W4-L2

Electrical Power Transmission & Distribution

Lecture on
Bundle Conductors
&
Effect of Earth on Capacitance

Prepared By
Mehedi Azad Shawon
Lecturer, Dept. of EEE
American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB)

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 Lecture Outcomes
By the end of this lecture, the students should be able to:

1) Explain the advantages of bundle conductor.

2) Develop that mathematical model of a high voltage

transmission line model with different types of bundle
conductor.

3) Asses the performance of the transmission line model having

bundle conductors the line resistance due to change in its
ambient temperature.

4) Illustrate the effect of earth on capacitance calculation for

both single phase and three phase system.

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 Bundle Conductor
We can often see the transmission lines where instead of a single conductor per
phase multiple conductors per phase are being used.

Usually Extra High Voltage

transmission lines (>220 kV)
are constructed with bundle
conductors.

Number of conductors in a
bundled conductor is greater
for higher voltages.

Fig 1: Bundle conductors in Transmission Line

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 Bundle Conductor…
Conductors of a phase are grouped together by a metallic structure called spacers.
The spacers help maintaining constant distance between the conductors throughout
length, avoid clashing of conductors among themselves and also connect them in
parallel. Generally each phase has two or three or four conductors.

Fig.2 shows bundled conductors with spacers for the three configurations.

Fig 2: Different types of Bundle conductors 4

 Advantages of Bundle Conductors
The following are the advantages of Bundling:
1) Bundling reduces the line reactance, which improves the line performance and
increase the power capability of the line.

2) The most important advantage of bundled conductors is its ability to reduce

Corona. When power is being transferred at very high voltages using a single
conductor, the voltage gradient around it is pretty high and there are high
chances of formation of corona, specially in bad weather conditions. However
using several conductors instead of one in close proximity forming bundled
conductors leads to reduction in voltage gradient and hence less possibility of
corona formation.
3) Bundling reduces surge impedance, hence increases the SIL (Surge Impedance
Loading).

4) Bundled conductor lines will have higher capacitance to neutral in comparison

with single lines. Thus they will have higher charging currents which helps in
improving the power factor

5) It also reduces radio interference.

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Expression of L & C for Bundle conductors

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 Tutorial: Bundle Conductor
Problem 1: Each conductor of the bundled conductor line as shown in Fig. 3 is
ACSR Pheasant. Find the inductive reactance in ohm per kilometers per phase for
d = 45 cm. Also find the per unit series reactance of the line if its length is 160 km and
base is 100 MVA, 345 kV, 60 Hz

From the table of ACSR

cable, 𝐷𝑠 = 0.0466 𝑓𝑡

and we multiply feet by

0.3048 to convert to Fig. 3: Spacing of conductors of a bundled-conductor line
meters.

For two strand bundle, 𝐷𝑠𝑏 = 𝐷𝑠 × 𝑑

Therefore, 𝐷𝑠𝑏 = 0.0466 × 0.3048 × 0.45 = 0.08 𝑚
3
GMD = 8 × 8 × 16 = 10.08 𝑚
𝐺𝑀𝐷 10.08
Inductance [H/m] per phase, 𝐿 = 2 × 10−7 × ln = 2 × 10−7 × ln
𝐷𝑠𝑏 0.08
10.08 Ω
𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 = 2 × 𝜋 × 60 × 2 × 10−7 × ln = 0.365 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒
0.08 𝑘𝑚
(Answer) 7
 Tutorial: Bundle Conductor…
Problem 1: Each conductor of the bundled conductor line as shown in Fig. 3 is
ACSR Pheasant. Find the inductive reactance in ohm per kilometers per phase for
d = 45 cm. Also find the per unit series reactance of the line if its length is 160 km and
base is 100 MVA, 345 kV, 60 Hz

(345)2
Base impedance, 𝑍= = 1190 Ω
100

Therefore, per unit series reactance of 160 km line length,

0.365×160
𝑋= = 0.049 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 (Answer)
1190

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 Tutorial: Bundle Conductor…
Problem 2: Find the capacitance to neutral of the line shown in Fig. 3 in ohm-
kilometers per phase.

