economic Transmission Voltage
• The most economic three phase number of circuit to transmit
1000MW power from the generation plant through 600mile 500kV
transmission line is given by:

𝑁𝑐 =0.97 ≅ 1.
𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝑲𝑽𝑨/𝑵𝒄
𝑽 = 𝟓. 𝟓 𝑳 + 𝒌𝑽
𝟏𝟓𝟎

• V=500kV, L=600mile pf=0.9 Load in

KVA=1000MW/0.9=1111.11*103kVA
 Cont’d…
• The most economic transmission voltage level is:

1111.11 ∗ 103
𝑉 = 5.5 600 + 𝑘𝑉 = 492𝑘𝑉
150

• 𝑉𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑐 =492KV, the nearest standard transmission voltage is

500KV
 Conductor Selection
• Expanded ACSR and ACCR

o Good strength weight ratio

o Better conductivity-weight ratio

o Better performance at high temperature

o Long ruling span length

o Reduces huge investment on lattice structures

o Cost…
 Economic Size of Conductor
• Kelvin’s Law represented by the following formula used to determine the economic current density conductor.

𝒂. 𝒑 𝑨𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆
𝑪 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟑
𝒒 𝒎𝒎𝟐

Where,

o C = most economical density of current (Ampere/mm2)

o a = percent annual expense to the construction cost of conductor (13.5%)

o p = price of conductor (4.00$/kg)

o q = cost of electricity (0.03$/kWh)

𝟏𝟑. 𝟓 ∗ 𝟒
𝐂 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟑 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟓 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞/𝒎𝒎𝟐
𝟎. 𝟎𝟑
 Cont’d..
• The current I is calculated as follows:

μp
I= Ampere
3 ∗ V ∗ pf

• Where,
o µ = utility factor being (0.6 )
o pf = power factor being 0.90
o V = line voltage (500kV)
o P = Maximum Power (1000MW)
• The most economic size of the conductor is, A=I/C (mm2)
0.6 ∗ 106
𝐼= Ampere = 769.8Ampere
3 ∗ 500 ∗ 0.9

𝐼 769.8Ampere
𝐴= = 2
= 1400𝑚𝑚2
𝐶 0.55 Ampere/mm
 Cont’d…
• The numbers of bundle conductors (n) if we choose 468-

mm2 expanded ACSR, 26/7 conductor of r = 14.055mm.

1400𝑚𝑚2
𝑛= 2
= 2.99 ≈ 3
468𝑚𝑚
 Cont’d…
Table 3.1: Conductor Data Sheet Aluminum Conductors Steel Reinforced (ACSR)
 Cont’d…
• The following conductor specification is selected for economic and best
environmental operation of 500kV overhead transmission line. Please
refer Table 3.1.

o 500-kV transmission line e = 288.7 kV

o 468-mm2 expanded ACSR, 26/7 conductor r = 14.055 mm

o The number of conductor bundles n=3

o 457-mm (18~in) spacing on conductor bundle S = 45.72 cm

o 13.1-m (43-ft) equilateral phase spacing D = 1310cm

 Conductor Configuration
• An equilateral conductor configuration is chosen for the

following reason.

o To balance the magnetic field stress for each phase of a bundled conductor,

o A balanced power loss and

o Corona discharge for each phase is maintained.

 Line Parameter calculation
• Fundamental AC transmission line parameters:

o Line Inductance

o Line Capacitance

o AC Resistance
 500kV Line AC Resistance Calculation
• Determinant Parameter:

o Material Type
𝒍
o Cross Sectional Area 𝑹𝒅𝒄 = 𝝆.
𝑨

o Line Length
𝐑 𝐓 = 𝐑 𝐨 [𝟏 + 𝛂(𝐓 − 𝐓𝟎 )]
o Temperature and
 Cont’d…
• From Table 3.1 the dc resistance of the chosen conductor
at 20oc is 0.0717Ω/km.
• But when the conductor is energized, it operates a
temperature of around 50oc.

𝑹𝑻=50oc = 𝑹𝒐 [𝟏 + 𝜶(𝑻 − 𝑻𝟎 )]= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖𝟏Ω/𝐤𝐦

• 𝛼=0.004308/oc for aluminum conductor.

