Transmission Line Parameters

W D Prasad

Reference Books:
(1) Hadi Saadat; “Power System Analysis”; McGraw Hill
(2) J. J. Grainger, W. D. Stevenson; “Power System Analysis”; McGraw Hill
(3) J. D. Glover, T. J. Overbye, M. S. Sarma; “Power System Analysis & Design”; 6th
edition; Cengage Learning
Content
(1) Introduction
(2) Transmission line resistance
(3) Transmission line inductance
• Inductance of a single conductor
• Inductance of a single-phase circuit
• Inductance of a three-phase circuit
• Inductance of bundle conductors
(4) Transmission line capacitance
• capacitance of a single conductor
• capacitance of a single-phase circuit
• capacitance of a three-phase circuit
• capacitance of bundle conductors
• Effect of earth on line capacitance
 Introduction
• All transmission lines exhibit electrical properties of resistance, inductance,
capacitance and conductance.
• The inductance and capacitance are due to the magnetic and electric fields
around the conductor.
• The shunt conductance accounts for the leakage currents flowing across insulators
and ionized pathways in the air.
• The most commonly used conductor materials for high voltage transmission lines
are ACSR (Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced), AAC (All-Aluminium
Conductor), AAAC (All-Aluminium Aloy Conductor), ACAR (Aluminium Conductor
Aloy Reinforced), ACCC (Aluminium Composite Core Conductor).
• The ACSR conductor consists of a center core of steel strands surrounded by layers
of aluminium. Each layer of strands is spiraled in the opposite direction of its
adjacent layer.
Line resistance
• The dc resistance of a solid round conductor at a specified temperature is given by;
𝜌𝑙
𝑅=
𝐴
𝜌 = resistivity of the conductor material, 𝑙 = length, 𝐴 = cross-sectional area
• The conductor resistance is affected by three factors; frequency, spiraling and
temperature.
• Skin effect
• When ac current flows in the conductor, the current density is not uniform over
the conductor cross-sectional area and the current density is greatest at the
surface of the conductor.
• This causes ac resistance to be somewhat higher than the dc resistance.
• Since the stranded conductor is spiraled, each strand is longer than the finished
conductor. This causes the resistance to be slightly higher than the calculated
value.
• The conductor resistance increases as the temperature increases. This change can
be considered as linear over the range of temperature normally encountered.
𝑇 + 𝑡2
𝑅2 = 𝑅1
𝑇 + 𝑡1
𝑅1 and 𝑅2 are resistances at 𝑡1 and 𝑡2 temperature respectively. 𝑇 is a constant.
Line inductance
• Inductance of a single conductor
𝜆
• Inductance = 𝐿 = ; 𝜆 = flux linkage, 𝐼 = current
𝐼

𝑟 = radius of the conductor

𝐼 = current through the conductor
𝐼𝑥 = current enclosed at radius 𝑥

Ampere’s Law;
2𝜋𝑥 𝐼𝑥
‫׬‬0 𝐻𝑥 𝑑𝑙 = 𝐼𝑥 → 𝐻𝑥 = 2𝜋𝑥
𝐻𝑥 = magnetic field intensity around a circle of radius 𝑥
 Internal inductance
• Assume uniform current density throughout the conductor (neglect Skin effect)
𝐼 𝐼𝑥
2 = 2
𝜋𝑟 𝜋𝑥

𝑥
𝐻𝑥 = 𝐼
2𝜋𝑟 2
• For a non-magnetic conductor with constant permeability , 𝜇0 = 4𝜋 × 10−7 𝐻Τ𝑚
𝜇 𝐼
the magnetic flux density = 𝐵𝑥 = 𝜇0 𝐻𝑥 = 0 2 𝑥
2𝜋𝑟
• The differential flux 𝑑𝜙 for a small region of thickness 𝑑𝑥 and one meter length of
𝜇 𝑥𝐼
the conductor = 𝑑𝜙𝑥 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 0 2 𝑑𝑥
2𝜋𝑟
• Flux linkage = 𝑑𝜆𝑥 = 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑥 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝜋𝑥 2 𝜇0 𝐼𝑥 3
𝑑𝜆𝑥 = 𝑑𝜙𝑥 × 2 = 𝑑𝑥
𝜋𝑟 2𝜋𝑟 4
𝑟 𝜇0 𝐼𝑥 3 𝜇0 𝐼
• Total internal flux linkage = 𝜆𝑖𝑛𝑡 = ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑥 =
2𝜋𝑟 4 8𝜋

