IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS, VOL. PAS-88, NO.

3, MARCH 1969 231

Skin Effect in Multiple and Polyphase Conductors

P. SILVESTER, MEMBER, IEEE

Abstract-The modal theory of current flow, previously successful found by imposing the general electromagnetic field laws. Since
in predicting skin-effect behavior of single isolated conductors, is the applied electric field may be presumed to be known, the cur-
generalized to apply to any number of parallel conductors arbitrarily rent density distribution is then readily calculated by summing
arranged in space and excited electrically by arbitrary currents. The the appropriate series. Once the current distribution in each
distribution of current density within each conductor is found in conductor is known, however, the calculation of apparent in-
terms of a summation of the modal functions, and the terminal
parameters of the system of conductors are given as an impedance ductance, power loss, apparent resistance, or any other desired
terminal or field quantity, is a routine matter.
matrix relating the total conductor currents to the voltage drops in the
various conductors. Sequence impedances, losses, and other electrical There exists one special case of an isolated conductor, that of a
properties are then calculable from the basic impedance matrix. round wire, in which the modal functions can be found exactly
analytically (they are the Bessel functions of the first kind);
in all other cases, the modal functions are not part of the or-
INTRODUCTION dinarily known collection of transcendental functions and must
R ECENT papers [1], [2] have described a modal theory of
be found numerically as required. The author knows of no multi-
conductor structure for which analytically exactly expressible
diffusion processes and rendered it possible to predict skin modal functions result, so that their computation by numerical
effect in single isolated conductors with high accuracy [3]. A very methods is invariably necessary. Although the laws of electro-
great number of practical high-current conductor systems, how- magnetic theory are differential and integral equations relating
ever, cannot be treated as consisting of isolated conductors. In continuous functions, numerical computation requires that they
fact, many industrially useful bus structures deliberately exploit be approximated by corresponding finite-difference or matrixequa-
the variety of effects arising from placement of conductors in each tions. For that reason, the development will be presented here in
other's proximity. Interleaved and paired-phase buses are often terms of matrix equations; in an earlier paper [8] the relationship
employed in such high-current applications as low-voltage dis- of the matrix equations to the exact integral equations is discussed
tribution and electric heating, while isolated-phase or paired buses in this context.
with conductive enclosures are used to connect large turbogen-
erators to adjacent equipment. For all these and many other prac- CURRENT FLOW MODES IN MULTIPLE CONDUCTORS
tical cases, the single-conductor theory cannot be used. Clearly
the modal theory needs to be extended and broadened so as to The modal functions for any set of conductors describe current
make accurate performance prediction possible for multiple- distributions which may coexist without interacting, that is,
conductor structures. current distributions which share neither net inductive coupling
Except for approximate prediction of terminal characteristics nor any mutual resistive drop. The nature of these distributions
in particular cases, in Dwight [4] and Arnold [5], no methods of is dictated by the geometric shape of the conductors and is not at
assessing the skin effect in multiconductor structures appear in all affected by the kind of currents or voltages for which the
the literature, and no general multiconductor skin-effect theory conductors may be intended. To illustrate one method of finding
has been developed. As a matter of fact, there does not even exist the normal modes, let a long, straight layout of parallel conduc-
any systematic collection of experimental data to give the current tors of arbitrary cross-sectional shape, as in Fig. 1, be considered.
distributions or terminal characteristics that obtain in typical It will be convenient to think of these conductors as consisting of
cases, although interesting illustrations of specific situations are a large number N of slim square subconductors or filaments, all
furnished by the measurements of, for example, Dannatt and of equal cross-sectional area. Without reference to the electrical
Redfearn [6] and Renaud [7]. In this paper, the modal theory of excitations which will eventually be imposed, let it be imagined
skin effect is generalized to cover the multiconductor case, and its that direct current flows with uniform density in the same direc-
application is illustrated. A computer program capable of ana- tion through all the conductors; the return path for this direct
lyzing three-phase structures, given any prescribed combination current may be thought to be far enough away to produce a
of balanced or unbalanced currents or voltages, is also described. negligibly low-flux density in the conductors (or it may be ar-
The modal treatment of multiple conductors is in principle ranged to flow in a return path that does not affect the current
similar to that employed for a single conductor. First the normal distributions [1]). Each of the filamentary subconductors has
modes of current flow are identified by solving the problem of some resistance Rk, which must be N times greater than the dc
field decay when the conductors are suddenly de-energized. Then resistance Rd, of the entire conductor layout. Each filamentary
