Overhead Line Conductors

Change of State Equations

Part 3
This is the third of a series articles about overhead line conductors which have been presented
in recent issues of APT’s T&D Magazine. The previous subjects have been on general power line
design & conductors and permanent conductor elongation. This article is on the general change
of state equation and builds on the permanent elongation article. Future articles will cover
thermal expansion and modulus of elasticity; fatigue; annealing; steady state current ratings;
transient current ratings; corona discharge; corrosion and conductor types and selection.

By Gary Brennan, Brennan Consultants Australia

T
he general change of state equation (COSE) determinates the
conductor tension for any condition of temperature, wind
loading and or ice loading. The key to understanding the COSE
relationships is that
1. there is some initial conductor condition which is usually a
predetermined design condition;
2. there is a final conductor condition and this is normally the
condition that is being determined; and
3. the fundamental relationship is based on conductor length
between two points where the conductor length is constrained
from any axial movement or in other words mechanically
terminated.
Lets start by taking the simple example of a single span, length L with
the conductor terminated at A and B as illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 1 S imple power line span showing an elevation view of the span &
conductor length and conductor vertical sag.
In this example the general time independent equation for COSE
for the conductor length cord, l is
l initial + Δ l = l final (1)
θ = conductor temperature
α = coefficient of linear expansion
A = conductor cross sectional area
Ef = conductor final modulus of elasticity
1 = subscript denoting initial condition
2 = subscript denoting final condition
The COSE may be manipulated and results in a cubic equation (3)
where A and B are constants. The cubic equation may be solved using
a range of mathematical techniques.
(3)
Figure 2 shows a graphical solution of equation (3) for Mercury
7/4.50 mm all aluminium conductor with an initial tension of 22.5%
CBL (conductor breaking load) at 50C and a variety of conductor
temperature, wind and ice conditions. The figure illustrates that as the
conductor temperature increases from 50C to 1000C, the conductor
tension decreases from 3.8 kN to 2 kN respectively for 160 m span.
If the conductor temperature decreases from 50C to -70C then the
conductor tension increases for the same 160 m span. Comparing the
two -70C curves, the curve with 2mm radial thickness of ice loading
shows an increase in conductor tension. Finally comparing the two
150C curves, the curve with the 500 Pa wind load shows a significant
increase in conductor tension. Understanding the COSE and the
associated change in tensions for various conditions is fundamental
to understanding conductor behaviour.

where Δl is change in conductor length due to

temperature and or tension.

Let us substitute some terms into equation (1) to develop equation

(2). The first two terms are the initial parabolic conductor length, the
third term is the change in length due to change in temperature, the
fourth term is the change in length due to change in tension which
all summates and equates to the final parabolic conductor length.
Equation (2) is therefore as follows,

(2)

where L = span length

ω = conductor mass Figure 2 C
 onductor tensions variation for various temperatures, wind and
Th= conductor horizontal tension ice conditions

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 T&D

Mentioned in Part Two of the series of articles on conductors was

conductor permanent elongation which described a change of
conductor length with time. Hence, the general time dependent
equation for COSE for conductor length, I becomes

l initial + Δ l + ε = l final (4)

where
Figure 4 Plan view of power line span showing conductor horizontal sag
ε = A . t n1 . s n2 . e n3(θ-20) (5)

and t = time in hours where,

s = conductor stress in MPa.
θ = conductor temperature in oC
A, n = conductor constants
and again applying Taylor series expansion results in the parabolic
Thus, from the general time dependent equation for COSE the change equation
in conductor tension over time may be determined and this may be
translated into change in conductor sag over time.
Once the conductor tension is determined it is a relatively easy
exercise to determine conductor sag using the textbook catenary
equation,
Sz =
where, horizontal sag
ch = catenary constant
= Th/(wind pressure x dC)
dC = conductor diameter
and then applying Taylor series expansion results in the more common
and simple parabolic equation, Inclined sag may be determined by the components of vertical sag
and horizontal sag as illustrated in Figure 5.

Sy = horizontal sag
where,
cv = catenary constant
= Th/ω
Th = conductor horizontal tension
Figure 5 Illustrates vertical, horizontal and inclined conductor sag
Of interest is a comparison of the accuracy of the catenary sag
equation and the parabolic and this is illustrated in Figure 3 where the So far the discussion has been limited to a single span. For multiple
error is expressed as a function of catenary constant and effective or spans the concept of a “ruling” or an “equivalent” span was developed
full span length with level conductor attachment points (referring to by Simpson and Boyse in 1944. Simply put, a ruling span is the
Figure 1 where y1 = y2). determination from the lengths of all the spans between tension
structures of a span length that will dictate the conductor
tension in the section. The ruling span is given by,

For example, three spans 240m, 280m and 220m between two tension
structures would have a ruling span,

Figure 3 Parabolic sag error

The parabolic sag error shows that the parabolic equation for vertical
sag may be used with a high degree of accuracy. Parabolic sag has very
limited application for spans where the change in elevation between
adjacent structures is very large or as illustrated in Figure 3 where the
span lengths are large and the catenary curve constants are small.
Another parameter that may be calculated knowing the conductor
tension is conductor blowout or sometimes termed as the conductor
horizontal sag which is illustrated in Figure 4.
The total section length is 740m. The conductor tension determined
from the COSE would be based on a ruling span of 251m.
It is stressed that under some circumstances such as long insulator
lengths, significant changes of elevation between adjacent structures
or where adjacent spans are of significant differing lengths the
equivalent span theory has limited application.
This concludes this article and the next article to be published in
this series will be on conductor thermal expansion and modulus of
elasticity which underpins the change of state equations.

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