𝝀𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝝁𝟎 𝟏
• Internal inductance = 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒕 = = = × 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 𝑯/𝒎
𝑰 𝟖𝝅 𝟐
External inductance
Now, 𝐼𝑥 = 𝐼 (circle of radius 𝑥 > 𝑟 encircles total current 𝐼)
𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵𝑥 = 𝜇0 𝐻𝑥 =
2𝜋𝑥
• Since the entire current 𝐼 is linked by the flux outside the
conductor, the flux linkage 𝑑𝜆𝑥 is numerically equals
𝑑∅𝑥

𝜇0 𝐼
𝑑∅𝑥 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑥
2𝜋𝑥
𝜇 𝐼
𝑑𝜆𝑥 = 0 𝑑𝑥
2𝜋𝑥
• External flux between two points 𝐷1 and 𝐷2 can be
found by;
𝐷2
𝜇0 𝐼 1 −7
𝐷2 𝑊𝑏ൗ
𝜆𝑒𝑥𝑡 = න 𝑑𝑥 = 2 × 10 𝐼𝑙𝑛 𝑚
2𝜋 𝑥 𝐷1
𝐷1
• Inductance due to external flux linkage = 𝐿𝑒𝑥𝑡
𝑫
𝑳𝒆𝒙𝒕 = 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 𝒍𝒏 𝟐 𝑯Τ
𝒎
𝑫𝟏
Inductance of single-phase lines
• Consider one meter length of a single-phase line consisting of two solid round
conductors of radius 𝑟1 and 𝑟2 respectively. The separation between two
conductors is 𝐷.
• Let conductor 1 carries current 𝐼1 into the page and conductor 2 carries return
current 𝐼2 = −𝐼1 .
• The flux beyond 𝐷 links a zero net current and does not contribute to the net
magnetic flux linkage in the circuit.
1 𝐷
• Inductance = 𝐿1 = + 2𝑙𝑛 × 10−7 𝐻/𝑚
2 𝑟1

1 𝐷 1Τ 𝐷
𝐿1 = 2 × 10−7 + 𝑙𝑛 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 𝑒 4 + 𝑙𝑛
4 𝑟1 𝑟1
𝐷
𝐿1 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 −1ൗ
𝑟1 𝑒 4
𝐷
𝐿 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛
𝑟′1
1
𝑟′1 = 𝑟1 𝑒 − Τ4 = Geometric mean radius (GMR) = 𝐷𝑠
𝑫
𝑳 = 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 𝒍𝒏 𝑯/𝒎
𝑫𝑺
Inductance of single-phase lines: Example

A single-phase line has two parallel conductors 2 m apart. The diameter of each
conductor is 1.2 cm. Calculate the loop inductance per km of the line.

Answer

𝐷
Inductance= 𝐿 = 2 × 10−7 ln 𝐻Τ
𝑚
𝑟𝑒 −0.25
𝐷 = 2,𝑟 = 0.6 𝑐𝑚
−7
2 𝐻ൗ
𝐿 = 2 × 10 ln 𝑚
0.6 × 10−2 × 𝑒 −0.25
Equivalent inductance in terms of self/mutual
inductances
𝐿11

𝐼1 𝐿11 , 𝐿22 = 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠

𝐿12
𝐿12 = 𝑚𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝜆1 , 𝜆2 = 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑥 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠
𝐿22
𝐼2