both the current density distribution and the applied electric subconductor also possesses some self-inductance, as well as a
field are expanded as generalized Fourier series in the modal func- mutual inductance with every other subconductor. These in-
tions, and relationships between the expansion coefficients are ductances are readily calculated from the geometric mean dis-
tances between subconductors and are conveniently expressed as
an inductance matrix L, a symmetric square matrix of order N
Paper 68 TP 22-PWR, recommended and approved by the Switch- In keeping with the convention established in working with single
gear Committee of the IEEE Power Group for presentation at the conductors, this matrix will be written as
IEEE Winter Power Meeting, New York, N. Y., January 28-Febru-
ary 2, 1968. Manuscript submitted Augutst 28, 1967; made available
for printing November 2, 1967. L = 82O° G (1)
The author is with McGill University, Montreal, P.Q., Canada. 27
232
Fig. 1. Multiconductor structure of very great length.
where /L0 is, as usual, the permeability of free space, and G
is a matrix of dimensionless geometric multipliers, dependent only
on the shape of the conductors.
If the set of conductors and its return path are suddenly short-
circuited so that no voltage sources appear anywhere, the sub-
conductor currents will decay, as will their associated magnetic
field. The manner of this decay is dictated by the set of network
equations
(Rk U + Lp) S = 0 (2)
where U is the unit matrix, p the time differential operator, and
S the column vector of subconductor currents. Equation (2) may
be rearraniged to show the geometric and electrical properties
explicitly, as
(G + )AS =O. (3)
Ao,yp A
Here A represents the total cross-sectional area of all the con-
ductors, and y is the material conductivity. Equation (3) will be
recognized as the ordinary matrix eigenvalue problem, which
possesses N distinct solutions S, one corresponding to each possi-
ble characteristic value of p. These values are related to the eigen-
values of the matrix G by
27rN (4)
poyAyAP(
It is known that the matrix G in this case must not only be sym-
metric, but must have distinct eigenvalues; hence all the eigen-
vectors Sk are orthogonal and possess one-to-one correspondence
with the eigenvalues. These eigenvectors form finite-difference
approximations to the modal functions desired.
As in the single-conductor case, it is useful to frame all skin-
effect problems in terms of dimensionless variables. Therefore
the normalized frequency Q will be introduced here, in a manner
entirely anialogous to its use in earlier work on single conductors:
°(9
S2 ~~~~~~~(5)Thatis to say, the coefficients ck are explicitly calculable if the
7rRde
Correspondingly, it is convenient to refer in further calculations
to normalized critical frequencies 1k,
Qk= -- (6)
A 7c
rather than to the eigenvalues Ak. The latter are essentially pro-
portionial to N so that the normalized critical frequencies depend
on N only in so far as a finer subdivision will produce numerical
results of improved accuracy.
GENERAL SKIN-EFFECT PROBLEM
The normal modes may be determined to good accuracy, using
computational techniques described elsewhere [31, [11]. Since
these functions are known to span the N space generated by sub-
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS, MARCH 1969
division of the conductors into N filaments, any arbitrary func-
tion defined over the cross-sectional area of the conductors may
be expanded in a series of the Sk. The current density in the con-
ductors, which may be described approximately by specifying
the currents in all subconductors as a column matrix I, can thus
be written in the form of a generalized Fourier series:
I = E bkSk (7)
kc
where bk are constant coefficients that need to be determined.
Similarly, the impressed longitudinal electric field (the voltage
per unit length) in the conductors may be described by specifying
the longitudinal field of each subconductor in a column matrix E.
The elements of E corresponding to the filaments of any one con-
ductor will usually be equal, so that the column matrix E of an
M-conductor system will usually contain only M distinct num-
erical values. An expansion similar to (7) is always possible for the
matrix E also:
E = E CkSk- (8)
k
Again, the constants ck need to be determined so as to produce the
correct sum.
Solutionfor Prescribed Voltage Drops
Like any other eigenvectors or eigenfunctions, the Sk are only
defined up to an arbitrary multiplicative constant; clearly (3)
may be multiplied by any arbitrary constant without altering its
solutions. It is convenient to normalize the eigenvectors so that
the scalar product of any two eigenvectors is given by
Sk' Sm = 0° k =, m (9)
that is to say, so that the length of each eigenvector is VANT
Given any prescribed E, the coefficients Ck may be found by
scalar multiplication of (8) by Sk':
ShG'ECkSk'Sk-
= (10)
All terms other than the kth must yield a zero product, accord-
ing to (9). The kth term, on the other hand, must yield N as the
right-hand scalar product, so that
S7c'E
/C N (11)
longitudinal electric field is given at all points of the conductor
crosssection.
To solve the skin-effect problem for any arbitrary set of conduc-
tors at any frequency, it is only necessary to find a relationship
between the coefficients ck and bk; for if such a relationship is
known, the current distribution I can be found. In order to deter-
mine the required relationship, the general expression for mag-
netic vector potential A in the neighborhood of long straight con-
ductors,
A =
AO
JflogrJ'dS (12)
27r
may be replaced by its matrix equivalent
A =
Ao
GI (13)
27r
SILVESTER: SKIN EFFECT IN MULTIPLE CONDUCTORS 233

