CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY – MAIN CAMPUS

Electrical Engineering Department

Problem Set 3
Transmission Line Parameters III
EE-PC 4111: Power System Analysis

September 28, 2023

Group Number: D Members: Chavez, Creo, Lariosa, Petalcorin, Tejume, Yray

Instructions: For each of the given problems below, on a separate document (your work
should be typeset in LATEX for this problem set), provide (all) appropriate solutions for each
problem.

Problem 1. [15 points] Discuss the effect of earth on the capacitance of a transmission
line. Provide all necessary equations. You may also improve your discussion by visualizing
information thru MATLAB or any preferred simulation program of your choice.

There are two types of capacitance in a transmission line:

First one is capacitance between the phase conductors and the second one is shunt ca-
pacitance between the conductor and the earth. Capacitance between the phase conductors
is not only dependent of conductor spacing, radius of conductor and height of conductor
from the ground rather it is also influenced by the earth.

Consider an isolated conductor having linear charge density (ρ) kept at a height of (h)
meters above the ground. As the earth is assumed to be an equipotential surface, this means
that there must be another imaginary conductor below the earth’s surface at a depth equal to
the height of the conductor as shown in the figure below. Also, the charge on this imaginary
conductor should be equal but opposite to the actual conductor. This imaginary conductor
is called the image of the actual conductor and this method is famously known as method of
image.

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 Calculate the capacitance of the above-shown isolated conductor to understand the effect
of the earth on capacitance. From the above figure, it can be easily seen that the actual
conductor with its image is equivalent to a single-phase transmission line. As we know the
capacitance of a single-phase transmission line is given as:
πϵ0
C=
ln( Dr )

Where;

D = separation between the Go and Return conductor; and

r = radius of conductor

Here in our case, the actual conductor and its image conductor are separated by a
distance 2h, hence Phase-Phase Capacitance per unit length:
πϵ0 F
= [ ]
ln( 2h
r
) m

But this phase-to-phase capacitance can be assumed to be a series connection of phase-

to-ground capacitance of conductors as shown below.

2
 C1
Therefore, phase to phase Capacitance = 2

2πϵ0 F
C1 = [ ]
ln( 2h
r
) m

From the above value of capacitance, we observe that the capacitance of the conductor
has increased due to the effect of Earth.

The capacitance of the transmission line is affected by the presence of the Earth. Be-
cause of Earth, the electric field of a line is reduced. If we assume that the earth is a perfect
conductor in the form of a horizontal plane of infinite extent, we realize that the electric field
of charged conductors above the earth is not the same as it would be if the equipotential
surface of the earth were not present.

The capacitance (C) of a 3-Φ transmission line can be calculated using this formula:
2πϵL
C=
ln( Dr )

Where;

C is the capacitance per unit length of the transmission line (Farads per meter (F/m),

ϵ is the permittivity of the insulating material between the conductors (Farads per
meter (F/m),

L is the length of the transmission line segment (meters),

D is the distance between the conductors (meters),

r is the radius of the conductors (meters).

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 The Earth affects the capacitance of a transmission line by acting as one plate of a
parallel-plate capacitor. The transmission line, along with the conductors, forms the other
plate. The proximity of the transmission line to the Earth influences the capacitance, with
closer proximity resulting in a larger capacitance. This increased capacitance affects the
line’s impedance, propagation characteristics, and overall electrical behavior.

It is also noteworthy that the capacitance of a transmission line is influenced by the

height of the conductor above the Earth’s surface and the radius of the conductor. As the
height of the conductor increases, the capacitance decreases because the distance between
the conductor and the Earth (the dielectric) increases, reducing the capacitance. Conversely,
a larger radius of the conductor increases the capacitance due to more surface area for charge
accumulation. Balancing these factors is critical for optimizing the transmission line’s per-
formance and efficiency.

Problem 2. [15 points] Briefly discuss the following terms:

(a) Corona discharge - This phenomenon occurs when there is a potential gradient between
the conductors of a transmission line. When the potential gradient at the conductor
surface reaches 30 kV/cm at standard pressure and temperature, the air gets ionized.