𝜆1 = 𝐿11 𝐼1 + 𝐿12 𝐼2 = 𝐿11 − 𝐿12 𝐼1 ∵ 𝐼1 = −𝐼2

𝜆2 = 𝐿22 𝐼2 + 𝐿21 𝐼1 = −𝐿21 + 𝐿22 𝐼2

• Compare with the equation for the inductance of a single phase conductor:
−7
𝐷 −7
1 −7
1
𝐿 = 2 × 10 𝑙𝑛 = 2 × 10 𝑙𝑛 − 2 × 10 𝑙𝑛
𝑟′1 𝑟′1 𝐷
1 1
𝐿11 = 𝐿22 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 , 𝐿12 = 𝐿21 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛
𝑟′1 𝐷
Equivalent inductance in terms of self/mutual
inductances: general scenario
• Scenario: 𝑛 conductors carrying phasor currents, 𝐼1 , 𝐼2 , ⋯ , 𝐼𝑛 such that σ 𝐼 = 0.
• Generalize flux linkage equation of 𝑖 𝑡ℎ conductor;
𝑛

𝜆𝑖 = 𝐿𝑖𝑖 𝐼𝑖 + ෍ 𝐿𝑖𝑗 𝐼𝑗 𝑗≠𝑖

𝑗=1
𝑛
1 1
𝜆𝑖 = 2 × 10−7 𝐼𝑖 𝑙𝑛 + ෍ 𝐼𝑗 𝑙𝑛
𝑟′𝑖 𝐷𝑖𝑗
𝑗=1
𝑗≠𝑖
Inductance of three-phase transmission lines:
symmetrical spacing
• Scenario: three-phase line with three conductors, each with radius 𝑟 ,
symmetrically spaced in a triangular configuration.

𝐼𝑎

𝐼𝑎 + 𝐼𝑏 + 𝐼𝑐 = 0
𝐷 𝐷

𝐼𝑐 𝐼𝑏
𝐷
• Flux linkage for phase – a conductor;
1 1 1
𝜆𝑎 = 2 × 10−7 𝐼𝑎 𝑙𝑛 + 𝐼𝑏 𝑙𝑛 + 𝐼𝑐 𝑙𝑛
𝑟′ 𝐷 𝐷
1 1
𝜆𝑎 = 2 × 10−7 𝐼𝑎 𝑙𝑛 − 𝐼𝑎 𝑙𝑛 ∵ 𝐼𝑎 = − 𝐼𝑏 + 𝐼𝑐
𝑟′ 𝐷
−7
𝐷
𝜆𝑎 = 2 × 10 𝐼𝑎 𝑙𝑛
𝑟′
 Inductance of three-phase transmission lines:
symmetrical spacing
• Three-phase system is symmetrical and the three conductors are identical.

𝜆𝑎 = 𝜆𝑏 = 𝜆𝑐

• Inductance per-phase per-conductor;

𝐷 𝐻ൗ
𝐿 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 𝑚
𝑟′

𝐺𝑀𝐷 𝐻ൗ
𝐿 = 2× 10−7 𝑙𝑛 𝑚
𝐺𝑀𝑅

• Solid round conductor, 𝐺𝑀𝑅 = 𝑟 ′ = 𝑟𝑒 −0.25

• For, stranded conductors, GMR must be separately calculated.
• Inductance per phase for a three-phase circuit with equal spacing is same as for
one conductor of a single-phase circuit.
Inductance of three-phase transmission lines:
asymmetrical spacing
• Scenario: three-phase line with three conductors, each with radius 𝑟 ,
asymmetrically spaced in a triangular configuration.

𝐼𝑎 𝐼𝑎 + 𝐼𝑏 + 𝐼𝑐 = 0
𝐷12
𝐷13

𝐼𝑏
𝐼𝑐 𝐷23

• Flux linkage for phase – a, phase – b, and phase -c conductors;

−7
1 1 1
𝜆𝑎 = 2 × 10 𝐼𝑎 𝑙𝑛 + 𝐼𝑏 𝑙𝑛 + 𝐼𝑐 𝑙𝑛
𝑟′ 𝐷12 𝐷13
−7
1 1 1
𝜆𝑏 = 2 × 10 𝐼𝑎 𝑙𝑛 + 𝐼𝑏 𝑙𝑛 + 𝐼𝑐 𝑙𝑛
𝐷12 𝑟′ 𝐷23
−7
1 1 1
𝜆𝑐 = 2 × 10 𝐼𝑎 𝑙𝑛 + 𝐼𝑏 𝑙𝑛 + 𝐼𝑐 𝑙𝑛
𝐷13 𝐷23 𝑟′
Inductance of three-phase transmission lines:
asymmetrical spacing
• Scenario: balanced three-phase system:

𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑎 ∠0, 𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑎 ∠ − 1200 = 𝑎2 𝐼𝑎 , 𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝑎 ∠1200 = 𝑎𝐼𝑎 , 𝑎 = 1∠1200

• Inductances of phase – a, phase – b, and phase -c conductors;

𝜆𝑎 1 1 1
𝐿𝑎 = = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 + 𝑎2 𝑙𝑛 + 𝑎𝑙𝑛
𝐼𝑎 𝑟′ 𝐷12 𝐷13
𝜆𝑏 −7
1 1 2
1
𝐿𝑏 = = 2 × 10 𝑎𝑙𝑛 + 𝑙𝑛 + 𝑎 𝑙𝑛
𝐼𝑏 𝐷12 𝑟′ 𝐷23
𝜆𝑐 1 1 1
𝐿𝑐 = = 2 × 10−7 𝑎2 𝑙𝑛 + 𝑎𝑙𝑛 + 𝑙𝑛
𝐼𝑐 𝐷13 𝐷23 𝑟′

• Inductances of each phase are not equal and they contain imaginary
components as well due to the mutual inductance terms.
• Line transposition is done to maintain the symmetry of the system.
Line transposition
• Symmetry of transmission system and a per-phase equivalent model can be
obtained by interchanging the phase configuration every one-third of the line.
• The conductor is moved to occupy the next physical position in a regular sequence.
𝐼𝑎
𝑎 𝑐 𝑏

𝐷12 𝑏 𝑎 𝑐
𝐷13
𝑐 𝑏 𝑎

𝐷23 𝐼 𝐼𝐼 𝐼𝐼𝐼
𝐼𝑏
𝐼𝑐
• Inductance per-phase:
𝐿𝑎 + 𝐿𝑏 + 𝐿𝑐 1 1
𝐿= = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 − 𝑙𝑛 1
3 𝑟′ 𝐷12 𝐷23 𝐷13 ൗ3
1ൗ
𝐷12 𝐷23 𝐷13 3 𝐺𝑀𝐷 𝐻
𝐿 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 ൗ𝑚
𝑟′ 𝐺𝑀𝑅
Inductance of composite conductors
• Practical transmission lines use stranded conductors.
• Scenario: single phase line consisting of two composite conductors 𝑥 and 𝑦.
• Current 𝐼 in conductor 𝑥 is
𝑐 𝑏′ referenced into the page and current
in conductor 𝑦 is −𝐼.
𝑏
• Conductor 𝑥 consists of 𝑛 identical
𝑑 𝑎′ 𝑐′ strands or sub-conductors, each with
radius 𝑟𝑥 .
𝑎
𝑚 • Conductor 𝑦 consists of 𝑚 identical
𝑛 strands or sub-conductors, each with
radius 𝑟𝑦 .
• Current is equally distributed among
𝑥 𝑦 𝐼 𝐼
the conductors 𝑥 → 𝑛 , 𝑦 → 𝑚
• Total flux linkage of conductor 𝑎;
𝐼 1 1 1 1
𝜆𝑎 = 2 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛 + 𝑙𝑛 + 𝑙𝑛 + ⋯ + 𝑙𝑛
𝑛 𝑟′𝑥 𝐷𝑎𝑏 𝐷𝑎𝑐 𝐷𝑎𝑛
−7
−𝐼 1 1 1 1
+2 × 10 𝑙𝑛 + 𝑙𝑛 + 𝑙𝑛 + ⋯ + 𝑙𝑛
𝑚 𝐷𝑎𝑎′ 𝐷𝑎𝑏′ 𝐷𝑎𝑐′ 𝐷𝑎𝑚
Inductance of composite conductors
• Total flux linkage of conductor 𝑎;
𝑚
𝐷𝑎𝑎′ 𝐷𝑎𝑏′ ⋯ 𝐷𝑎𝑚
𝜆𝑎 = 2 × 10−7 𝐼 𝑙𝑛 𝑛
𝑟′𝑥 𝐷𝑎𝑏 𝐷𝑎𝑐 ⋯ 𝐷𝑎𝑛