where the components of the column matrix A denote average analysis, M might typically be 3, while N ought to be as large as
values of magnetic vector potential over each of the N subcon- convenient within the memory and speed limits of the digital
ductors. As is well known, the longitudinal electric field in the computer available; if any symmetries exist, a value of 300 or 500
conductor must at all times equal the sum of resistive and reactive can easily be achieved. Let it be supposed that the longitudinal
drops, field in each of the M conductors is uniform across the entire
conductor cross section. There will then exist only M distinct
E =RkI- A. (14) values of longitudinal field; these values may be thought to
constitute a column matrix E, of order M, which is related to the
If all quantities are assumed to vary sinuosidally, then (14) may column matrix E of the preceding section by a rectangular matrix
be replaced by the complex equation B having M rows and N columns:
E = RkI - jcoA (15) E = B'EC (20)
where E, I, and A are complex matrices. Substituting (13) and where B' is the transpose of
(5) into (15), there is obtained
... I10 .... ... O
E = NRdIU(U- jiG)I. (16)
B = K ... 0 1 .... 1 0 ... ... 0 . (21)
..

On inserting the series expansion (7), (16) becomes
E = NRd0(U - 2i G)bkSk. (17)
But the product GSk, by the very nature of the eigenvalue prob-
lem, must always equal AkSk. The matrix G in (17) may there-
fore be replaced by the unit matrix times the kth eigenvalue, so
that
E= NRd, E bk(1 +j Sk. (18)
Since the eigenvectors Sk form a complete orthogonal set, the
coefficients Ck in (8) are unique. Therefore the coefficients multi-
plying the Sk in (8) and (18) must be identical, and
Ck
bk = (19)
NRdc( 1 + jQ/Q)
Thus the coefficients bk can be calculated, given the frequency
and the distribution of longitudinal electric field. In other words,
the current distribution I at any given frequency is given by the
summation (7), with the coefficients determined by (11) and (19).
Solutionfor Given Total Currents
The above solution is valid for any general longitudinal electric
field distribution and enables the current distribution corre-
sponding to it to be calculated. However, the longitudinal field is
rarely known beforehand in practical problems; by far the most
usual case is that in which only the total current in each conduc-
tor is specified, and all that can be said about the longitudinal
field is that it may be presumed uniform over each conductor
cross section. In order to solve this problem, the basic solution
above must first be rewritten in terms of currents flowing in the
actual conductors, rather than the currents in the many fila-
mentary subconductors. It is possible to do so in such a way as
to permit expressing the longitudinal field of each conductor in
terms of the total currents in all the conductors, i.e., to write an
impedance matrix that describes the multiple-conductor layout.
Subsequently, the distribution of prescribed currents can be
found in two steps: first the longitudinal fields are calculated
corresponding to the given total currents; then the current dis-
tribution resulting from that longitudinal field distribution is
determined as above.
Let the entire system of M actual conductors again be thought
to be subdivided into N filamentary subcoaductors. In a practical
L-0 ... ~~... O 1 ... 1_i
In the following, this matrix will be referred to as the connection
matrix, for it serves to indicate which filamentary subconductors
must be connected together so as to assemble the filaments into
the actually existing conductors. It will be noted that this matrix
is exactly that used by Kron [9] in the theory of electric circuits
and machines. The total current in each conductor is also related
to the subconductor currents by this matrix; if I, is the column
vector of total conductor currents, then
IC = BI. (22)
Using the connection matrix, a simplified expression can be found
for the coefficients Ck. Combining (11) and (20), there is ob-
tained
1
ck = - Sk 'B'Ec (23)
N
which may be simplified to
Ck = ak'Ec (24)
where ak is the column vector of order M given by
1
ak = - B Sk.- (25)
N
It will be noted from this definition that the vectors ak (of order
M) are not dependent on the conductor voltages or currents, but
only on the conductor shape. It will also be seen that the modal
function averages ak of the single-conductor theory are included
in this theory as the special case M = 1. The defining equation
(25) may be interpreted as stating that any given component of
each ak equals the average value of Sk over all subconductors
making up the corresponding physical conductor. Stated yet an-
other way, the components of ak are equal to the series expansion
coefficients of the longitudinal field that result if unit field is
impressed upon one conductor and zero on all the others.
A solution to the general skin-effect problem has now not yet
been obtained, for (24) only provides a simplified manner of
solving the problem of the foregoing section. It is still necessary to
find an explicit expression for the matrix of conductor voltage
drops E, in terms of the conductor currents A,. To do so, (7) and
(22) will be combined to yield
IC = B E bkSk. (26)
k
 234 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS, MARCH 1969

The values of bk from (19) will next be inserted. Making use of the y
newly defined matrices ak, this substitution yields
0k

,/
I 0

NRd,,-1
- E

BSo CRC
(27)
k
1+j3- I
' >x
z
But (25) indicates that several of the symbols in (27) may be
combined into another a7C: Fig. 2. Flat parallel conductors spaced one width apart.