 Cont’d…
• The dc resistance of the conductor increased by 13% only by
temperature factor.

• The per phase dc resistance (3 bundle conductor per phase) is

0.081/3=0.027 Ω/km=0.027*1.6091 Ω/mile=0.04345 Ω/mile.

• We should find out the ac resistance by accounting the skin effect:

𝑹𝒂𝒄 = 𝐊 . 𝑹𝒅𝒄 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐊𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐗,

𝝁. 𝒇 𝟏 ∗ 𝟓𝟎
𝑿 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟑𝟓𝟗𝟖 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟑𝟓𝟗𝟖 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔
𝑹𝒅𝒄 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟑𝟒𝟓
 Cont’d..
Table 2.1: Skin Effect Parameter Values
 Cont’d…
• Since K is a function of X and x1<X<x2, using linear interpolation:

𝑿 − 𝒙𝟏 [𝑲 𝒙𝟐 − 𝑲 𝒙𝟏 ]
𝑲 𝑿 = 𝑲 𝒙𝟏 +
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏

• Referring Table 2.1, X=2.16 is between x1=2.1 (K1=1.09375) and x2=2.2(K2=1.11126)

𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 − 𝟐. 𝟏 [𝟏. 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟔 − 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟑𝟕𝟓]

𝑲 𝑿 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟑𝟕𝟓 +
𝟐. 𝟐 − 𝟐. 𝟏

𝑲 𝑿 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟎𝟒𝟐𝟓𝟔
 Cont’d…
• Rac=K*Rdc=1.104256*0.04345 Ω/mile=0.048 Ω/mile
• The per phase ac resistance of a 500kV transmission line having 3
bundle conductor at 50oc is 0.048 Ω/mile.
• The 3-phase 500kV power loss having the above conductor
specification at 50oc is given by:

𝑷𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒔 = 𝟑𝑰𝟐 . 𝑹𝒂𝒄

𝑷𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒔 = 𝟑 ∗ 𝟕𝟔𝟗. 𝟖𝟐 ∗ 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟖 ∗ 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝑾 = 𝟓𝟏. 𝟐𝟑𝑴𝑾

• Which is 5.123% of the transmission capacity and well performed system.

 Discussion
• Compare the loss and the ac resistance with your
Practical exposure?
 500kV Line Inductance Calculation
• Consider a single-circuit, three-phase
system with multi conductor configured
phase conductors as shown in Figure 3.1.

• And assume equal current distribution in the

phase subconductors and complete
transposition.

• We can show that the phase inductance for

the system is the following expression:
 Cont’d…
• For proper phase to phase Clearance and to obtain low magnetic stress

and low corona discharge:

o 500-kV transmission line e = 288.7 kV

o 468-mm2 expanded ACSR, 26/7 conductor r = 14.055 mm

o The number of conductor bundles n=3

o 457-mm (18~in) spacing on conductor bundle S = 45.72 cm

o 13.1-m (43-ft) equilateral phase spacing D = 1310cm

 Cont’d..
3
GMD = 13.1 ∗ 13.1 ∗ 13.1 = 13.1𝑚

r’=0.768r=0.768*14.055 mm =10.8mm

𝑆
𝐴= 𝜋 = 26.4𝑐𝑚
2 sin
𝑁
1
𝐺𝑀𝑅 = [𝑁𝑟′(𝐴)𝑁−1 ] 𝑁 =13.12cm

13.1𝑚
𝐿 =2∗ 10−7 ln( ) = 0.923𝜇𝐻/𝑚
0.1312𝑚

−6
0.2898𝑚Ω
𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 = 6.28 ∗ 50 ∗ .875 ∗ 10 = = 0.4643Ω/𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒
𝑚
 Discussion
• Discuss the line inductive reactance and inductance
value computed above with your practical exposure?
 500kV Line Capacitance Calculation

• Assume equal current distribution in the phase

subconductors and complete transposition, the phase
capacitance for the system has the following
expression:
𝟐𝛑𝜺𝒐 𝟏
𝑪𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 = , 𝜺𝒐 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎−𝟗
𝑮𝑴𝑫 𝟑𝟔𝝅
𝐥𝐧[ ]
𝑮𝑴𝑹
 Cont’d…
1
2πεo 2𝜋 ∗ ∗ 10−9
Cphase = = 36𝜋 = 12.068 ∗ 10−12 𝐹/𝑚
13.1 4.603645
ln[ ]
0.1312

