Current Carrying Capacity of Overhead Transmission Line ACSR Conductor.

21.1 INTRODUCTION
21.1.1 The thermal capabilities of transmission transmission lines in Power System are evaluated based on the criteria of
maximum operating or design temperatures of the transmission line conductors and the transmission losses.
21.1.2 The thermal rating of conductor is dependent on the following factors :
A. Meteorological/Environmental Conditions
1. Solar radiation.
2. Wind velocity.
3. Ambient temperature.
B. Conductor surface Characteristics
1. Age of the Conductor.
2. Maximum design conductor temperature.
3. Allowable losses of strength of aluminium metal at design temperature.
21.1.3 The maximum value of temperature at which transmission metal at design temperature. Operate in India is 650 C for
conductors as per provisions of IS:802 (Part-I) 1973. However, to increases loading capabilities of transmission lines, the
matter is under active consideration by Bureau of Indian Standards, Central Electy. authority, State Electy Boards and other
utilities etc. for increasing the maximum conductor design temperature from 650 C to 750 C as it has been observed that there
is no loss of strength of aluminium metal at 650 C. But it has to be ensured that the transmission line towers are designed
suitably, fo that there is no violation of ground clearance under any circumstances due to safety considerations. This would
significantly help in improving thermal loading capability of transmission lines, without infringement in ground clearances.
21.2 HEAT BALANCE EQUATION OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS
The current carrying capacity rating is computed by using the following formula under steady state condition of wind velocity,
temperature, solar radiation and electric current.
Qc + Qr = I2 R + Qs
WhereI2 R = Heat generated in the conductor due to flow of current ' I ' in Amperes, R is the resistance of the conductor per meter.
Q8 = Solar Heat Gain in Watts per meter of Conductor.
Qc = Convection heat loss in Watts per meter of Conductor
Qr = Radiated Heat Loss in Watts per meter of Conductor.
From the above equation, current carrying capacity I can be determined asI = Qc + Qr - Qs / R Ampere
The effect of Heat Gain due to Magnetic Heat and Corona Heating and Heat Loss due to Evaporation is usually negligible,
hence not considered.
21.3 CURRENT RATING OF VARIOUS CONDUCTORS
21.3.1 The size of the conductor used for transmission lines of various voltage class has now been standardized, which are as
fallows400kv - 'Moose' ACSR
220kv - 'Zebra' ACSR
132kv - 'Panther' ACSR
21.3.2 However, recently in some cases 'moose' conductor has been used on 220kv lines for evacuation of bulk power from
generating station, such as Unchahar Power Project, In case of 66kv lines which have been up-graded to 132kv, the
conductor used is 'Dog' ACSR. Accordingly, the current capacities of the above conductors are temperature of 47.50 C. for new
as well as old conductors for the designed maximum conductor temperature of 650 C as well as 750 C.
TABLE 21-II

Sl.
No.

Size of Conductor
(Code Name)

Current carrying Capacity in Amperes

At maxim. designed Temperature of 650 C

At maxim. designed temperature of 750 C

New Conductor (Up

to one year)

Old Conductor
(Beyond 10 years)

New Conductor (Up

to one year)

Old Conductor
(Beyond 10 years)

1.

'Dog' ACSR

141.12

150.20

229.65

245.06

2.

'Panther' ACSR

179.89

200.60

340.83

371.42

3.

'Zebra' ACSR

201.26

249.51

496.46

553.70

4.

'Moose' ACSR

133.60

218.89

530.51

603.78

NOTE :

1. It is observed that the temperature at some place of UP State goes as high 47.50 C during the months of April, May &
June. There fore current carrying capacities of conductors indicated above, are for worst condition of ambient
temperature. However, the current carrying capacity of the conductor of the increases as the ambient temperature
decreases.
2. The current carrying capacity of the conductor also increases with the age of the conductor as would be observed
from the above tabel.
21.4 POWER TRANSMITTED
21.4.1 The power transmitted for any size of conductor depends on its current carrying capacity and can be calculated from
the following formulaPower in KW = 3 V I Cos
Power in KW = 3 V I Cos / 1000
WhereCos = Power Factor (P.F.)
V = Voltage in KV
I = Current in Amp.
Assuming Power Factor of 0.8 lagging, power transmitted at various voltages can be calculated approximately as follows-

a. At 132 kv

b.