Ic =- E akcakc EC.
1
(28)
Rdc k +j
Equation (28) provides the solution desired, for it consists of an
explicit relationship between the conductor voltage drops and
currents. It should be noted that the product a/cak' is taken in the
order opposite to the inner product, so that it defines not one
single scalar, but a square matrix of order Ml. The entire quantity
premultiplying Ec in (28) is therefore nothing more than the
admittance matrix that relates conductor total voltages and cur-
rents. Given the currents, the longitudinal drops in the conductors
are easily found by a single matrix inversion:
E= RdcF akak 1 IC. (29)
kc +1-
It must be emphasized that the inversion involved is that of a
matrix of order M. For example, only a square matrix of order 3
needs to be inverted in a three-conductor system, regardless of the
number of N of subconductors employed to model the conductors.
This inversion is consequently a purely routine minor arithmetic
operation.
General Solution Algorithm
The above steps may now be summarized in algorithmic form,
so that the principles underlying the necessary computer pro-
gramming will be made clear. The current density distribution in
any system of conductors may be found, given the total current
in each conductor, by the following steps
1) The admittance matrix of (28) is formed and inverted.
2) The longitudinal drops are found using (29).
3) Knowing the matrix EC, the expansion coefficients C/ are
determined as indicated in (24).
4) The coefficients in the current expansion (19) are found.
5) The summation shown in (7) is performed to find the cur-
rent distribution.
practical conductor systems possess one or more planes of geo-
metrical symmetry-the electrical excitations which it is intended
to apply need not be symmetrical-development of methods for
making use of symmetry systematically is of importance.
Although two, three, or even more planes of symmetry are
commonly found in practical bus conductors, only one plane of
symmetry will be considered here in order to illustrate the prin-
ciple involved. Let there exist a conductor layout such as shown
in Fig. 2, symmetric about the vertical plane. It will be supposed
that the conductors are subdivided into an even number N =
2K of subconductors, and that the subconductors in the right-half
plane are numbered 1, 2, * *, K from left to right, while the left-
half plane subconductors are numbered K + 1, ..., N from
right to left. In this way, the nth and K + nth subconductors will
occupy symmetrically placed positions. The modal distributions
of current must now clearly possess a plane of symmetry also.
However, the currents might flow either with even or with odd
symmetry; and both possibilities must be accounted for.
If even symmetry obtains, then the first K components of the
eigenvector Sk are exactly equal to the second set of K compo-
nents. The eigenvector may therefore be partitioned into two like
vectors,
Fe)
S/k
(30)
Lts=
Similarly, the matrix G that describes the geometric relationship
of each subconductor to every other subconductor, is partition-
able into four square submatrices, only two of which are distinct.
This is immediately evident if it is recalled that the elements of
this matrix are logarithms of geometric mean distances between
subconductors, and therefore reciprocal. On partitioning, the
eigenvalue problem (3) therefore becomes
FGrr Gr I] S kc (31)
r
1 Grr
'0A
A/cL i
iL e '= 0

If only the terminal properties are desired, e.g., the loss per unit where G,, and Gr, are the submatrices of G that refer to the rela-
length, the phase unbalance voltage caused by unequal drops, or tionship between the right-hand elements with themselves, and
other similar quantities, the entire sequence of calculations is not with the left-hand elements, respectively. U denotes a unit
necessary; one may stop once the admittance matrix has been matrix, and 0 the null matrix. Clearly the two matrix equations
inverted, for all the required terminal information is contained contained in (31) are identical, and may be written as
within it.
[(Grr + Gr ) - A/cU]S/c(e) = 0. (32)
CONDUCTORS WITH GEOMETRIC SYMMETRY This is an eigenvalue problem indistinguishable from (3), except
Although the procedure for finding the modal properties of any that the order of the matrices involved has been halved. Since
given conductor layout is simple enough in principle, further re- many matrix computations, including complete solution of the
finement of the computational details is possible if any planes of eigenvalue problem, require a number of arithmetic steps pro-
symmetry exist in the system. Exploitation of symmetries pro- portional to the cube of matrix order, as much as an eightfold
vides the possibility of very substantial savings in computation. saving in time results, as well as a fourfold saving in required
For example, full use of quadrant symmetry permits either a memory capacity.
very great increase in accuracy, or alternatively a substantial For eigenvectors Sk with odd symmetry, corresponding ele-
decrease in computation time, to be obtained. Since virtually all ments must be negatives of each other. The partitioning corre-
SILVESTER: SKIN EFFECT IN MULTIPLE CONDUCTORS 235
Si A It is perhaps worth noting that each of the four independent
submatrices Gij must be symmetric, so that the number of in-
dependent matrix elements that must be computed is not very
large; for large N, it approaehes N2/16 asymptotically. The de-
tailed calculation of these individual matrix elements is identical
S2, I
to that in the single-conductor case [1] and will not be repeated
here.
In order to exhibit the nature of modal functions, Fig. 3 shows
,.-I
the first few functions for a set of very thin flat parallel conduc-
tors, as in Fig. 2. Since these functions are only defined over the
cross-sectional area of the conductors themselves, no meaning
53 can be attached to them outside the conductors; the intercon-
ductor areas in Fig. 3 are therefore left blank. All the functions,
it may be seen, show a tendency to oscillatory behavior, just like
the single-conductor functions described earlier [1]. It may be
well to reemphasize here that there does not in fact exist any
difference between the set of modal functions for a single con-
S4 I ductor consisting of three parallel strips, and a set of three paral-
lel strip conductors. The distinction is one of intended use, not of
geometrical shape, and will therefore lead to a different connec-

