CHAPTER THREE

Transmission line parameters

3.1 Introduction
Resistance, Inductance, Capacitance & Conductance are the four
parameters which affect the performance of a transmission line as
an element of a power System.
Conductance is due to the leakage current over line insulators and
through the insulation of cables. it is normally neglected in over
head transmission lines, Since leakage at insulators of over head
lines is negligible
But the other three parameters (i.e. Inductance, Capacitance and
Resistance) are uniformly distributed along the line and they form
the series and shunt impedance of the line.
However, it is inductive which limits the capacity of the
transmission line since inductance is the dominant parameter in
transmission line.

2
 Cont’d
3.2 Resistance
• The dc resistance of solid round conductor is given by

The following two factors affect the resistance of the

conductor:
– Frequency
– Temperature

3
 Cont’d

• However, frequency and temperature affect the ac

resistance of an ac system.
• The flow of an alternating current through a
conductor results in non uniform current distribution
over the cross sectional area of the conductor and its
non uniformity increases with increase in frequency.
• The greatest density on the surface of the conductor
causes the ac resistance to be somewhat higher than
the dc resistance, and it is known as skin effect.

4
 Cont’d
• The resistance at a temperature T is given by:

• Similarly, the resistance R2 at a temperature T2 can be found

if the resistance R1 at a temperature T1 is known, and it is
given by:

5
 Cont’d
Resistivity of some conductors

Material Resistivity at 20oC Temperature constant

[m] [oC]

Annealed copper 1.72 x 10-8 234.5

Hard-drawn 1.77 x 10-8 241.5

copper

Aluminum 2.83 x 10-8 228.1

Iron 10.00 x 10-8 180.0

Silver 1.59 x 10-8 243.0

6
 Skin effect
• When a conductor is carrying steady direct current (dc), this current is
uniformly distributed over the whole cross-section of the conductor.
• However, an alternating current flowing through the conductor does
not distribute uniformly, rather it has the tendency to concentrate
near the surface of the conductor as shown in Figure below. This is
known as skin effect.
• Due to skin effect, the effective area of cross-section of the conductor
through which current flows is reduced. Consequently, the resistance
of the conductor is slightly increased when carrying an alternating
current.

Figure 3.1 skin effect in

a conductor carrying ac
current

7
 Inductance

• The inductance of a magnetic circuit that has a constant

permeability µ can be obtained by determining the
following:
– Magnetic field intensity H, from Ampere’s law
– Magnetic flux density B ( B= µH )
– Flux linkages λ
– Inductance from flux linkages per ampere,
• The series inductance of a transmission line consists of two
components: internal and external inductances, which are
due the magnetic flux inside and outside the conductor
respectively.

8
 Inductance

• The inductance of a transmission line is defined as the

number of flux linkages [Wb-turns] produced per ampere
of current flowing through the line:

• A current flowing through a conductor will set up a

magnetic field inside and outside of the current carrying
conductor.
• Therefore, the flux linkage should be determined first in
order to find the inductance of the circuit.

9
 Cont’d
Flux linkages due to a single current carrying conductor:
• Consider a long straight cylindrical conductor of radius r meters
and carrying a current I amperes (rms) as shown in Figure
below.

Fig. 3.2 (a) current carrying cylindrical conductor (b) flux at point X

• The magnetic lines of force will exist inside the conductor as

well as outside the conductor. Both these fluxes will contribute
to the inductance of the conductor.

10
 Cont’d
Flux linkages due to internal flux:
• Refer figure 3-2 (b) above where the cross section of the
conductor is shown magnified for clarity. The magnetic field
intensity at a point2x xHmeters from
 I H 
I the centre is given by:
x

2 x
x x x

• For uniform current density, the current Ix at a radius x from the

center inside the circle
I 
expressed
x
I
in terms of current I will be
2

 r2
x

• Thus, the magnetic fieldx intensity inside the conductor is

Hx  I  H m 
2 r 2

• The flux density at a distance x from the center of the conductor is

 xI
Bx   H x  [T ]
2 r 2

11
 Cont’d

• The differential magnetic flux contained in a circular tube of

thickness dx and at a distance x from the center of the
conductor is
 xI
d  dx[Wb m]
2 r 2