Computed from the diameter

given in table of ACSR cable,

1.382×0.3048
𝑟= = 0.01755 𝑚
2×12
𝑏 3
For two strand bundle, GMR = 𝐷𝑠𝐶 = 𝑟×𝑑 𝐺𝑀𝐷 = 𝐷𝑒𝑞 = 8 × 8 × 16 = 10.08 𝑚

𝑏
Therefore, 𝐷𝑠𝐶 = 0.01755 × 0.45 = 0.0889 𝑚

The capacitance [F/m] to neutral,

2𝜋𝜖𝑜 2 × 𝜋 × 8.854 × 10−12
𝐶𝑛 = = = 11.75 × 10−12 𝐹 𝑚 (𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓)
𝐷𝑒𝑞 10.08
ln 𝑏 ln
𝐷 0.0889
𝑠𝐶

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 Tutorial: Bundle Conductor…
Problem 3: Each conductor of the bundled conductor line as shown in Fig. 4 is
ACSR Pheasant. Find the capacitive reactance to neutral of the line in ohm-kilometers
per phase.
From the given table of ACSR cable, the
diameter of the ACSR Pheasant conductor is
1.382 inch. Therefore,
1.382
𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠, 𝑟= = 0.05758 𝑓𝑡
2 × 12
𝑟 = 0.05758 𝑓𝑡 × 0.3048 = 0.01755 𝑚
For a three-strand bundle,
𝑏 9 3
𝐺𝑀𝑅 = 𝐷𝑠𝐶 = 𝑟 × 𝑑 × 𝑑 3 = 𝑟𝑑 2 =
3
0.01755 × 0.45 2 = 0.1526 𝑚

GMD = 𝐷𝑒𝑞 =
3
8 × 8 × 10 = 8.61 𝑚 Fig. 4: Cross section of a bundled-conductor
of three phase transmission line
The capacitance to neutral,
2𝜋𝜖𝑜 2 × 𝜋 × 8.854 × 10−12
𝐶𝑛 = = = 13.79 × 10−12 𝐹/𝑚
𝐷𝑒𝑞 8.61
ln 𝑏 ln
𝐷𝑠𝐶 0.1526
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 Effect of Earth on Capacitance
Earth affects the capacitance of a transmission line because, its presence alters the
electric field of the line. For an isolated charged conductor the electric flux lines are
radial and are orthogonal to the cylindrical equipotential surfaces.

The earth level is an equipotential surface,

therefore the flux lines are forced to cut the
surface of the earth orthogonally. This effect
of the presence of earth can be accounted for
by the method of Image Charge introduced
by Lord Kelvin.

To illustrate this method, consider a conductor

with a charge +q Coulombs/meter at a height
H above the ground as shown in Fig. 4. Also
imagine an image charge of –q placed at a
depth H below the surface of earth. Fig. 4: Image Charge

This configuration without the presence of earth surface will produce the same
field distribution as a single charge and the earth surface.
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 Effect of Earth on Capacitance
Capacitance of a single phase line
(Considering Earth Effect)
𝑫 𝒓
1 𝑸𝒂 𝒍𝒏 + 𝑸𝒃 𝒍𝒏 +
𝒓 𝑫
𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝑯𝟏𝟐 𝑯𝟏
2𝜋𝜖0
(−𝑸𝒂 ) 𝒍𝒏 + (−𝑸𝒃 ) 𝒍𝒏
𝑯𝟏 𝑯𝟏𝟐
Substituting the values of different charges,
we get
𝑞 𝐷 𝐻1
𝑉𝑎𝑏 = ln
𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 𝐻12
Therefore,
𝑞 𝜋𝜖0
𝐶𝑎𝑏 = =
𝑉𝑎𝑏 𝐷 𝐻
ln 𝑟 𝐻 1
12