UJLV1 UV
Fig. 3. The first four modal functions for the structure of
Fig. 2. The functions are undefined in the interconductor
space.
sponding to (30) is then
t= [ .t<
so that opposite signs are introduced into the eigenvalue prob-
lem, and instead of (32) there results
[(Grr - GrO) - AkU]Sk( ) = 0.
Again, the matrix order of this problem is half that of the
original one.
While it may for some cases be necessary to solve the modal
problem without symmetries, the advantages to be gained from
exploiting symmetry are so great that one can ill afford to ignore
symmetry where it exists. The gains to be realized with several
planes of symmetry are of course even greater than for one. For
example, two planes of symmetry permit fourfold reduction of
matrix order, so that although four eigenvalue problems (odd and
even symmetries about two planes) may need to be solved, both
the core-memory and computation-time requirements are reduced
by a factor of 16. In this case, the subconductor numbering will
be arranged symmetrically in the four quadrants, and there result
only four independent submatrices Gjk when the G matrix is
partitioned:
[Gii G12 G13 G14
G= G12 G0l G14 G13
G13 G14 G01 G12
tion matrix but identically the same modal functions.
SKIN-EFFECT PARAMETERS OF CLOSE-SPACED BUSES
Equation (29) represents a generalization of the single-con-
ductor analysis in which the objective is to find an expression for
impedance of a unit length of the conductor: while a single im-
pedance suffices for a single conductor, an impedance matrix of
order Ml is required to describe an ill-conductor system. For
single conductors, it has long been conventional to give curves or
tables of the resistive and reactive parts of impedance separately,
as functions of the normalized variable p, where p2 = Q. This
(33) manner of description is in principle possible for multiple con-
ductors also; but the amount of data to be reported increases
rapidly. For example, while two families of curves suffice to give
all necessary data for single rectangular conductors of any shape,
a three-phase bus of rectangular conductors must be described by
multiple families of curves. In addition to the cross-sectional
(34) shape of the individual conlductor, the spacing enters as a param-
eter; furthermore, at least eight sets of curves are required to
show the variation of independent impedance matrix elements
for any given spacing. Consequently, although it is quite easy to
compute the performance data for layouts such as shown in Fig.
1, it is not practicable to produce universal curves for this or any
other structures. It is much more convenient to calculate the
operating data for specific conductor configurations when re-
quired.
For any one particular structure, the results can be given
simply as normalized real and imaginary parts of each indepen-
dent impedance matrix component. In the very important special
cases involving geometric symmetries, however, simplifications
result. For example, for three conductors with one plane of
symmetry, where the modal functions possess symmetries ex-
pressed by (30) and (33), (25) shows that the ak corresponding to
Sk with even symmetry possess only two independent compo-
nents, while those corresponding to Sk with odd symmetry have
only one:
(35)
[a_

L_G14 G01 G12 Gll0J ak(e) = a2 (37)

where the subscripts refer to the four quadrants. The four distinct
eigenvalue problems of reduced order may be summed up in Fal