• The flux linkages per meter of length due to flux in the

tubular element.
x x I2 3
d  d  dx[Wb  turns m]
 r2 2 r 4

• The total internal flux linkages per meter can be found via
integration    d    2xrI dx  8I  Wb  turns m
r 3

int 4
[ ]
0

12
 Cont’d

• Therefore, the internal inductance per meter

int 
lint    H m 
I 8

• If the relative permeability of the conductor is 1 (non-

ferromagnetic materials, such as copper and aluminum), the
inductance per meter reduces to
0 4 107
lint     7  H m 
8 8

13
 Cont’d
Flux linkages due to external flux:
• Now let us calculate the flux linkages of the conductor due to external flux. The
external flux extends from the surface of the conductor to infinity. Referring to
Figure 3-3, the field intensity outside the conductor at a distance x meters from
centre is given by

Figure 3-3 flux at point x

• Since the field intensity Hx of the external flux covers the whole area of the
current carrying conductor hence Ix will be equal to I; hence, Hx and the flux
density Bx will be

14
 Cont’d

• Now, flux through a cylindrical shell of thickness dx and

axial length l meter is

• The flux links all the currents in the conductor once and only
once. Therefore, the flux linkage will be

15
 Cont’d

• Thus, total flux linkages of the conductor from the surface to

infinity will be

• Therefore, overall flux linkages in a current carrying conductor

will be

16
Inductance of a single phase two wire line
• A single phase line consists of two parallel conductors which form a
rectangular loop of one turn. When an alternating current flows through
such a loop, a changing magnetic flux is set up. The changing flux links the
loop and hence the loop (or single phase line) possesses inductance.

Fig. 3-4 Single phase two wire line

• The conductors shown in figure 3-4 carry the same amount of current but
opposite in direction because one forms the return circuit of the other.
Therefore, the sum of the currents is zero (i.e. IA+IB=0). Thus, the inductance
of conductor A (or conductor B) can be calculated from the flux linkages with
it. In conductor A there will be flux linkage due its own current IA and due to
the mutual inductance effect of current IB in the conductor B.

17
 Cont’d
• Therefore, the total flux linkage with conductor A will be

By integrating the above equation and combining like terms

together we obtain

Thus, the inductance of conductor A, LA can be obtained by :

the loop inductance will be two times the inductance LA

18
 Self and Mutual Inductances

• Flux linkage of conductor i

 1 n
1 
i  2 x10 I i ln 0.25   I j ln
7 
ji
 r e D 
 i j  1 ij 

19
19
 Inductance
3-Phase Transmission Lines
• Symmetrical Spacing
– Consider 1 meter length of a three-phase line with three
conductors, each radius r, symmetrically spaced in a
triangular configuration.

20
20
 Cont’d
• Assume balanced 3-phase current
I a + Ib + I c = 0
• The total flux linkage of phase a
conductor
 1 1 1
a  2 x10  I a ln 0.25  I b ln  I c ln 
7

 ra e D D

• Substitute for Ib + Ic=-Ia

 1 1 D
a  2 x10  I a ln 0.25  I a ln   2 x10 7 I a ln 0.25
7

 ra e D ra e

21
21
 INDUCTANCE :
Cont’d
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES

• Because of symmetry, λa=λb=λc

• The inductance per phase per meter length

 7 D
L   2 x10 ln 0.25 H / m
I re

22
22
 INDUCTANCE :
Cont’d
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
• Asymmetrical Spacing
– Practical transmission lines cannot maintain symmetrical spacing of
conductors because of construction considerations.
– Consider one meter length of three-phase line with three
conductors, each with radius r. The conductor are asymmetrically
spaced with distances as shown.

23
23
 INDUCTANCE :
Cont’d
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
• Transpose Line
– Transposition is used to regain symmetry in good
measures and obtain a per-phase analysis.

24
24
 INDUCTANCE :
Cont’d
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
• This consists of interchanging the phase configuration every
one-third the length so that each conductor is moved to
occupy the next physical position in a regular sequence.
• Transposition arrangement are shown in the figure

25
25
 INDUCTANCE :
Cont’d
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES

• Since in a transposed line each phase takes all three positions,

the inductance per phase can be obtained by finding the
average value.
• To find the average inductance of one conductor of a
transposed line , we first determine the flux linkages of a
conductor for each position it occupies in the transposition
cycle and then determine the average flux linkages.