Power in MW = 3 132 x I x 0.8 / 1000

= 0.1828992 x I
= 0.183 x I
At 220 kv
Power in MW = 3 220 x I x 0.8 / 1000
= 0.305 x I

c. At 400 kv
Power in MW = 3 400 x I x 0.8 / 1000
= 0.554 x I

Thus value of power transmitted can easily be calculated at 132 kv or 200 kv or 400 kv for a given value of current.
21.4.2 Normally for continuous operation the transmission lines used on various voltage are designed to carry or transmit
maximum power loads at the designed maximum conductor temperature of 650 C as follows
At 132 kv with 'Panther' ACSR = 75 MVA
At 220 kv with 'Zebra' ACSR = 200 MVA
At 400 kv with 'Moose' ACST = 500 MVA
21.4.3 It is worth considering that the maximum permissible conductor temperature for continuous operation on transmission
lines may be introduced as 750 C in order to raise the current rating of the conductor. This issue is under active consideration
and IS:802-1973 is under revision.
21.4.4 It is observed that the current carrying capacity of any conductor at any particular temperature is lowest during 10 to 14
hours of a day. Assuming maximum permissible conductor temperature of 750 C, the value of current carrying capacities of
'Dog', 'Panther', 'Zebra' and 'Moose' ACSR conductor during 10 to 14 hours of a day at different ambient temperatures for
various months of a year for the conductor of ages (a) up to one year (b) between 1 to 10 years and (c) Above 10 years given
in the Table I, II, III & IV respectively hereinafter.

Table 21-II
21.5 Continuous Current Carrying Capacity of ACSR Conductors

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Code Name & Size

Overall diameter
Resistance at 200 C
Maximum Design Temp. of conductor
Region

Month

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Ambient
Temperature in
C

ACSR 'Dog'
14.15mm
0.2792 ohns/Km
750 C
Northern

Continuous current carrying capacity in Amp during 10 to 14 HRS

for conductor of age
Up to one year

Between one to Ten

years

Beyond 10 years

47.5

252.46

263.43

269.12

45.0

268.06

279.70

285.48

40.0

296.87

309.67

315.64

32.5

335.18

349.38

355.60

20.0

390.01

405.95

412.51

47.5

244.49

254.83

260.71

45.0

260.56

271.61

277.57

40.0

290.12

302.39

308.50

32.5

329.21

342.94

349.28

20.0

384.89

400.42

407.07

47.5

237.01

246.76

252.82

45.0

253.56

264.05

270.17

40.0

283.85

295.62

301.86

32.5

323.70

336.99

343.43

20.0

380.19

395.33

402.07

47.5

230.37

239.58

245.82

45.0

247.36

257.36

263.63

40.0

278.33

289.65

296.02

32,5

318.87

331.77

338.31

20.0

376.09

390.89

397.70

47.5

231.59

240.89

247.10

45.0

248.50

258.58

364.83

40.0

279.33

290.74

297.09

32.5

319.75

332.72

339.24

20.0

376.83

391.69

398.49

47.5

229.65

238.80

245.06

45.0

266.74

256.63

262.93

40.0

277.73

289.01

295.39

32.5

488.42

513.25

525.82

20.0

581.71

609.99

622.97

47.5

341.41

359.68

372.02

45.0

370.17

389.85

402.94

40.0

421.94

443.98

556.32

32.5

488.82

513.68

526.24

20.0

582.05

610.35

623.32

47.5

342.99

361.37

373.65

45.0

370.63

391.40

403.65

40.0

423.22

445.35

457.66

Table 21-IV
21.7 Continuous Current Carrying Capacity of ACSR Conductors
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Code Name & Size

