CHAPTER 9

Electrical Design of Overhead Lines

Principles of Power System

V K Mehta
 Introduction
1. An a.c. transmission line has resistance, inductance and
capacitance uniformly distributed along its length.
2. These are known as constants or parameters of the line.
3. The performance of a transmission line depends to a
considerable extent upon these constants.
4. These constants determine whether the efficiency and voltage
regulation of the line will be good or poor.
9.1 Constants of a Transmission Line
9.2 Resistance of a Transmission Line
i. R = ρl/a
ii. In a single phase or 2-wire d.c line, the total resistance (known asloop
resistance) is equal to double the resistance of either conductor.
iii. In case of a 3-phase transmission line, resistance per phase is the
resistance of one conductor.
9.3 Skin Effect
• The tendency of alternating current to concentrate near the surface of
a conductor is known as skin effect
• the effective area of cross-section of the conductor through which
current flows is reduced.
• the resistance of the conductor is slightly increased when carrying an
alternating current.
9.5 Inductance of a Single Phase Two-wire Line
• Inductance of a Conductor
9.6 Inductance of a 3-Phase Overhead Line

• Inductance of a Conductor (Asymmetric)

9.6 Inductance of a 3-Phase Overhead Line

• Inductance of a Conductor (Symmetric d1=d2=d3)

Example 9.1. A single phase line has two parallel conductors 2 metres
apart. The diameter of each conductor is 1·2 cm. Calculate the loop
inductance per km of the line.
• Spacing of conductors, d = 2 m = 200 cm
• Radius of conductor, r = 1·2/2 = 0·6 cm
• Loop inductance per meter length of the line= 10−7(1 + 4 loged/r) H
• = 10−7 (1 + 4 loge 200/0·6) H = 24·23 ×10−7 H
• Loop inductance per km of the line=24·23 ×10−7 ×1000 H
• = 24·23 ×10−4 H = 2·423 mH
Example 9.3. Find the inductance per km of a 3-phase transmission line
using 1·24 cm diameter conductors when these are placed at the corners
of an equilateral triangle of each side 2 m.
Example 9.4. The three conductors of a 3-phase line are arranged at the
corners of a triangle of sides 2 m, 2·5 m and 4·5 m. Calculate the
inductance per km of the line when the conductors are regularly
transposed. The diameter of each conductor is 1·24 cm.
Example 9.5. Calculate the inductance of each conductor in a 3-phase, 3-
wire system when the conductors are arranged in a horizontal plane with
spacing such that D31= 4 m ; D12= D23= 2m. The conductors are
transposed and have a diameter of 2·5 cm
Example 9.5. Calculate the inductance of each conductor in a 3-phase, 3-
wire system when the conductors are arranged in a horizontal plane with
spacing such that D31= 4 m ; D12= D23= 2m. The conductors are
transposed and have a diameter of 2·5 cm
9.10 Capacitance of a Single Phase Two-wire Line
9.11Capacitance of a 3-Phase Overhead Line
Example 9.11: A single-phase transmission line has two parallel
conductors 3 metres apart, radius of each conductor being 1 cm. Calculate
the capacitance of the line per km. Given that ε0=8·854×10−12F/m.
Example 9.12: A 3-phase overhead transmission line has its conductors
arranged at the corners of an equilateral triangle of 2 m side. Calculate the
capacitance of each line conductor per km. Given that diameter of each
conductor is 1·25 cm.
Example 9.13: A 3-phase, 50 Hz, 66 kV overhead line conductors are
placed in a horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 9.26. The conductor diameter
is 1·25 cm. If the line length is100 km, calculate (i) capacitance per phase,
(ii)charging current per phase, assuming complete transposition of the line.
 11.1 Underground Cables
An underground cable essentially consists of one or more conductors
covered with suitable insulation and surrounded by a protecting cover.
Requirement:
(i) The conductor used in cables should be tinned stranded copper or
aluminium of high conductivity. Stranding is done so that conductor may
become flexible and carry more current.
(ii) The conductor size should be such that the cable carries the desired
load current without overheating and causes voltage drop within
permissible limits.
(iii) The cable must have proper thickness of insulation in order to give
high degree of safety and reliability at the voltage for which it is
designed.
(iv) The cable must be provided with suitable mechanical protection so
that it may withstand the rough use in laying it.
(v) The materials used in the manufacture of cables should be such that
there is complete chemical and physical stability throughout.
 11.2 Construction of Cables
General construction of a 3-conductor cable
 11.2 Construction of Cables
General construction of a 3-conductor cable
(i) Cores or Conductors. A cable may have one or more than one core
(conductor) depending upon the type of service for which it is
intended. For instance, the 3-conductor cable shown in Fig. 11.1 is
used for 3-phase service. The conductors are made of tinned copper or
aluminum and are usually stranded in order to provide flexibility to the
cable.
(ii) Insulation. Each core or conductor is provided with a suitable
thickness of insulation, the thickness of layer depending upon the
voltage to be withstood by the cable. The commonly used materials for
insulation are impregnated paper, varnished cambric or rubber mineral
compound.
(iii) Metallic sheath. In order to protect the cable from moisture, gases
or other damaging liquids (acids or alkalies) in the soil and
atmosphere, a metallic sheath of lead or aluminium is provided over
the insulation as shown in Fig. 11.1
 11.2 Construction of Cables
(iv) Bedding. Over the metallic sheath is applied a layer of bedding
which consists of a fibrous material like jute or hessian tape. The
purpose of bedding is to protect the metallic sheath against corrosion
and from mechanical injury due to armouring.
(v) Armouring. Over the bedding, armouring is provided which
consists of one or two layers of galvanised steel wire or steel tape. Its
purpose is to protect the cable from mechanical injury while laying it
and during the course of handling. Armouring may not be done in the
case of some cables.
(vi) Serving. In order to protect armouring from atmospheric
conditions, a layer of fibrous material (like jute) similar to bedding is
provided over the armouring. This is known as serving.
 Cables
Properties Insulating Materials
(i) High insulation resistance to avoid leakage current.
(ii) High dielectric strength to avoid electrical breakdown of the cable.
(iii) High mechanical strength to withstand the mechanical handling of
cables.
(iv) Non-hygroscopic i.e., it should not absorb moisture from air or soil.
The moisture tends to decrease the insulation resistance and hastens the
breakdown of the cable. In case the insulating material is hygroscopic,
it must be enclosed in a waterproof covering like lead sheath.
(v) Non-inflammable.
(vi) Low cost so as to make the underground system a viable proposition.
(vii) Unaffected by acids and alkalies to avoid any chemical action.
 11.20 Types of Cable Faults
(i) Open-circuit fault.When there is a break in the conductor of a
cable, it is called opencircuit fault. The open-circuit fault can be
checked by a megger.
(ii) Short-circuit fault.When two conductors of a multi-core cable
come in electrical contact with each other due to insulation
failure, it is called a short-circuit fault.
(iii) Earth fault. When the conductor of a cable comes in contact
with earth, it is called earth fault or ground fault.