26
26
 INDUCTANCE
Cont’d :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
When conductor a in position 1, b in position 2, and c in
position3, we obtain

27
 Cont’d
The average value of the flux linkage of a is

With the restriction that, i a  (ib, ic )

The average
inductance per
phase is
28
 Cont’d
The average inductance per phase is :

Where Ds is the GMR of the conductor. Deq, is the geometric

mean of the three distances of the unsymmetrical line, is the
equivalent equilateral spacing.

29
 Inductance of Composite Conductors
In evaluation of inductance, solid round conductors were
considered. However, in practical transmission lines, stranded
conductors are used.

Consider a single-phase line consisting of two composite

conductors x and y as shown in Figure below. The current in x is I
referenced into the page, and the return in y is –I.

30
30
 Cont’d
Inductance of Composite Conductors

Conductor x consist of n identical strands or sub-conductors,

each with radius rx. Conductor y consist of m identical strands
or sub-conductors, each with radius ry.
The current is assumed to be equally divided among the sub-
conductors. The current per strands is I/n in x and I/m in y.
c c'

b' d'
b d

a n a' m'

x y
31
31
 Cont’d
I 1 1 1 1 
a  2  10 7
 ln  ln  ln  . . .  ln 
n  rx ' Dab Dac Dan 
I  1 1 1 1 
 2  10 7
 ln  ln  ln  . . .  ln 
m  Daa ' Dab' Dac' Dam 
or
m Daa ' Dab' Dac' ...Dam
a  2  10 I ln7
n rx ' Dab Dac ...Dan
a 7
m D D D ...D
La   2n  10 ln aa ' ab ' ac ' am

I /n n r ' D D ...D
x ab ac an

n 7
m D D D ...D
Ln   2n  10 ln na ' nb ' nc ' nm

I /n n r ' D D ...D
x na nb nc
32
32
 Cont’d
The average inductance of the filaments of conductor X is:
La  Lb  Lc    Ln
Lav 
n
Consider X is composed of n filaments electrically in parallel. If
all the filaments had the same inductance, the inductance of
the conductor would be 1/n times the inductance of one
filament. here all the filaments have different inductances, but
the inductance of all of them in parallel is 1/n times the
average inductance.
Thus, the inductance of conductor X is:
Lav La  Lb  Lc    Ln
Lx  
n n2

33
 Cont’d
GMD
7
Lx  2  10 ln H /m
GMRx
where
GMD  mn ( Daa ' Dab' ...Dam )...( Dna' Dnb' ...Dnm )
GMRx  n2 ( Daa Dab ...Dan )...( Dna Dnb ...Dnn )
where
Daa  Dbb ...  Dnn  rx '

34
34
 GMR of Bundled Conductors

Extra high voltage transmission lines are usually constructed with

bundled conductors.
Bundling reduces the line reactance, which improves the line
performance and increases the power capability of the line.

d d d d

d d
d
35
35
 Cont’d
GMR of Bundled Conductors

GMRx  n ( Daa Dab ...Dan )...( Dna Dnb ...Dnn )

2

for the two  subconductor bundle

Dsb  4 ( Ds  d ) 2  Ds  d

for the three  subconductor bundle

Dsb  9 ( Ds  d  d ) 3  3 Ds  d 2
for the four  subconductor bundle
Dsb  16 ( Ds  d  d  d  21/ 2 ) 4  1.094 Ds  d 3

36
36
ASSIGNMENT
 Capacitance of transmission line
• Transmission line conductors exhibit capacitance with respect to
each other due to potential difference between them.
• This capacitance together with conductance forms the shunt
admittance of a transmission line. The conductance is the result
of leakage over the surface of insulators and is negligible.
• When an alternating voltage is applied to the transmission line,
the line capacitance draws a leading current.
• The line capacitance is proportional to the length of the
transmission line and may be neglected for a line less than 100km
of length.