a (k l=
° (38)
[(OGl G12 GO3 014) - AkU]Sk = 0. (36) L-1a=1k
236 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND
Such symmetries in ak in turn lead to double symmetry of the
products akak, so that only four independent components can
appear in the resulting impedance matrix of (29). Even so, a
formidable quantity of numerical data must be reported.
One way in which the many numbers can be combined so as to
render them more meaningful within the context of power en-
gineering, is to transform the matrix of conductor impedances
into a corresponding matrix of sequence impedances. It is easily
verified, using the conventional sequence component transforma-
tion formulae, that there are still only four independent com-
ponents ZPP, Zp, Zoo, Zpo, where the subscripts p, n, 0 denote
positive, negative, and zero sequences, respectively. Two of the
independent components Zpo and ZQO are associated with the zero-
sequence current, which is often assumed to be zero. Conse-
quently a useful, though incomplete, description of the electrical
terminal properties is obtainable by ignoring Zoo and possibly
Zpo, thus reducing the overall quantity of data. It must be ob-
served that a nonzero Z,,0 implies existence of a zero-sequence
voltage drop, even though no zero-sequence current flows.
The resistive and reactive parts of all sequence impedances
(i.e., the sequence resistances and inductances) are not constant
with frequency. Their variation is ascribable to the same phe-
nomenon as is encountered with single conductors: as frequency is
increased, currents shift in position. The geometric mean dis-
tances between conductor currents therefore change, even
though the conductor geometry remains unaltered. While the
currents in the single conductor merely crowd outward, however,
there occurs in the multiple-conductor case both an outward shift
of similarly directed currents, and a coming together of op-
positely directed current filaments. The resulting phase relation-
ships are quite complex, especially where unbalanced poly-
phase currents are encountered, and do not usually lend them-
selves to ready physical interpretation.
EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION
There exist in the literature very few extensive reports of skin-
effect data for multiple conductors. However, sufficient measure-
ments have been published to permit verification of the above
theory with independently obtained data. A very detailed de-
scription of experiments performed on a high-current three-phase
bus, of the type shown in Fig. 1, is given by Schurig in his
discussion of Siegel and Higgins [10]. The channels were 15.2
cm by 15.2 cm in size, spaced 30.4 cm center to center; the
web thickness was 10.5 mm and the gap between channels 42.8
mm wide. The length of the structure under test was 7.62 m. The
results are subject to an uncertainty resulting from end effect,
which may be estimated as being of the same order of magni-
tude as the effect of lengthening the structure by an amount
equal to the conductor spacing. Table I shows a part of Schurig's
results, and compares them with values predicted using the above
theory. The calculated values are given both with and without
inclusion of the estimated end-effect allowance. A point perhaps
worth observing is that the current values reported for these tests
contain a zero-sequence component equal to 2.4 percent of the
line currents. Since the tests were conducted with open neutral,
this figure may be viewed as an indication of experimental
accuracy. The numerical effect of this component on the cal-
culated values of voltage, however, is not large; since the ratio of
sequence impedances Zpp/Zpo is about eight in this case, the line-
to-line voltages change by only about one quarter of one percent
if the zero-sequence current is eliminated. The agreement of ex-
perimental with predicted values is thus well within the limits
of experimental error.
SYSTEMS, MARCH 1969
TABLE I
LINE-To-LINE VOLTAGES OF THREE-PHASE BUs
Vab V, V.ca
Predicted
no end correction 5.60 5.37 7.94
4 percent end correction 5.84 5.62 8.26
Experimental 5.72 5.60 8.30
Current values
Ia = 4395 L 1210 A
Ib = 4370 Z 0° A
I, = 4420 Z 2410 A
PRACTICAL COMPUTER PROGRAM
The modal theory of current flow in multiple conductors has
been described above, and an algorithm for computer program-
ming given. In order to permit the performance of different con-
ductor configurations to be analyzed, a computer program has
been written, using this algorithm. To indicate the present possi-
bilities of this technique, a brief description of the program will be
given here.
The description of the configuration to be analyzed is fur-
nished to the computer in quasi-graphical form, by sketching
the conductor cross section on a deck of punch cards with a
keypunch in Inuch the manner that one might draw it on squared
paper with a pencil-the card columns are imagined to represent
points in a field, and punches are inserted to identify the loca-
tions of conductive material. Accordingly, the first program sec-
tion analyzes the input deck and identifies the sections of con-
ductive material both as to location and as to the conductor to
which they belong. While not really a part of the multiconductor
algorithm at all, this work is necessary to furnish the raw material
out of which the G matrix and the connection-matrix B are
constructed.
The next two program sections set up the reduced matrices G
for the cases of even and odd symmetry in turn, and immediately
perform the required eigenvector analyses. These program sec-
tions require by far the greatest portion of computer time. Using
Householder's method, undoubtedly the fastest numerical
technique available at present [11], about three minutes are
required by an IBM 7044 computer to set up a typical G matrix
of order 150 (corresponding to 600 subconductors with quadrant
symmetry) and to extract the first 50 eigenvalues and eigen-
vectors. Since two repetitions of this procedure are necessary
(odd symmetry about the horizontal axis need not be considered,
for no electrical excitations with odd components about this axis
will ever be encountered), about six minutes of machine time
are necessary. Some savings may of course be effected by reduc-
ing the number of eigenvectors computed, for in most problems
quite adequate accuracies can be obtained from far fewer than 100
terms in the series expansions.
Once the modal functions and characteristic frequencies have