• Average inductance of sub-conductor 𝑎;

𝑚
𝜆𝑎 𝐷𝑎𝑎′ 𝐷𝑎𝑏′ ⋯ 𝐷𝑎𝑚
𝐿𝑎 = = 2𝑛 × 10−7 𝑙𝑛
𝐼ൗ 𝑛
𝑟′𝑥 𝐷𝑎𝑏 𝐷𝑎𝑐 ⋯ 𝐷𝑎𝑛
𝑛

• Inductances of other sub-conductors in 𝑥 can be obtained in the same way.

• Inductance of sub-conductor 𝑛;
𝑚
𝜆𝑛 −7
𝐷𝑛𝑎′ 𝐷𝑛𝑏′ ⋯ 𝐷𝑛𝑚
𝐿𝑛 = = 2𝑛 × 10 𝑙𝑛 𝑛
𝐼ൗ 𝐷𝑛𝑎 𝐷𝑛𝑏 ⋯ 𝑟′𝑥
𝑛

• Average inductance of any one sub-conductor in group 𝑥;

𝐿𝑎 + 𝐿𝑏 + ⋯ + 𝐿𝑛
𝐿𝑎𝑣 =
𝑛
Inductance of composite conductors
• All sub-conductors of conductor 𝑥 are electrically parallel. The inductance of 𝑥 is
calculated as;

𝐿𝑎𝑣 𝐿𝑎 + 𝐿𝑏 + ⋯ + 𝐿𝑛
𝐿𝑥 = =
𝑛 𝑛2
−7
𝐺𝑀𝐷 𝐻ൗ
𝐿𝑥 = 2 × 10 𝑙𝑛 𝑚
𝐺𝑀𝑅𝑥

1ൗ
𝐺𝑀𝐷 = 𝐷𝑎𝑎′ 𝐷𝑎𝑏′ ⋯ 𝐷𝑎𝑚 𝐷𝑏𝑎′ 𝐷𝑏𝑏′ ⋯ 𝐷𝑏𝑚 ⋯ 𝐷𝑛𝑎′ 𝐷𝑛𝑏′ ⋯ 𝐷𝑛𝑚 𝑚𝑛
1ൗ
𝐺𝑀𝑅 = 𝐷𝑎𝑎 𝐷𝑎𝑏 ⋯ 𝐷𝑎𝑛 𝐷𝑏𝑎 𝐷𝑏𝑏 ⋯ 𝐷𝑏𝑛 ⋯ 𝐷𝑛𝑎 𝐷𝑛𝑏 ⋯ 𝐷𝑛𝑛 𝑛2

• For solid round conductors:

𝐷𝑎𝑎 = 𝐷𝑏𝑏 = ⋯ 𝐷𝑛𝑛 = 𝑟 ′ 𝑥 = 𝑟𝑒 −0.25
GMR of bundle conductors
• Extra high voltage lines are usually constructed with bundle conductors for
economic reasons.
• Advantages of using bundle conductors:
• Reduces the line reactance, which improves the line performance and
increases the power capability of the line.
• Reduces the voltage surface gradient (hence reducing the corona loss, radio
interference and surge impedance).
• Bundle conductors consists of two, three or four sub-conductors symmetrically
arranged.
𝑑
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑

𝑑
𝑑
𝐺𝑀𝑅𝑏 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝑏 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝑏
4 2 9 3
= 𝐺𝑀𝑅1 × 𝑑 = 𝐺𝑀𝑅1 × 𝑑 × 𝑑 16 4
= 𝐺𝑀𝑅1 × 𝑑 × 𝑑 × 2𝑑
𝐺𝑀𝑅𝑏 = Geometric Mean Radius of the bundle
𝐺𝑀𝑅1 = Geometric Mean Radius of one conductor (single or composite)
Inductance of three-phase double circuit lines
• A three-phase double circuit line consists of two identical three-phase circuits.
• The circuits are operated with 𝑎1 − 𝑎2 , 𝑏1 − 𝑏2 , and 𝑐1 − 𝑐2 in parallel.
• Each phase conductors must be transposed within its group and with respect to
the parallel three-phase lines in order to get symmetry.
• GMD between each phase group;
𝑆11 4
𝑎1 𝑐2 𝐷𝐴𝐵 = 𝐷𝑎1𝑏1 𝐷𝑎1 𝑏2 𝐷𝑎2𝑏1 𝐷𝑎2 𝑏2

𝑆22 𝐷𝐵𝐶 =
4
𝐷𝑏1𝑐1 𝐷𝑏1𝑐2 𝐷𝑏2𝑐1 𝐷𝑏2𝑐2
𝑏1 𝑏2
4
𝐷𝐴𝐶 = 𝐷𝑎1 𝑐1 𝐷𝑎1𝑐2 𝐷𝑎2𝑐1 𝐷𝑎2𝑐2
𝑐1 𝑎2
𝑆33 • Equivalent GMD per-phase;
𝐺𝑀𝐷 = 3 𝐷𝐴𝐵 × 𝐷𝐵𝐶 × 𝐷𝐴𝐶

• GMR of each phase group;

4 2 4 2 4 2
𝐺𝑀𝑅𝐴 = 𝐷𝑎1𝑎1 𝐷𝑎1𝑎2 , 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝐵 = 𝐷𝑏1𝑏1 𝐷𝑏1𝑏2 , 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝐶 = 𝐷𝑐1𝑐1 𝐷𝑐1𝑐2
• Equivalent GMR for inductance calculation;
𝐺𝑀𝑅 = 3 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝐴 × 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝐵 × 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝐶
Line capacitance
• Transmission line conductors exhibit capacitance with respect to each other due
to the potential difference between them.
𝑞
• The capacitance 𝐶 is the ratio of charge 𝑞 to the voltage 𝑉; 𝐶 =
𝑉
• Scenario: a long round conductor with radius 𝑟 carrying a charge 𝑞 𝐶Τ𝑚 .
• Charge on the conductor gives rise to an
electric field with radial flux lines.
𝐷2 • Electric flux density 𝐷 ;
𝑞 𝑞
𝐷= =
𝐴 2𝜋𝑥 1
𝑞 𝑥 • Electric field intensity 𝐸 is the force per
unit charge.
𝐷
𝐷1 𝐸 = , 𝜀0 = 8.85 × 10−12 𝐹ൗ𝑚
𝜀0
𝑞
𝐸=
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑥
• Potential difference between 𝐷1 − 𝐷2 ;
𝐷2 𝐷2
𝑞 𝑞 𝐷2
𝑉12 = න 𝐸 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝑑𝑥 = ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑥 2𝜋𝜀0 𝐷1
𝐷1 𝐷1
Capacitance of single-phase lines
• Scenario: single-phase system with two solid round conductors each having radius
𝑟 and a separation of 𝐷. 𝑞1 , 𝑞2 are charge per length of two conductors in 𝐶Τ𝑚
• Case 1: conductor 1 alone have charge 𝑞1
𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑞1 𝐷
𝑉12 𝑞1 = ln
𝑟 𝑟 2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
• Case 2: conductor 2 alone have charge 𝑞2
𝑞2 𝐷
𝐷 𝑉21 𝑞2 = ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
𝑞1 𝑟
𝑉12 𝑞2 = −𝑉21 𝑞2 = ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝐷
𝑞1 𝐷 𝑞2 𝑟
𝑉12 = 𝑉12 𝑞1 + 𝑉12 𝑞2 = ln + ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2𝜋𝜀0 𝐷

𝑞 𝐷
Single-phase system; 𝑞2 = −𝑞1 = −𝑞; 𝑉12 = ln
𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
Capacitance between two conductors;
𝑉12 𝜋𝜀0 𝐹ൗ
𝐶12 = = 𝑚
𝑞 ln 𝐷ൗ𝑟
Capacitance of single-phase lines
𝑞1 𝑞2
𝑉12 𝜋𝜀0 𝐹ൗ
𝐶12 = = 𝑚
𝑟 𝑟 𝑞 ln 𝐷ൗ𝑟