38
 Cont’d
• Electric fields are created by electric charges and they exist
around a current carrying conductor. Electric field lines originate
from positive charges and terminate at negative charges.
• The amount of capacitance between conductors is a function of
conductor radius, spacing and height above the ground.
• Hence, the capacitance between conductors can be defined as
the ratio of charge on the conductors to the potential difference
between them.
• Therefore, before deriving an expression for the capacitance;
we must derive a formula for potential in different conductor
arrangements.

39
 Cont’dsingle conductor
Potential at a charged

• Consider a long straight cylindrical conductor A of radius r

meters. Let the conductor operate at such a potential (VA) that
charge QA coulombs per meter exists on the conductor. It is
desired to find the expression for VA. The electric intensity E at
a distance x from the centre of the conductor in air is given
by:

40
 Cont’d
• As x approaches infinity, the value of E approaches zero.
Therefore, the potential difference between conductor A and
infinity distant neutral plane is given by:

Figure 1 charged single conductor

41
 Potential at a conductor in a group of charged
conductors
• Consider a group of long straight
conductors A, B, C etc operating at
potentials such that charges QA, QB,
QC etc coulomb per meter length
exist on the respective conductor
arrangements shown in Figure 3-2
below.
• Then, the potential at A (i.e. VA) in
this arrangement will be the sum of
the potential due to its own charge
(i.e. QA), the potential due to charge
QB and the potential due to charge Fig. 3-2 A group of charged
Q C. conductors

42
 Cont’d

• The Potential at conductor A due to charge QA is:

• The Potential at conductor A due to charge QB is:

• The potential at conductor A due to charge QC is

43
 Cont’d

44
Capacitance of a single phase two wire line
• Consider a single phase overhead transmission line consisting
of two parallel conductors A and B spaced d meters apart in
air. Suppose that radius of each conductor is r meters and
their respective charge are + Q and −Q coulombs per meter
length.

Fig. 3-3 single phase two

wire line

45
 Cont’d
• Then, the total potential difference between conductor A and
neutral infinite plane is

• Similarly, the potential difference between conductor B and

neutral infinite plane is

46
 Cont’d
• Both these potentials are with respect to the same neutral
plane. Since the unlike charges attract each other, the
potential difference between the conductors is

47
 Capacitance to neutral
• since potential of the midpoint between the conductors is
zero. Thus the capacitance to ground or capacitance to
neutral for the two-wire line is twice the line-to-line
capacitance (i.e. CAN=2CAB).

Fig. 3-4 (a) two wire line (b) two wire line with
neutral point

48
Capacitance of a three phase overhead line
• Symmetrical Spacing
• Let’s assume that the three conductors A, B and C of the three
phase overhead transmission line having charges QA, QB and
QC per meter length respectively as shown in figure below are
at equidistance (d meters) from each other. the capacitance
from line conductor to neutral in this symmetrically spaced
line can be determined as follows:

Fig. 3-5Three
phase overhead
lines placed at
equidistant d

49
 Cont’d
• For a balanced three phase system QA+QB+QC=0 and QB+QC=-
QA. Therefore, the overall potential difference between
conductor A and infinite neutral plane is

• Thus, the capacitance of conductor A with respect to neutral

is

50
 Cont’d
• Unsymmetrical spacing
• Figure below shows a three phase transposed line having
unsymmetrical spacing. Let us assume balanced conditions i.e.
QA+ QB+ QC= 0. When transposing, each phases will have all
the three sections of the transposed line. Considering all the
three sections of the transposed line for phase A,

Fig. 3-13 Transposition of three phase

lines with unsymmetrical spacing

51
Cont’d

52
Cont’d

53
 Example
1. Calculate the capacitance of a 100km long 3-phase, 50Hz overhead transmission
line consisting of 3 conductors, each of diameter 2cm and spaced 2.5m at the
corners of an equilateral triangle
Solution
 Cont..
2. A 3-phase 50hz, 132kv overhead line has conductors placed in a horizontal plane 4m
apart. Conductor diameter is 2cm. If the line length is 100km. Calculate the charging
current per phase assuming complete transposition.
Cont..
 ASSIGNMENT
2. Calculate the capacitance to neutral of a single phase line composed
of four equal strands as shown in figure. The radius of each
subconductor is 0.5cm
Cont..
3. Find out the capacitance per km to neutral of three phase line as
shown below. The lines are regularly transposed. The radius of
each subconductor is 0.5cm