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DELHI 2013

International Colloquium on Ultra High Voltage in association with CIGRE

SPECIAL REPORT FOR SESSION 1.2
Overhead Lines
Eiichi ZAIMA (Chairman and Special Reporter)

1. Introduction
Utilities, which have rapidly growing demands, are facing how to supply large amounts of electrical
energy in a away that is both efficient and minimal impact on the environment. Russia, Japan and
China have experienced UHV design, construction and have energized UHV (Partly 550kV) overhead
line. India has started to construct 1200kV upgradable transmission line from Wardaha Aurangabad
(approx. 350km length) and commissioned 1200kV test station at Bina.

Reference
Title
Number
2-1
CPRI Contribution to 1200kV AC
Transmission Line Design

2-2

2-3

2-4

2-5

2-6
2-7

2-8

2-9
2-10

Design & Optimization of

Upgradeable 1200kV Transmission
Line
Design & Optimization of Indias
First 800kV HVDC Transmission
Line
Right of Way Challenges and
solutions for Transmission lines in
India
A 765kV Braced Line Post Prototype
with Composite insulators; Materials,
Design, Testing
Design based improvements of
different types of EHV Insulators
Design and Development of 1200kV
Transmission Line and Sub-Station
Insulator Hardware Fitting, Clamps
& Connectors
Dimentioning of Corona Control
Rings for High Voltage Lines and
Substations
Assessment of conductor motion on
UHV Bundles
Study of OPGW Performance against
Lightning Strikes in UHV
Transmission Lines

Zaima.eiichi@tepco.co.jp

Authors

Country

K. A. Aravind, G. V. Rao, B.
Krishna, Subhash B. Ghole, K.
Srinivas, G. Ramesh, A.Yellaiah,
Pradeep M. Nirgude, et al., CPRI
R. R. Patel, A. Anand, Gospal. JI,
B.S. Pandey, POWERGRID

India

R. Gupta, A. Anand, Gopal. JI, G.

Gupta, B. S. Pandey,
POWERGRID
D. Lakhapati, Gammon India ltd

India

K. O. Papailiou, A. Furrer H, R.
Gassmann, F, SchmuckPfistererSEF AG
S. Venkataraman, T. Johansson,
N. Sethuramon, WSI
H. K. Agarwal, K. Mukherjee, A.
K. Pal, P. Barua, et al., Supreme

U. Kumar, D. Nath, IISc

U. Cosmai, S. Thaddey,
K. O. Papaliou, Pfistere
Xie Shu-Hong, Yang Ri-Sheng
Zhongtian Technology Group Co.

India

India

Switzerland

India
India

India

Switzerland
China

This session will mainly focus on 1200kV AC transmission line in India. Ten papers will be presented
and discussed in the following three topics.
.
a. Design of 1200kV AC and +/- 800kV DC transmission line (4 papers)

b. Insulators for 1200kV and 800kV transmission lines

(3 papers)
c. Control of corona, motion and lightning influence to OPGW for UHV transmission
line
(3 papers)
2. Design of 1200kV AC and +/- 800kV transmission line:
In paper 2-1 (K. A. Aravind et al., the authors present the preliminary studies of insulation and
electromagnetic interface carried out at CPRI, Hyderabad to assist the 1200 kV Transmission design in
India, Corona power loss measurement in a corona cage optimized the sub-conductor spacing. Air
insulation studies optimized the tower window clearance, Achieving a uniform voltage distribution
along a 1200 kV insulator string, studies for the grading configuration were carried out.

Question-1:
What do authors gain new knowledge for 1200kV transmission line design different from
800kV line from the preliminary studies of insulation and electromagnetic interface in India?
In paper 2-2 (R. R. Patel et al.) , the authors highlight the salient studies undertaken by
POWERGRID for evolving & optimizing designs of its 1200 kV upgradable transmission line which
is presently under construction. Considering the growth of power transmission in India and envisaged
requirement of 1200 kV transmission line in future, a unique concept of constructing 400 kV (quad
bundle) double circuit line, which could be later converted/upgraded to 1200 kV, has been considered.
Question-2:
How do you upgrade 400kV (quad bundle) double circuit line to 1200kV (octal bundle) single
circuit line?
Question-3:
Are there any special considerations, such as transmission line maintenance, under 420kV
operation of 1200kV upgradable transmission line in India?
In paper 2-3 (R. Gupta et al.), the authors present the salient studies undertaken by POWERGRID
for evolving & optimizing designs of its first 800 kV UHV DC transmission line which is presently
under advance stage of construction. Salient observations and results of the design & optimization
studies including conductor-bundle optimization, clearance & tower configuration selection, insulation
design, insulator string selection etc. have been presented. Construction of Indias first +/- 800 kV
HVDC transmission line between Biswanath Chariyali & Agra (line length approx. 1750 km) is in
advance stage and is expected to be commissioned in 2013-14..