• The line reactance for a 50Hz system is given by the following

expression:

1
𝑋𝐶 = = 2.64 ∗ 108 Ω − 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1.65 ∗ 105 Ω − 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
 Discussion
• What do you think about the result of the capacitive
reactance,

𝑋𝐶 = 0.165 ∗ 𝑀Ω − 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒

???
 Surge Impedance of Line
• Natural impedance, or characteristic impedance of the line.
𝑽(𝒙, 𝒕)
𝒁𝟎 =
𝑰(𝒙, 𝒕)

𝑹 + 𝒋𝒘𝑳
𝒁𝟎 =
𝑮 + 𝒋𝒘𝑪

𝑳
𝒁𝟎 = = 276.6Ω
𝑪

• Which is independent of line length!

 Surge Impedance Loading (SIL)
• Surge Impedance Loading (SIL) or the natural loading of a
transmission line is the power delivered by a line to a purely
resistive load equal to its surge impedance.
(𝑘𝑉𝐿𝐿 )2
SIL(3ϕ) = (MW)
𝑍𝑜

SIL(3ϕ) = 904MW

𝑉𝑅 𝐿−𝐿
|𝐼𝐿 | = (𝐴)
3 ∗ 𝑍𝑜
 Group Discussion

• So what is the implication of the SIL result calculated in

the previous slide?
Safety Design Parameter
 Sag-Tension Calculation
• The clearances required vary with the area being traversed.

• The clearances must meet the specifications outlined in the

National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) (Safety Rules for the
Installation and Maintenance of Overhead Electric Supply and
Communication Lines,).

• The conductor low point must never violate the clearance levels
specified in Table 3.3.
Basic Clearance Data for 500kV (NESC)
 Cont’d…
System Voltage, ROW Width, m TC, m Clearance, m
kV
Phase to Height of mid Average height at
phase span lowest phase
345 38m 45.7m 7.6m 8.5m 12m

500 55m 67m 10m 9.9m 14m

745 72m 88m 14m 14.3m 18.5m

 Cont’d…
• Generally the minimum ground clearance requirement for EHV
transmission line of flat pedestrian area only is given by the formula:

𝑽 𝟎. 𝟒
𝑯𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝟐𝟐 + − 𝟓𝟎 ∗ (𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒕)
• 𝐻𝑚𝑖𝑛 = The minimum clearance of the 𝟏𝟐 line conductor from ground
𝟑 transmission

• V= Transmission line voltage maximum Value (550kV for example for 500kV line)
 Cont’d…
• The curve shape assumed by a conductor when suspended
between towers is very close to a catenary or a parabola.

• The equation for the conductor low point (i.e. the conductor
sag at mid span, assuming suspension points at equal
elevations) using parabolic model is:
Cont’d…
𝟖𝑺𝟐
𝐋=𝐏+
𝟑𝑷

𝑿𝟐
𝐒 𝒙 =𝐖
𝟐𝑯

𝑷𝟐
𝐒=𝐖
𝟖𝑯

𝐇=𝟐∗𝒂∗𝐖

𝐖(𝟑𝑷𝟐 + 𝟖𝑺𝟐 )
𝐕=
𝟔𝑷
 Cont’d…
• The average span length of 500kV line outside the city are 1200- 1500 ft (366-
457 m)

• Therefore we can take a ruling span of, P=411.5m for 500kV transmission line.
• Rated conductor Strength 139.7kN (Refer Table 3.1)

• W=(1627kg/km)*(10m/s2)=16.27N/m (Refer Table 3.1)

• Stringing the conductor with a maximum tension force, T=70kN (50% 0f the
material rated strength to avoid mechanical stress)
 Cont’d…
• The maximum sag developed for a span length of 411.5m is given by:

𝑃2
𝑆= 8𝑇 2
=4.925m
−16
𝑊𝑃

𝑃2 411.52
𝐻= 𝑊 = 16.27 ∗ = 69.924𝑘𝑁
8𝑆 8∗4.925

W 3P 2 + 8S 2 16.27 3 ∗ 411.52 +8 ∗ 4.9252

V= = = 3.35𝑘𝑁
6P 6 ∗ 411.5

𝑇= 𝐻2 + 𝑉 2 = 70𝑘𝑁
 Cont’d…
Therefore the minimum clearance of the lowest phase
from ground at pole point is:

• Pedestrian: 𝐻ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑆 + 𝐻𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 9.1𝑚 + 4.925𝑚 = 14.025𝑚

• Highway: 𝐻ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑆 + 𝐻𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 12.2𝑚 + 4.925𝑚=17.125m

• Rail Road: 𝐻ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑆 + 𝐻𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 11.9𝑚 + 4.925𝑚=16.825m

 Discussion
• Reflect your opinion on the calculated result of Sag and

Tension.

• What would happen if the stringing tension becomes:

a) 140kN

b) 35kN
 Insulator Sizing
• The insulation capacity of the insulator is the measure of the power
frequency and lightning with stand voltage gradient to provide proper
insulation between tower and live part of the conductor.

𝟐 𝐕𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 (𝐊𝐕)
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 = ∗ [𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧]
𝟑
• Safety margin=1.2 (Switching Pulse)-1.4(Lightning Pulse)
500 2
• 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = ∗ 1.2 = 490𝑘𝑉
3

• Which is equivalent to 850kV a switching transient over voltage!!

 Cont’d
• Withstand voltage for 210 kN Suspension insulator (plastic type) =13

kV/disc. Thus, Number of insulator discs = 490/13 = 38 discs (for 210 kN

insulators).

• Withstand voltage for 300kN Suspension insulator (glass type)=15kV/disc.

Thus, Number of insulator discs = 490/15 = 33discs (for 300kN insulators).

 Group Discussion

• Discuss the different types of insulators for EHV!

• Reflect the capacity of the different insulator type used

in EHV transmission and how you can choose them?

Environmental Design Parameter
• Environmental impacts from transmission lines are:

o conductor surface gradient,

o Corona Discharge

o Radio interference,

o Audible noise and

o Random noise.
 Conductor Surface Gradients
• Mean conductor surface gradient (g), kV/cm

1.4055
1+ ∗288.68
45.72
g= 1310 = 20.775kV/cm
(2∗1.4055) log𝑒
1.4055∗45.72
 Cont’d…
• The critical visual corona gradient is calculated
through (go), kV/cm

0.301
𝑔𝑜 = 21.1 ∗ 0.88 ∗ 1 1 + = 23.3𝑘𝑉/𝑐𝑚
1.4055
 Corona Discharge
• The power loss due to corona discharge, in kW/km at 50 Hz (per
phase)

2 2
𝑔 20.775
𝑃𝑘 = 𝑛 𝑟 ∗ 𝑓 ∗ = 32 0.014055𝑚 2
∗ 50𝐻𝑧 ∗
𝑔𝑜 23.3

= 0.0793𝑘𝑊/𝑘𝑚

𝑃𝑘 3𝜙 = 0.2379𝑘𝑊/𝑘𝑚
 Group Discussion
• Why the power loss due to corona discharge
becomes very small?
 Audible Noise of Corona
• The average value of AN in rainy weather for any phase
of the transmission line is given as:
𝐴𝑁𝑖 = 120 log g + 𝑘 log 𝑛 + 55 log 2𝑟 − 11.4 log 𝑅 + 𝐴𝑁𝑜

k =26.4 for n ≥3, and 0 for n <3

ANo= -128.4(In case of n≥3) and -115.4 (In case of n<3)

𝐴𝑁𝑖 = 120 log 20.775 + 26.6 log(3) + 55 log 2.811 − 11.4 log 100 − 128.4

𝐴𝑁1 = 𝐴𝑁2 = 𝐴𝑁3 = 44.3dB(A)

 Cont’d…
• Therefore the resultant sound pressure SPL, in dB (A) is given by:

• Where, SPL = resultant sound pressure, dB (A),

• ANi = Noise Level due to phase I, dB (A)