𝑛
1 2 1 2
𝐶12 𝐶 𝐶

𝑉12
𝑉1𝑛 = → 𝐶 = 2𝐶12
2
𝟐𝝅𝜺𝟎 𝑭
𝑪= ൗ𝒎
𝑫
𝐥𝐧
𝒓
Potential difference in a multi-conductor
configuration

Scenario: 𝑛 parallel long conductors with charges

𝑞3 𝑞1 , 𝑞2 , ⋯ , 𝑞𝑛 𝐶Τ𝑚
𝑞2
𝑞1 + 𝑞2 + ⋯ + 𝑞𝑛 = 0
𝑞𝑛
𝑞1 𝑛
1 𝐷𝑘𝑗
𝑞𝑗 𝑉𝑖𝑗 = ෍ 𝑞𝑘 𝑙𝑛
2𝜋𝜀0 𝐷𝑘𝑖
𝑞𝑖 𝑘=1

• When, 𝑘 = 𝑖; 𝐷𝑖𝑖 = 𝑟
Capacitance of three-phase lines
• Scenario: three-phase solid conductors with asymmetrical spacing. Conductors are
transposed. Radius of a conductor is 𝑟.
𝑞𝑎 (𝟏)

𝑎 𝑐
𝐷12
𝐷13 𝑏 𝑎 𝑐
𝑐 𝑏 𝑎
𝐷23 𝐼 𝐼𝐼 𝐼𝐼𝐼
𝑞𝑏 (𝟐)
𝑞𝑐 (𝟑)

𝑞𝑎 + 𝑞𝑏 + 𝑞𝑐 = 0
𝑛
1 𝐷𝑘𝑗
𝑉𝑖𝑗 = ෍ 𝑞𝑘 𝑙𝑛
2𝜋𝜀0 𝐷𝑘𝑖
𝑘=1

1 𝐷12 𝑟 𝐷23
𝑉𝑎𝑏(𝐼) = 𝑞𝑎 ln + 𝑞𝑏 ln + 𝑞𝑐 ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 𝐷12 𝐷13
Capacitance of three-phase lines
𝑛
1 𝐷𝑘𝑗
𝑉𝑖𝑗 = ෍ 𝑞𝑘 𝑙𝑛
2𝜋𝜀0 𝐷𝑘𝑖
𝑘=1
1 𝐷23 𝑟 𝐷13
𝑉𝑎𝑏(𝐼𝐼) = 𝑞 ln + 𝑞𝑏 ln + 𝑞𝑐 ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑎 𝑟 𝐷23 𝐷12
1 𝐷13 𝑟 𝐷12
𝑉𝑎𝑏(𝐼𝐼𝐼) = 𝑞𝑎 ln + 𝑞𝑏 ln + 𝑞𝑐 ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 𝐷13 𝐷23

• Average value of 𝑉𝑎𝑏

1 𝐷12 𝐷23 𝐷13 𝑟3 𝐷12 𝐷23 𝐷13
𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝑞𝑎 ln + 𝑞𝑏 ln + 𝑞𝑐 ln
3 × 2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟3 𝐷12 𝐷23 𝐷13 𝐷12 𝐷23 𝐷13
1 𝐺𝑀𝐷 𝑟
𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝑞𝑎 ln + 𝑞𝑏 ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 𝐺𝑀𝐷
• Average value of 𝑉𝑎𝑐
1 𝐺𝑀𝐷 𝑟
𝑉𝑎𝑐 = 𝑞 ln + 𝑞𝑐 ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑎 𝑟 𝐺𝑀𝐷
3𝑞𝑎 𝐺𝑀𝐷
𝑉𝑎𝑏 + 𝑉𝑎𝑐 = ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
Capacitance of three-phase lines
• Balanced three-phase supply;
𝑉𝑎𝑏 + 𝑉𝑎𝑐 = 3𝑉𝑎𝑛

• Capacitance per-phase to neutral;

