Chapter 4

Content
Introduction Overhead Transmission Line
Overhead Line Conductors Overhead Line Supports Type of Insulator

Line Parameters
Line Resistance Line Conductance Line Inductance Line Capacitance

Representation of Line
Short Line Medium Line Long Line

Introduction
The transmission line system is designed to transmit bulk electric power for consumption at the load centres Generation station generate power at 11kV ~ 30kV step up the voltage before transmit it The power transmitted over a transmission line is proportional to the square of the transmission voltage must have highest possible voltage on transmission line

Introduction
High voltage DC (HVDC) transmission line is used for transmitting power at distance more than 600km
More economical

Voltage range: >400kV Process for HVDC transmission system:

AC voltage from generator is stepped up using step-up transformer The voltage is converted to high voltage DC using converter At the receiving load, the voltage is changed back to ac signal using inverter. The voltage level is stepped down using step down transformer to distribute power to the consumer

Introduction
From the transmission line/grid, the voltage level is first being stepped down at sub-transmission level (range 132 kV 66kV) At distribution substation, voltage level is stepped down at two voltage level: 11 kV at primary and 415 V (3phase supply) or 230 V (1-phase supply) .

AROUND TOWN & RESIDENTIAL AREA Underground distribution to individual premises is at 415V and 240 V

HOUSE - Overhead distribution

to individual houses is at 240V.

SMALL INDUSTRY Most small factories receive their electricity at 11kV

HEAVY INDUSTRY - Some have

direct connections to the transmission at 132kV

POWER STATION- Generator output

at 11kV/20kV is stepped up by transformer to 132kV 275kV and 500kV for transmission.

TRANSMISSION - Transmission is mainly at

132kV, 275kV and 500kV

Overhead Transmission Lines

Method to transmit/distribute electric power:
Underline cable Overhead line cable

Underline cable are rarely used because:

High installation cost for longer distance Difficult to provide proper installation to the cable

Overhead Transmission Lines

Classification of overhead transmission line:

Low voltage less than 1000 volts, used for connection between a residential or small commercial customer and the utility. Medium Voltage (Distribution) between 1000 volts (1 kV) and to about 33 kV, used for distribution in urban and rural areas. High Voltage (subtransmission less than 100 kV; subtransmission or transmission at voltage such as 115 kV and 138 kV), used for sub-transmission and transmission of bulk quantities of electric power and connection to very large consumers. Extra High Voltage (transmission) over 230 kV, up to about 800 kV, used for long distance, very high power transmission. Ultra High Voltage higher than 800 kV.

Overhead Transmission Lines

Main component of overhead line: Conductors which carry electric power from sending end station to the receiving end station. Support which may be poles or towers and keep the conductors at a suitable level above the ground. Insulator which are attached to supports and insulate the conductors from the ground. Cross arms which provide support to the insulators. Miscellaneous items such as lighting arrestors, anti-climbing wires, etc.

Overhead Line Conductors

The conductor material used for transmission and distribution of electric power should have the following properties:
high electrical conductivity high tensile strength in order to withstand mechanical stress low cost so that it can be used for long distances low specific gravity so that weight per unit volume is small

Aluminium conductor is normally used as the overhead transmission line for the following reason:
Lighter Cheaper Large conductor size for the same resistance value of copper conductor-reduce corona effect Abundant supply of aluminium

Overhead Line Conductors

ACSR ACSR Aluminium-Conductor Steel-Reinforced The most common type of conductor used in overhead line Consist of stranded steel wires (for mechanical strength) and surrounded by current-carrying layers of aluminium conductors
Aluminium Strands Steel strand

ACSR conductor cross section with 7 steel and 24 aluminium strands

ACSR (cont..)
Aluminium co-efficient expansion is 104 times of that copper sag is greater in aluminium conductors Steel cored Aluminium (ACSR) wire is used to compensate this property of Aluminium The steel conductors used are galvanised in order to prevent rusting and electrolytic corrosion ACSR is available with varying percentages of steel core to achieve different strengths, example: 54AL/19St, 54AL/7St, 54AL/7St

Overhead Line Conductors

Some configurations of aluminium conductors that are used in transmission lines are: all-aluminium conductors (AAC) all-aluminium-alloy conductors (AAAC) aluminium-conductor alloy-reinforced (ACAR) expanded ACSR aluminium clad steel conductor (Alumoweld)

Overhead Line Conductors

AAC is used mainly in urban areas where the spacing is short and the supports are closer together. AAC conductors have a high degree of corrosion resistance; for this reason they are used extensively in coastal areas AAC Conductors were developed as a consequence of the galvanic corrosion that ACSR conductors are susceptible to

Source: http://www.aluminiumconductors.com/

Overhead Line Conductors

AAAC is used as bare overhead conductor for power transmission and distribution lines on aerial circuits that require larger mechanical resistance than AAC AAAC has better sag characteristics and a better strength to weight ratio than AAC AAAC Cables have lower weight per unit length and slightly lower resistance per unit length than ACSR.

Source: http://www.aluminiumconductors.com/

Overhead Line Conductors

Conductor manufacturers provide the characteristics of the stranded conductors such as
i. number of strands ii. materials of the strands iii. diameter of a strand in mm iv. calculated resistance at 200C in ohms per km v. approximate weight in kg per km

Overhead Line Supports

The supporting structures for overhead line conductors are various types of poles and towers called line supports The line supports should have the following properties:
i. High mechanical strength to withstand the weight of conductors and wind loads etc. ii. Light in weight without the loss of mechanical strength. iii. Cheap in cost and economical to maintain. iv. Longer life. v. Easy accessibility of conductors for maintenance.

Overhead Line Supports

Types of line supports used in transmission line and distribution line:
i. Wooden poles ii. Steel poles iii. R.C.C. (reinforced concrete) poles iv. Lattice steel tower

The choice of supporting structure depends on:

i. The line span ii. X- sectional area iii. Line voltage iv. Cost v. Local Condition