(b) Proximity effect - Conductors do not distribute current evenly across their cross-
sectional area when high alternating voltage is applied to them. Other conductors
carrying current nearby result in an increase in the conductor’s apparent resistance.

(c) Ferranti effect - The Ferranti effect is a phenomenon in long-distance AC electrical

transmission where the voltage at the receiving end can be higher than at the sending
end due to capacitance in the transmission lines. This can cause overvoltage issues,

4
 requiring proper management and compensation techniques to maintain a stable volt-
age profile.

Problem 3. [10 points] Three ACSR Drake conductors are used for a three-phase overhead
transmission line operating at 60 Hz. The conductor configuration is in the form of an
isosceles triangle with sides of 6 m, 6 m, and 12 m.
(a) Find the capacitance-to-neutral and capacitive reactance-to-neutral for each 1-km
length of line.

Solution:
p
3
Dm = (6)(6)(12) = 7.5595 m

d = 1.108 in

2.54 cm 1m
r = 0.554 in × [ × = 0.0141 m
1 in 100 cm

2πϵ0 2πϵ0
CAN = GM D
= 7.5595 m
ln[ r2 ] ln[ 0.0141 m
]

= 8.8525 × 10−12 F/m

= 8.8525 × 10−9 F/km

= [8.8525 × 10−9 F/km] · [1 km]

CAN = 8.8525 × 10−9 F

1
Xc =
2πf C
1
=
2π(60 Hz)(8.8525 × 10−9 F )

Xc = 299, 642.1785 Ω/phase

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 (b) For a line length of 280 km and a normal operating voltage of 220 kV, determine the
capacitive reactance-to-neutral for the entire line length as well as the charging current
per km and total three-phase reactive power supplied by the line capacitance.

Solution:

L = 280 km

V = 220 kV
Capacitive Reactance:
299, 642.1785
= = 1, 070.1506 Ω to neutral.
280

V 220 × 10−3 V
Ic = =√
Xc 3 (299, 642.1785)

= 0.4239 A/phase or = 0.4239(280) = 118.692 A/phase/km

Total 3-phase reactive power supplied by the line capacitance:

√
= ( 3) × (220 × 103 V ) × (118.692 × 10−3 )

= 45.2277 kV AR

Problem 4. [20 points] The conductor configuration of a bundled single-phase overhead

transmission line is shown in the figure below. Line X has its three conductors situated at
the corners of an equilateral triangle with 10-cm spacing. Line Y has its three conductors
arranged in a horizontal configuration with 10-cm spacing. All conductors are identical, solid
cylindrical conductors, each with a radius of 2 cm.

(a) Find the equivalent representation in terms of the geometric mean radius (GMR) of
each bundle and a separation that is the geometric mean distance (GMD).
(b) Determine the total capacitance of the line per kilometer. (Hint: Each bundle has a different
GMR so each bundle has a different capacitance as well.)

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Solution:
(a) p
GM Rx = 9
(R′ D2 D3 )(R′ D3 D1 )(R′ D1 D2 ); D1 D2 = D1 D3 = D2 D3
p p
GM Rx = 3
R′ (D1 )2 = 3
(0.7788)(2)(10)2 = 5.38 cm
p
GM Ry = 9
(R′ d2 d3 )(R′ d3 d1 )(R′ d1 d2 )
p p
GM Ry = 9
(R′ d1 d2 )2 (R′ (d1 )2 ) = 9
(0.7788 × 2 × 100)2 (0.7788 × 2 × 100) = 6.276 cm

√
c 2 = a2 + b 2 ; x = 5 3

q √
D3 d1 = 6002 + (5 3)2 = 601.06 cm
q √
D3 d2 = 6152 + (5 3)2 = 615.06 cm

D3 d3 = 625.06 cm

p
9
GM D = [D1 (d1 d2 d3 )][D2 (d1 d2 d3 )][D3 (d1 d2 d3 )]
p
9
GM D = (610 × 620 × 620)(600 × 610 × 620)(605.06 × 615.06 × 625.06) = 615.013 cm

(b)
2πϵ0 2πϵ0
Cxy = 615.013 +
ln( 5.38 ) ln( 615.013
6.276
)

= 2.387 × 10−11 F/m × 1000 m/km = 2.387 × 10−8 F/km