𝑞𝑎 2𝜋𝜀0 𝐹ൗ
𝐶= = 𝑚
𝑉𝑎𝑛 ln 𝐺𝑀𝐷
𝑟
Capacitance of bundled conductors
• Capacitance per-phase in a bundled conductor;
2𝜋𝜀0 𝐹ൗ
𝐶= 𝑚
𝐺𝑀𝐷
ln
𝑟𝑏

𝑑
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑

4 9
𝑟𝑏 = 𝑟×𝑑 2 𝑟𝑏 = 𝑟×𝑑×𝑑 3 16 4
𝑟𝑏 = 𝑟 × 𝑑 × 𝑑 × 2𝑑

𝑟 𝑏 = Geometric Mean Radius of the bundle

𝑟 = Geometric Mean Radius of one conductor (single or composite)
Capacitance of three-phase double circuit lines
• The circuits are operated with 𝑎1 − 𝑎2 , 𝑏1 − 𝑏2 , and 𝑐1 − 𝑐2 in parallel.
• Each phase conductors must be transposed within its group and with respect to
the parallel three-phase lines in order to get symmetry.
𝟐𝝅𝜺𝟎 𝑭ൗ
𝑪= 𝒎 • GMD between each phase group;
𝑮𝑴𝑫
𝒍𝒏
𝑮𝑴𝑹𝒄 𝐷 = 𝐷
4
𝐷 𝐷 𝐷
𝐴𝐵 𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑎1 𝑏2 𝑎2 𝑏1 𝑎2 𝑏2
𝑆11
𝑎1 𝑐2 4
𝐷𝐵𝐶 = 𝐷𝑏1𝑐1 𝐷𝑏1𝑐2 𝐷𝑏2𝑐1 𝐷𝑏2𝑐2
𝑆22 4
𝑏1 𝑏2 𝐷𝐴𝐶 = 𝐷𝑎1 𝑐1 𝐷𝑎1𝑐2 𝐷𝑎2𝑐1 𝐷𝑎2𝑐2
• Equivalent GMD per-phase;
𝑐1 𝑎2
𝑆33 𝐺𝑀𝐷 = 3 𝐷𝐴𝐵 × 𝐷𝐵𝐶 × 𝐷𝐴𝐶

• GMR of each phase group;

4 2 4 2 4 2
𝑅𝐴 = 𝑏
𝑟 𝐷𝑎1𝑎2 , 𝑅𝐵 = 𝑏
𝑟 𝐷𝑏1𝑏2 , 𝑅𝐶 = 𝑏
𝑟 𝐷𝑐1𝑐2
• Equivalent 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝐶 for inductance calculation;
𝐺𝑀𝑅𝐶 = 3 𝑅𝐴 × 𝑅𝐵 × 𝑅𝐶
Effect of earth on the capacitance
• Presence of earth alters the distribution of electric flux lines and equipotential
surfaces and change the effective capacitance of the line.
• Earth level is an equipotential surface.
• Flux lines cut the surface of the earth orthogonally.

• Effect of the presence of earth can be accounted for by the method of “image
charges”.
• Earth can be replaced for the calculation of electric field potential by a
fictitious charged conductor with charge equal and opposite to the charge
on the actual conductor and at a depth below the surface of the earth same
as the height of the actual conductor above the earth.

• Effect of earth is to increase the capacitance.

• Normally the height of the conductor is large compared to the distance between
the conductors and the effect of earth is negligible.
• The effect of earth on line capacitance can be neglected for steady state analysis.
Method of Images
• Effect of earth on capacitance of a single-phase system

𝑉𝑥𝑦
𝑞 𝐷𝑥𝑦 𝐷𝑦𝑦 𝐷𝑥 ′ 𝑦
= ቈln − ln − ln
2𝜋𝜀0 𝐷𝑥𝑥 𝐷𝑥𝑦 𝐷𝑥 ′ 𝑥
𝐷
𝒒 𝑥 𝑦 −𝒒

𝐻
𝐻𝑥𝑥 𝐻𝑥𝑦

𝑥′ 𝑦′
−𝒒 𝒒