44.3 44.3 44.3
SPL = 10 log[ 10 10 + 10 10 + 10 10 ] = 49.07dB(A)
 Radio Interference
• RIfair = −105.81 + 117.41 log g + 40.38log 2r + 1.54 logN −
10.22logR − 27.1 log(f)

• RIfoul = −81.89 + 119.56 log g + 43.57log 2r + 3.97 logN −

19.05logR − 25.07log(f)
𝑹𝑰𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟓𝐝𝐁 (𝐀)

𝑹𝑰𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒍 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟑𝟗𝐝𝐁 (𝐀)

 Cont’d…
System Voltage, Acceptable Audible Radio Interference , Corona Discharge
kV Noise , RI, dB (A)
SPL, dB (A)

345 55 55

500 55 55

745 55 55
Mechanical Design Parameters
 CHAPTER FIVE
LINE LIGHTNING PROTECTION
 THEORIES OF THUNDER CLOUD
“When atmosphere near the earth surface or ocean surface containing a large
amount of water vapor warms up by the heat from the sun and other sources, it
expands and ascends. When it reaches a high altitude, it is cooled down, resulting
the vapor in the atmosphere becomes water droplets and then a cloud. When it
ascends even higher, water droplets in the cloud becomes ice grains and some of
them concentrate and grow to hailstones. At that time, these ice grains and
hailstones are decomposed by electric current. Then, ice grains are charged
positively and hailstones are charged negatively. Ice grains ascend even higher by
riding updraft and hailstones grow bigger and fall by the gravity. Charge separation
continues by the coulomb force. Before long, top of the cloud is positively charged
and the bottom negatively. A cloud accumulates electrical energy, which is when a
 Cont’d…
• If the space charge densities, which happen to be present in a
thundercloud, produce local field strengths of several100
kV/m, leader discharges are formed which initiate a lightning
discharge.

• Cloud-to-cloud flashes result in charge neutralization between

positive and negative cloud charge centers and do not directly
strike objects on the ground in the process.
Cont’d…
Downward Flash
Upward Flash
 Cont’d….
• On very high, exposed
objects (e.g. wind turbines,
radio masts,
telecommunication towers,
steeples, High voltage
towers) or on the tops of
mountains, upward flashes
(earth-to-cloud flashes) can
 Surge voltages
• Various types of surge voltages can occur in electrical and electronic systems.

• They differ mainly with their duration and amplitude.

• Depending on the cause, a surge voltage can last a few hundred microseconds,

hours or even days.

• The amplitude can range from a few millivolts to ten thousand volts.

• Lightning strikes are a special cause of surge voltages. Direct and indirect strikes

can result not only in high surge voltage amplitudes, but also high and sometimes

long current flows, which then have very serious effects.

Surge Characteristics
 Group Discussion

Why Lightning flash over during cold season or rain

time?
 Cont’d…
• The arrester providing a conducting path of relatively low
surge impedance between the line and the ground to the
arriving surge.
• The discharge current to the ground through the surge
impedance limits the residual voltage across the arrester
hence the equipment and the system connected to it.
• During normal service this impedance is high enough to
provide a near-open circuit.
 Cont’d…
• Arresters or diverters are generally of the following types and
the choice between them will depend upon the power frequency
system voltage, and characteristics of the voltage surges, i.e.
(i) Gapped or conventional type, and

(ii) Gapless or metal oxide type.

 Gapped Surge Arresters
• These are generally of the following types:

I. Expulsion Arrester

II. Spark Gap Arrester

III. Valve or non Linear Resistor Arrester

 Expulsion Arrester
• These interrupt the flow of current by an expulsion action and limit the

amplitude of the surge voltages to the required level.

• They have low residual safe or discharge voltages (Vres).

• The arrester gap is housed in a gas-ejecting chamber that expels gases

during spark-over.

• The arc across the gap is reduced and blown-off by the force of the

gases thus produced.

Cont’d…
 Cont’d…
• The enclosure is so designed that after blowing off the arc it forcefully
expels the gases into the atmosphere.

• The discharge of gases affects the surroundings, particularly nearby

equipment.

• The gas ejecting enclosure deteriorates with every operation and,

therefore, has only a limited operating life.