Thus the Capacitance to neutral becomes,

𝟐𝝅𝝐𝟎 Fig. 5: Earth effect on a single
𝑪𝑨𝑵 = 𝑪𝑵 = 𝟐𝑪𝒂𝒃 = 𝑭/𝒎
𝑫 𝑯𝟏 phase Tx-line capacitance
𝐥𝐧 𝒓 𝑯
𝟏𝟐
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 Effect of Earth on Capacitance
Capacitance of a three phase line
(Considering Earth Effect)

For the first section of the transposed line,

𝑉𝑎𝑏
1 𝐷12 ℎ12
= 𝑞 ln − ln
2𝜋𝜖0 𝑎 𝑟 ℎ1
𝑟 ℎ2
+ 𝑞𝑏 ln − ln
𝐷12 ℎ12

Fig. 5: Earth effect on a Three

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phase Tx-line capacitance
 Effect of Earth on Capacitance
Capacitance of a three phase line
(Considering Earth Effect)

Similar equations for 𝑉𝑎𝑏 can be written for

the second and third section of the
transposed line.

If the fairly accurate assumption of constant

charge per unit length of the conductor
throughout the transmission cycle is made,
the average value of 𝑉𝑎𝑏 for the three
sections of the cycle is given by

𝑉𝑎𝑏
3
1 𝐷𝑒𝑞 ℎ12 ℎ23 ℎ31
= 𝑞𝑎 ln − ln 3
2𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 ℎ1 ℎ2 ℎ3

Fig. 5: Three phase Tx-line. 14

 Effect of Earth on Capacitance
Capacitance of a three phase line
(Considering Earth Effect)

The average 𝑉𝑎𝑐 can be found in the similar

manner.
Using the following two relations of 3-phase
system
𝑽𝒂𝒃 + 𝑽𝒂𝒄 = 𝟑𝑽𝒂𝒏 & 𝒒𝒂 + 𝒒𝒃 + 𝒒𝒄 = 𝟎

The expression of capacitance becomes

2𝜋𝜖0
𝐶𝑁 = 3
𝐹/𝑚
𝐷𝑒𝑞 ℎ12 ℎ23 ℎ31
ln 𝑟 − ln 3
ℎ1 ℎ2 ℎ3

Fig. 5: Three phase Tx-line. 15

 Effect of Earth on Capacitance
The simplified equation of capacitance (considering Earth Effect)

For single phase For three phase

2𝜋𝜖0 2𝜋𝜖0
𝐶𝑁 = 𝐹/𝑚 𝐶𝑁 = 3
𝐹/𝑚
𝐷 𝐻1 𝐷𝑒𝑞 ℎ12 ℎ23 ℎ31
𝑙𝑛 𝑟 𝐻 ln 𝑟 − ln
12 3
ℎ1 ℎ2 ℎ3

From the above two equations, it is evident that the effect of earth is to increase
the capacitance of a line (i.e. since 𝐻12 >𝐻1 in general)

If the conductor are high above the earth compared to the distance
among them (means 𝑯𝟏 becomes very larger than D), the effect of earth
on the capacitance of the transmission line can be neglected.
[Because, in that case, 𝐻12 ≈ 𝐻1 , 𝐻23 ≈ 𝐻2 & 𝐻31 ≈ 𝐻3 which result the
same expression for the capacitance as it was neglecting the effect of capacitance]
Tutorial: Capacitance with earth effect.
[1] A 3-phase, 50 Hz, 132 kV overhead line has conductors placed in a horizontal plane
4 m apart and the distance from the ground to conductor is 20 meter. Conductor
diameter is 2 cm. If the line length is 100 km, calculate the charging current per phase
assuming complete transposition and considering earth effect.

[2] Determine the capacitance per km (considering earth effect) of a single-phase line
in which conductors are at an average height of 7m above the ground. Consider
average diameter of the conductor as 15 mm and spacing between them is 4 m.

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References:
[1] Power System Analysis, Hadi Sadat

[2] Elements of Power System Analysis, William D. Stevenson, JR

[3] Principle of Power System, V. K. Mehta

[4] Electrical4u
https://www.electrical4u.com/advantages-of-bundled-conductors/

[5] EEEGuide
http://www.eeeguide.com/effect-of-earth-on-transmission-line-capacitance/

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