been calculated, the program immediately proceeds to the im-
pedance matrix analysis, giving the independent components of
the matrix in (29) as functions of the normalized frequency Q.
This calculation is in essence a generalization of the skin-effect
parameter analysis described for single conductors [3], but re-
quires somewhat more computer time. Concurrently, a conver-
sion to sequence impedances is made in order to facilitate inter-
pretation of results, and the total 12R loss in the structure is cal-
culated in terms of the loss at dc. The total running time for this
program section is less than one minute, so that a verv nearly
SILVESTER: SKIN EFFECT IN MULTIPLE CONDUCTORS
(a)
40P
(b) 20°
A [2] P. Silvester, "Ac resistance and reactance of isolated rec-
-200 -
Fig. 4. Current density distribution in the structure of
Fig. 2, with balanced sinusoidal excitation. (a) Ampli-
tude, with the dotted line denoting average value. (b)
Phase relative to total current in each conductor. Phase
sequence is right to left.
exhaustive analysis of the conductor system is performed in
less thani eight or nine minutes. This time is drastically reduced if
the conductors are modeled less finely.
For reasons of memory limitation, no provision is included
in this program for calculation of actual current density distribu-
tions. However, the necessary numerical data are recorded on
magnetic tape as a routine matter, so that only very simple sup-
porting programs are necessary to perform any further calcula-
tions. For example, the current distribution in the flat arrange-
ment of Fig. 2 is readily obtained by summing the modal func-
tions of Fig. 3 with suitable coefficients. Fig. 4 shows the result-
ing current distribution at 220 Hz for three aluminum strips
1.65 mm thick and 82.6 mm wide carrying balanced sinusoidal
currents. Experiments performed on a conductor layout of these
dimensions and 245 cm long have yielded good agreement with
theoretically predicted distributions. It will be noted that the
distribution of current is not symmetric, but depends on the
phase sequence.
CONCLUSIONS
The modal theory of current flow, extended in this paper to
cover multiple as well as single conductors, proves even more
powerful for the analysis of multiple conductors excited by unlike
currents and voltages, than for the single-conductor problem.
Virtually any shapes and sizes of conductors now in commercial
use can be analyzed accurately, and the calculation of losses or
unbalance voltages become a routine matter even where un-
balanced or nonsinusoidal currents are encountered. The accuracy
of calculation is not limited by theoretical considerations, but
rather by the computing equipment available; with present-day
medium-sized computers, accuracies better than one percent
may be expected for most structures. The theory is quite general;
limitations arise only in the computational aspects of given
problems.
In order to illustrate application of the new theory, a program
to analyze electrically balanced or unbalanced three-phase con-
ductor configurations with quadrant symmetry has been written
and tested. Good agreement is obtained with independent ex-
perimental data. Cases with other symmetries or other numbers
of phases can be dealt with by similar programs.
Applications of the new theory are for the present still restricted
to conductors remote from magnetic material, so that although
237
analysis of high-current buses is practical, applications to elec-
tric machine problems must await further extension of this
technique.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author wishes to acknowledge financial support of this
research by the National Research Council of Canada.
REFERENCES
[1] P. Silvester, "Modal network theory of skin effect in flat con-
ductors," Proc. IEEE, vol. 54, pp. 1147-1151, September 1966.
tangular conductors," IEEE Trans. Power Apparatus and
Systems, vol. PAS-86, pp. 770-774, June 1967.
[3] P. Silvester, "The accurate calculation of skin effect in conduc-
tors of implicated shape," IEEE Trans. Power Apparatus and
Systems, vol. PAS-87, pp. 735-742, March 1968.
[4] H. B. Dwight, Electrical Coils and Conductors. New York:
McGraw-Hill, 1945.
[5] A. H. M. Arnold, The Alternating-Current Resistance of Non-
magnetic Conductors. London: H.M.S.O., 1946.
[6] C. Dannatt and S. W. Redfearn, "The efficient utilization of
conductor material in busbar sections," World Power, vol. 14,
pp. 397-400, 492-496, 1930.
[7] J. Renaud, "Methode rapide de mesure de faibles chutes de
tension en courant alternatif; application a l'etude de l'effet
pelliculaire," Rev. Gen. de lElect., vol. 57, pp. 5-24, 1948.
[8] P. Silvester, "Dynamic resistance and inductance of slot-em-
bedded conductors," IEEE Trans. Power Apparatus and Sys-
tems, vol. PAS-87, pp. 250-256, January 1968.
[9] G. Kron, Tensorsfor Circuits. New York: Dover, 1959.
[10] C. M. Siegel and T. J. Higgins, "Equations for the inductance
and short-circuit forces of busses comprised of double-channel
conductors," AIEE Trans. (Power Apparatus and Systems),
vol. 71, pp. 522-531, January 1952.
[11] J. H. Wilkinson, The Algebraic Eigenvalue Problem. Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1965.
Discussion
P. Graneau (Simplex Wire and Cable Company, Cambridge, Mass.):
Almost simultaneously with Dr. Silvester, I developed a similar
theory for computing ac conductor losses and interconductor forces
of multiphase circuits. My specific aim was to facilitate the develop-
ment of cryogenically cooled conductors which pose more severe
problems than conventional bus bars and power cables. My work
was published in Britain in 1965 [12] and 1967 [13].
Since then, Dr. Silvester and I had a chance to compare notes.
We are agreed that both theories utilize the same physical model,
i.e., conductors made up of parallel current carrying filaments
interacting with each other via the laws governing the mutual in-
ductance between linear circuits. From this model, we extract the
identical mathematical formulation of the problem, the heart of
which is the mutual inductance matrix of the array of conductor
filaments. It is in the method of solving the mathematical problem
that we differ. Dr. Silvester proceeds to determine the eigenvectors of
the matrix which can be assembled in another square matrix in
which the mode currents are column suLms and the filament currents
row sums. Once the filament currents are known, the heavy compu-
tational work is done.