• Moreover, these types of arresters are for low system voltage and of
specific ratings and an excessive surge than the rated may result in its
 Spark Gap Arrester
• These have a pair of conducting rods with an adjustable gap,
depending upon the spark over-voltage of the arrester.

• Precise protection is not possible, as the spark-over-voltage

varies with polarity, steepness and the shape of the wave
protection becomes uncertain.

• These arresters are also now obsolete for the same reasons as
the previous one.
 Valve or non Linear Resistor Arrester
• A non-linear SiC resistor-type gapped surge arrester may generally consist of
three non-linear resistors (NR) in series with the three spark gap assemblies.
 Cont’d…
• The resistance has an extremely low value on surge voltages and a very
high one during normal operations to cause a near-open circuit. It is now
easier to interrupt the flow currents.

• Across the spark gaps, known as current limiting gaps, are provided high-
value resistors (HR) backed up with HRC fuses.

• The non-linear resistors have a very flat V-I curve, i.e. they maintain a
near-constant voltage at different discharge currents.

• The flatness of the curve provides a small residual voltage and a low
Cont’d…
 Cont’d…
• When the switching or lightning surge voltage exceeds the breakdown

voltage of the spark gap, a spark-over takes place and permits the current

to flow through the NR.

• Due to the nonlinear nature of the resistor, the voltage across the line is

limited to approximately the discharge commencing voltage (Vres), which

is below the 3–5 p.u. level for a line.

• It may be noted that the use of resistor across the spark gap stabilizes the
 Gapless Surge Arresters
• The high resistive component of the previous system results
high power loss which generates heat is the limitation.

• The alternative was found in ZnO.

• ZnO is a semiconductor device and is a ceramic resistor

material constituting ZnO and oxides of other metals, such as
bismuth, cobalt, antimony and manganese.
 Cont’d…
• These ingredients in different proportions are mixed in
powdered form, ZnO being the main ingredient.

• It is then pressed to form into discs and fired at high

temperatures to result in a dense polycrystalline ceramic.

• Surge arresters made of these elements have no conventional

spark gap and possess excellent energy absorption capability.
 Cont’d…
• Under rated system conditions, its feature of high

non-linearity raises its impedance substantially and

diminishes the discharge current to a trickle.

• Under rated conditions, it conducts in mA while

during transient conditions it offers a very low

impedance to the impending surges and thus rises

the discharge current and the discharge voltage.

• However, it conducts only that discharge current

which is essential to limit the amplitude of the

prospective surge to the required protective level of

the arrester.
Cont’d
ZnO Arrester for various Rating
 Group Discussion

Discuss the arrester type and operation in your area?

 Electrical Characteristics of a ZnO Surge Arrester
• ZnO blocks have extremely non-linear, current-voltage characteristics, typically
represented by:

𝐼 = 𝐾 · 𝑉∞
• K, represents its geometrical configuration, cross-sectional area and length, and is
a measure of its current-carrying capacity.

• ∞ is a measure of non-linearity between V and I, and depends upon the

composition of the oxides used. Typical values are:
• In SiC it is 2 to 6

• In ZnO – it can be varied from 20 to 50.

 Cont’d…
• By altering ∞ and K, the arrester can be designed for any conducting voltage
(Vres) and nominal current discharge (In).
• Vres and In define the basic parameters of a surge arrester.
 Maximum continuous operating voltage (MCOV),
Vc
• This is the maximum power frequency operating r.m.s. voltage that can be
applied continuously (≥ 2 hours) across the arrester terminals without a
discharge (point 1 on the curve).

• It continuously draws an extremely low leakage current, IZnO, capacitive in

nature, due to ground capacitance.
𝑽𝒎
𝑽𝒄 = (Phase to phase)
𝟑
 Rated Voltage, Vr
• This is the maximum permissible r.m.s. voltage for which the
arrester is designed (point 2 on the curve).
• The arrester can withstand this voltage without a discharge for
minimum 10s under continuously rated conditions (when the
arrester has reached its thermal stability),

• Indirectly indicating an in-built TOV (transient over voltage)

capability of 10s.
 Cont’d…
• Now it also draws a current resistive in nature, in the range of a
few mA.