Overall Diameter
Resistance at 200 C
Maximum Design Temp. of conductor
Region

Month

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

Ambient
Temperature in "C

ACSR 'Zebra'
28.62mm
0.06888 ohns/Km
750 C
Northern

Continuous current carrying capacity in Amp during 10 to 14 HRS

for conductor of age
Up to one year

Between one to
Ten years

Beyond 10 years

47.5

580.38

619.16

638.95

45.0

621.77

662.58

682.56

40.0

697.27

714.63

762.03

32.5

796.22

844.93

865.99

20.0

935.83

989.97

1012.02

47.5

551.61

588.83

609.60

45.0

595.01

734.33

655.17

40.0

673.52

716.50

737.59

32.5

775.50

822.96

844.57

20.0

918.26

971.29

993.76

47.5

524.11

559.85

581.67

45.0

569.61

607.53

629.26

40.0

651.18

692.89

714.68

32.5

756.19

802.48

824.63

20.0

902.01

954.00

976.87

47.5

499.18

533.61

556.45

45.0

546.75

583.44

606.03

40.0

631.29

671.86

694.31

32.5

739.13

784.40

807.05

20.0

887.76

938.84

962.07

47.5

503.78

538.45

561.09

45.0

550.96

587.87

610.29

40.0

634.94

675.71

698.04

32.5

742.24

787.70

810.25

20.0

890.35

941.60

964.76

47.5

496.46

530.74

553.70

45.0

544.27

580.81

603.50

40.0

629.14

669.58

692.11

32.5

737.29

782.45

805.15

20.0

886.23

973.21

960.48

47.5

497.55

531.89

554.80

August

September

October

November

December

45.0

545.26

581.86

604.51

40.0

630.00

670.49

692.99

32.5

738.02

783.23

805.91

20.0

886.84

937.86

961.11

47.5

500.54

535.04

559.82

45.0

547.99

584.74

607.28

40.0

632.27

672.99

695.41

32.5

740.04

785.27

807.99

20.0

888.52

939.65

962.86

47.5

528.75

564.74

586.37

45.0

573.88

612.04

633.61

40.0

654.92

696.84

718.51

32.5

759.41

805.90

827.96

20.0

904.71

956.88

979.68

47.5

543.19

579.94

601.03

45.0

587.20

626.10

647.20

40.0

666.63

709.22

730.52

32.5

769.53

816.63

828.40

20.0

913.23

965.93

988.52

47.5

56.66

604.69

624.94

45.4

608.98

649.08

669.46

40.0

685.89

729.59

750.32

32.5

786.28

834.38

855.71

20.0

927.38

980.98

1003.24

47.5

583.42

622.35

642.05

45.0

624.60

665.57

685.46

40.0

699.80

744.30

764.63

32.5

798.44

847.27

868.28

20.0

937.71

991.97

1013.98

Table 21-V
21.8 Continuous Current Carrying Capacity of ACSR Conductors
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Code Name & Size

Overall Diameter
Resistance at 200 C
Maximum Design Temp. of conductor
Region

ACSR 'Moose'
31.77mm
0.05595 ohms/Km
750 C
Northern

Month

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

Ambient
Temperature in C

Continuous current carrying capacity in Amp during 10 to 14 HRS

for conductor of age
Up to one year

Between one to
Ten years

Beyond 10 years

47.5

637.49

686.07

710.72

45.0

685.66

736.61

761.41

40.0

773.28

828.37

853.58

32.5

887.67

947.87

973.80

20.0

1048.65

1115.27

1142.39

47.5

601.14

648.10

674.14

45.0

652.00

701.39

727.39

40.0

743.59

797.21

823.37

32.5

862.93

920.77

947.44

20.0

1062.96

1092.32

1119.92

47.5

566.09

611.58

639.10

45.0

619.84

667.78

695.04

40.0

715.56

767.80

794.94

32.5

837.87

895.43

922.84

20.0

1006.84

1071.05

1099.18

47.5

534.03

578.23

607.27

45.0

590.70

637.38

665.88

40.0

690.48

741.51

769.58

32.5

816.55

872.91

901.08

20.0

989.17

1052.77

1080.98

47.5

539.97

584.40

713.15

45.0

596.08

642.98

671.25

40.0

695.08

746.34

774.22

32.5

820.45

877.09

905.05

20.5

992.39

1055.77

1084.29

47.5

530.51

574.56

603.78

45.0

587.52

634.06

662.70

40.0

687.75

738.66

766.83

32.5

814.25

87057

898.73

20.0

987.28

1050.36

1079.02

47.5

531.92

576.03

605.18

45.0

588.79

635.39

663.98

40.0

688.84

739.80

676.93

32.5

815.17

871.54

899.67

20.0

988.04

1051.16

1079.81

47.5

535.79

580.05

609.00

45.0

592.29

639.03

667.46

40.0

691.83

742.92

770.95

32.5

817.70

874.20

902.25

20.0

990.12

1053.37

1081.96

47.5

572.01

617.76

645.02

October

November

December

45.0

645.26

673.44

700.42

40.0

720.27

722.74

799.70

32.5

841.89

899.68

926.94

20.0

1010.19

1074.59

1102.63

47.5

590.43

636.93

663.41

45.0

642.14

691.08

717.45

40.0

734.96

788.15

814.61

32.5

854.50

912.94

939.83

20.0

1020.72

1085.73

1113.49

47.5

620.18

667.99

693.28

45.0

669.40

719.80

745.16

40.0

759.07

813.45

839.11

32.5

875.32

934.87

961.15

20.0

1038.22

1104.24

1131.54

57.5

641.30

690.06

714.57

45.0

689.21

740.33

765.01

40.0

776.42

831.67

856.79

32.5

890.41

950.76

976.62

20.0

1050.97

1117.72

1144.71