In my way of handling the mathematics, the filament currents
are obtained directly from the superposition of the multiple cross-
inductions. The formidable number of interactions are marshalled
by a simple interaction diagram. This results in mathematical steps
Manuscript received February 8, 1968.
238 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS, VOL. PAS-88, NO. 3, MARCH 1969
which are indistinguishable from more conventional methods of suc-
cessive approximation. The process is terminated when further steps
are found to have no significant influence on the result.
For the development of cryogenic conductor systems, the most
helpful piece of information is a picture of the current distribution,
as only this can show the way to better designs. We must, therefore,
determine the individual filament currents per unit driving EMF.
In Dr. Silvester's work, each of these currents is given by a series of
as many terms as there are filaments. Fortunately, many of these
terms may be neglected without introducing serious errors. In my
case, the filament current appears as an infinite power series of the
skin-depth parameter. This, too, may be truncated without en-
dangering accuracy. We both find that a relatively small number of
terms is sufficient, say 10 or 20, but this may vary from problem to
problem. Furthermore, I believe both our series lead to the same
numerical result, but, so far, we have been unable to show this un-
ambiguously either by theory or experiments. If I am correct, then
there arises the question which method should be chosen. The cri-
terion will inevitably be economics in computer charges. I find it dif-
ficult to come to any conclusion on this issue and the main point of
my contribution to Dr. Silvester's paper is to ask him whether he is
able to make the comparison.
I can quote one example. For a mutual inductance matrix of
4128 X 4128, our program to determine current distribution runs 65
minutes on the Control Data 3600 computer and approximately the
same time on the IBM Model 360-75. Seven terms of the filament
current series proved adequate for +5-percent error limits. The
average charge on these large and fast computers may be taken as
$600 per hour.
Finally, I would like to stress the practical significance of the ec-
centric current distribution in three-phase circuits brought about by
phase rotation. Dr. Silvester's diagram, Fig. 4, makes history as it
appears to be the first of its kind to be published. Our results show
the same effect, only more strongly, as would be expected from the
larger p values that apply to cryogenic conductor systems. This
newly discovered phenomenon could have a profound influence on the
evolution of high-current ac condtuctors.
Switching Surge Study
JOHN H. MORAN,
Abstract-This paper is the second section of a two-part paper.
The first carried full switching surge test information on post-type
insulators through 2050 BIL, together with other pertinent infor-
mation [1]. This paper carries similar information through 3300
BIL.
INTRODUCTION
AS the requirements for the transmission of large amounts of
power have grown steadily, particularly in the United
States, the need for information concerning the insulation re-
Paper 68 TP 663-PWR, recommended and approved by the
Substations Committee of the IEEE Power Group for presentation
at the IEEE Summer Power Meeting, Chicago, Ill., June 23-28,
1968. Manuscript submitted February 9, 1968; made available for
printing April 10, 1968.
The author is with Lapp Insulator Company, Inc., Le Roy,
N. Y. 14482.
REFERENCES
[12] P. Graneau, "Alternating and transient conduction currents in
straight conductors of any cross-section," Internat'l J. of Elec-
tronics, vol. 19, pp. 41-59, 1965.
[13] P. Graneau, "Computation of losses and inter-conductor forces
in low-temperature ac power circuits," Internat'l J. of Electron-
ics, vol. 22, pp. 1-18, 1967.
P. Silvester: The author wishes to thank Dr. Graneau for his kind
comments and for his interest in this work.
It is very difficult indeed to forecast the relative economic merits
of direct solution methods as against the modal approach, since the
computational techniques involved are widely disparate. Where
nonsinusoidal or transient currents are involved, there appears to
be little choice, the modal technique being the only practical one.
Where several analyses are necessary for a particular conductor shape
(e.g., to determine the effect of conductivity or of an alteration in
phase unbalance), the modal approach possesses the clear advantage
of requiring only a few simple calculations to be made for each new
condition, once the modal functions have been determined. If only
one or perhaps two analyses are to be made of a given conductor
configuration, direct methods may have an advantage. In both
cases, there is still a relatively wide choice of the actual computa-
tional technique, each with different time requirements.
It is evident that Dr. Graneau's work has involved very much
larger matrices than the author's, but very much lower solution ac-
curacy has been acceptable. To what extent one requirement counter-
balances the other is dependent not only on the numerical method
chosen, but probably also on the actual conductor shape. One must
conclude, however regretfully, that a clear answer can not yet be
given.
Manuscript received March 15, 1968.
of EHV Station Posts: II
SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE
quirements of these systems has also grown. In particular, as
the voltage level of the systems has gone upward, the problems
associated with the switching surges which may be generated in
these systems have also gone upward. It then becomes essential
that the characteristics of the insulators used on these systems
under the effect of switching surges be known to transmission
and substation designers.
Many investigators [2]-[7] have concerned themselves with
switching surge effects and strength of line insulators under
switching surge. The original switching surge information in the
station insulation area was presented in 1964 [8] when the study
of switching surge effects was more or less in its infancy. An in-
tensive study of the problem of switching surges applied to sta-
tion post insulation was continued [1 ] and the present paper is a
continuation of that work with emphasis on supplying informa-
tion in the higher voltages and in those areas where the need for
such information was indicated by the discussion of that paper.