• The lower this current, lower will be the loss and the heat
generated during an over-voltage and hence better energy
absorption capability.
 Discharge or Residual Voltage, Vres
• It is the voltage that appears across the arrester
during the passage of discharge current – that flows
through the arrester due to a surge.
• Vres is the conducting voltage of an arrester during an over-
voltage or transient condition and defines its protective
level.
 Temporary Over-Voltage (TOV)
• It is determined by its low current region (d) that is usually
less than 1 A and for prospective transient voltages it is
determined by its high current region (e) (2.5–20 kA, 8/20𝜇s
current impulse).

• It is beyond the knee point and relatively long duration

voltage transient.

• Major sources are short cct fault and load rejection

 Transient voltages (Vt)
• Depending upon the magnitude of Vt the operating point
may shift to near point 4 or beyond and conduct a
current 2.5–20 kA and more. It is point 4 on the curve.

• The maximum surge voltage exist at this point and the

arrester should effectively clear the surge.
 Energy Capability (J)
• Energy capability of an arrester defines its capability to absorb
the surge energy of an impending surge, usually the long
duration switching surge without any thermal damage or heat
generation.

• Energy capability values are provided as standard by the

manufacturers in their data sheets.

• For a series of consecutive discharge the ZnO discs must attain

 Basic insulation level (BIL)
• BIL is the basic insulation level of equipment. When the system TOVs or

voltage surges exceed this level, the equipment may fails.

• In the latest international and national standards it is defined as follows:

a. For systems 1 kV < Vm < 245 kV.

i. Rated lightning impulse withstand level (LIWL)

ii. Rated short time power frequency dielectric strength.

b. For systems Vm > 300 kV to 765 kV;

i. Rated lightning impulse withstand level (LIWL)

ii. Rated short time power frequency dielectric strength.

iii.Rated switching impulses withstand level (SIWL).

 Protective Margins
• On the BIL discussed above a suitable protective margin is considered to
provide sufficient safety to the protected equipment against unforeseen
contingencies. ANSI/IEEEC62.22 has recommended certain values to account
for these and they are given in Table 5.1.
𝐁𝐈𝐋 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 =
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 (𝑽𝒓𝒆𝒔 )
 Selection of a ZnO Surge Arrester
• Service conditions:

• Mechanical soundness:

• Maximum continuous operating voltage (MCOV) Vc (rms):

• The BIL of the equipment being protected

• The arrester’s nominal discharge current (In):

• For each kind of TOV and its duration, a corresponding
factor (K) is obtained and with this is determined the
required rating, Vr of the arrester.
• The most crucial TOV may be selected as the rating of the
arrester.
• If it is not a standard rating as in the manufacturer’s
catalogue one may select the next higher rating available.
Vc= K · Vr
 Cont’d….

Example:

Determine the rating of a surge arrester to protect a solid ground fault stay for 3 second and load
rejection of 1 second simultaneously for a 400 kV system.
400kV Arrester Rating at Different TOV
 Protective Distance of the Arrester
• If the arrester and the equipment to be protected at
different location:
𝒍 ∗ 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝑽𝒔 − 𝑽𝒓𝒆𝒔
Vs = Vres + 2.S.T 𝑻= 𝝁𝒔 𝒍 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎 (𝒎)
𝟎. 𝟑 𝑺

o Vs= actual surge voltage at the instant of strike in the equipment

o S = steepness of the incoming wave in kV/𝜇s

o T = travelling time of the surge to reach the equipment from the arrester terminals.

o L= line length between arrester andequipment

 Example
• For the arrester of the previous example, Vm = 420 kV, Vr = 336 kV and Vres = 844 kV for a
lightning surge protective margin at 20 kA discharge current, from the manufacturer.

• If we consider the lightning surge with a steepness of 2000 kV/𝜇s, then for a total distance
of, say, 8 m from the arrester to the equipment please determine the actual surge voltage at
the equipment and BIL of the equipment If we maintain a protective margin of 20%.

8
𝑉𝑠 = 844𝑘𝑉 + 2 ∗ 2000 ∗ ∗ 10−3 𝑘𝑉 = 951𝑘𝑉
0.3

• Then the minimum BIL that the equipment under protection must have

= 1.20 *951kV = 1141.2 kV

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