Question 4
By what criteria do authors select 1200kV AC line or 800kV DC line?
Question 5:
Could authors explain the main design differences between 800kV AC and +/- 800kV DC
transmission line?
Paper 2-4 (D. Lakhapati et al.) describes the challenges and solution of Right of way (ROW)
issues for transmission lines in India. At present, the challenging issue of transmission line is
ROW, land acquisition, regulatory and environmental clearances. Development of UHV
transmission lines and upgrading of old existing lines are better solutions.

Question-6:
How about the EMF issues in India? What values for electro and magnetic field are adopted
for UHV transmission design?
3. Insulators for 1200kV and 800kV transmission lines:
In paper 2-5 (K. O. Papailiou et al.), the authors describe the state-of-the-art of a braced line post
arrangement of composite insulators for compact lines. And the pros and cons of them are also
explained in cost saving, mechanical stability and etc. These arrangements have been applied to
420kV DC line and can be applied to 765kV AC line. When larger rod diameters are available or two
parallel posts type would be upgraded, higher forces can be permitted an thus solutions for even higher
voltages become feasible.
Question-7:

What are the utilities opinions to apply a braced line post arrangement of composite insulators to
compact lines?
Question-8:

What are the main necessary technologies for a brace line post arrangement to be applied to
even higher voltages?
Paper 2-6 (S. Venkataraman et al.,) highlights the important design aspects, specifically Form Factor
to be considered when designing insulators that are suitable to be operative in multiple environments.
Also some points related to choosing the right insulator material (porcelain instead of composite),
based on extensive experience from demanding environments, for UHV/EHV system has been duly
highlighted. The design focus points of different combinations of core, design of shed and choosing
the optimal number of flanges with longer core options has been described.
Question-9:
What criteria do the authors select porcelains or composite insulators to their applied location?
In paper 2-7 (H. K. Agarwal, et al.,), the authors describes the approach and experiences of the
developments for the insulator hardware fittings, clamps and connectors for 1200kV transmission line
and substation in India. Regular observation on all components at the test station at Bina and

performance data are being compiled. These are under various stages of studies with a view to
validate the design adopted as well as to identify further scope of improvement and
optimization.
Question-10:
What is the main development for UHV transmission line and substations insulator hardware fittings,
clamps and connectors to be fitted to UHV?

4. Control of corona and motion for 1200kV transmission line

In Paper 2-8 (U. Kumar), the authors describe optimum method for designing corona control
ring using numerical analysis. They also pointed out the importance of spatial boundary
simulation such as abrasion on ring surface in their proposed method. Proposed method will
suggest the effective radius design of curvature of the hardware component.
Question-11:
How do the authors verify the accuracy of the proposed method?
Question-12:
What is key issue for applying the proposed method to the actual power system?

Paper 2-9 (U. Cosmai, et al.,) highlights the wind induced conductor motions, such as aeolian
vibration and subspan oscillation, on UHV bundles. Wind induced motion of UHV octagonal
conductors are greatly different from that of single conductor, due to the forces that are
developed by the spacer. Authors studied to combine theoretical models and analytical
predictions with field measurement and pointed out the importance of field measurement, for
example, a subspan oscillation recorder.
Question-13:
What are effective countermeasures against the aeolian vibration and subspan oscillation on
UHV bundles?
In Page 2-10 (Xie Shu-Hong et al.,), the authors describe the investigation on the ability to
withstand lightning strikes by OPGW cables used in UHV transmission lines.Three types of
OPGW cables with different structures have been designed for UHV lines. The lightning tests
with both 200 and 250 Coulombs (C) charge to the OPGW have no visible influence on the
optical performance. One of these two types of OPGW has been successfully operated in1100
kV lines in China
Question-14:
Do the authors have actual experiences of lightning strikes to OPGW in 1100kV transmission
line in China?
Question-15
What type of OPGW is applied to the 1200kV transmission line in India? And how about its
ability to withstand lightning strikes ?