BEE3133

Electrical Power Systems

Chapter 3
Transmission Line Parameters

Topic Outcomes
Compute line resistance.
Compute line inductance and capacitance.
Explain the effect of earth on the line
capacitance.
Find the induced voltage due to transmission
line magnetic field induction.
Discuss the transmission line electrostatic
induction and its effects.
Explain corona and its effects.

INTRODUCTION
All transmission lines in a power system exhibit the
electrical properties of resistance, inductance, capacitance
and conductance.
Inductance and capacitance are due to the effects of
magnetic and electric fields around the conductor.
These parameters are essential for the development of the
transmission line models used in power system analysis.
The shunt conductance accounts for leakage currents
flowing across insulators and ionized pathways in the air.
The leakage currents are negligible compared to the
current flowing in the transmission lines and may be
neglected.

RESISTANCE
Important in transmission efficiency evaluation
and economic studies.
Significant effect
Generation of I2R loss in transmission line.
Produces IR-type voltage drop which affect voltage
regulation.

RESISTANCE
The dc resistance of a solid round
conductor at a specified temperature
is

Rdc

l
A

Where :
= conductor resistivity (-m),

= conductor length (m) ; and

A = conductor cross-sectional area (m2)

RESISTANCE

Conductor resistance is
affected by three factors: Frequency (skin effect)
Spiraling
Temperature

RESISTANCE
Frequency Skin Effect
When ac flows in a conductor, the current
distribution is not uniform over the conductor
cross-sectional area and the current density is
greatest at the surface of the conductor.
This causes the ac resistance to be somewhat
higher than the dc resistance. The behavior is
known as skin effect.

RESISTANCE
The skin effect is where alternating current tends
to avoid travel through the center of a solid
conductor, limiting itself to conduction near the
surface.
This effectively limits the cross-sectional
conductor area available to carry alternating
electron flow, increasing the resistance of that
conductor above what it would normally be for
direct current

RESISTANCE

RESISTANCE
Skin effect correction factor are defined
as

R
RO

Where
R = AC resistance ; and
Ro = DC resistance.

RESISTANCE
Spiraling
For stranded conductors, alternate layers of
strands are spiraled in opposite directions to
hold the strands together.
Spiraling makes the strands 1 2% longer than
the actual conductor length.
DC resistance of a stranded conductor is 1 2%
larger than the calculated value.

RESISTANCE
Temperature

The conductor resistance increases

as temperature increases. This
change can be considered linear over
the range of temperature normally
encountered and may be calculated
from :

T t2
R2 R1
T t1

Where:
R1 = conductor resistances at t1 in C
R2 = conductor resistances at t2 in C
T = temperature constant (depends on
the conductor material)

RESISTANCE
The conductor resistance is best determined
from manufacturers data.
Some conversion used in calculating line
resistance:1 cmil = 5.067x10-4 mm2
= 5.067x10-6 cm2
= 5.067x10-10 m2

Resistivity & Temparature Constant of

Conductor Metals

Material

20C

Resistivity at 20C

Temperature Constant

m10-8

cmil/ft

Annealed

1.72

10.37

234.5

Hard-drawn

1.77

10.66

241.5

2.83

17.00

228

6.4 8.4

38 51

480

10

60

180

Silver

1.59

9.6

243

Sodium

4.3

26

207

12 88

72 530

180 980

Copper

Aluminum
Hard-drawn

Brass
Iron

Steel

RESISTANCE

Example 3.1:
A solid cylindrical aluminum conductor 25km long
has an area of 336,400 circular mils. Obtain the
conductor resistance at
(a) 20C and
(b) 50C.
The resistivity of aluminum at 20C is
= 2.8x10-8-m.

RESISTANCE
Answer (a)
- Solution 1:
l 2.8 10 8 m25 10 3 m
RDC 20 C

4.107
10 2
A
336400 5.067 10 m
0

- Solution 2:
d 336400 580 mil 580 2.54 10 3 cm 1.4732 cm
A

d
2

RDC 200 C

l
A

1.4732cm 1.704564cm 2
2

2.8 10

m 25 10 3 m
4.107
4
2
1.704564 10 m

RESISTANCE
Answer (b)

Rdc t2

T t2
Rdc t1
T t1

T 500 C
Rdc 500 C Rdc 200 C
T 200 C
2280 C 500 C
Rdc 500 C 4.107
2280 C 200 C
Rdc 500 C 4.6038

RESISTANCE
Exercise 1
A transmission-line cable consists of 12 identical
strands of aluminum, each 3mm in diameter. The
resistivity of aluminum strand at 20C is 2.8x10-8-m.
Find the 50C ac resistance per km of the cable.
Assume a skin-effect correction factor of 1.02 at
50Hz.

RESISTANCE

Exercise 2:A solid cylindrical aluminum conductor

115km long has an area of 336,400
circular mils. Obtain the conductor
resistance at:
(a) 20C
(b) 40C
(c) 70C
The resistivity of aluminum at 20C is
= 2.8x10-8-m.

RESISTANCE

Exercise 3:An aluminum conductor steel-reinforced

(ACSR) conductor identified by the code
word Moose is composed of 54 strands.
Table of characteristics of ACSRs list the
diameter of 3.53 mm for this conductor.
The resistivity of aluminum strand at
20C is 2.826 x 10-8 -m. Calculate the
resistance per phase per kilometer at
20C and 50C. Assume the increase in
length due to stranding is 1.5% and
increase in resistance due to skin effect
is 3.5%. Temperature coefficient of the
resistance is 0.004 per C.

Find an area of conductor with 54 strand:

A

d 2 NOS

3.53mm2 54 528.485

mm 2

Calculate for Rdc at 20C due to 1.5% stranding:

l 2.826 10 8 1km
R

1.015 0.0543
dc 20C

528 .485 10 m

/ km

Calculate for R at 20C due to 3.5% skin effect factor:

R 0.0543 / km 1.035 0.0562 / km

Rdc 50C R1 0T 0.0562 1 0.004 30 0.0629 / km

INDUCTANCE :
A SINGLE CONDUCTOR
A current-carrying conductor produces
a magnetic field around the conductor.
The magnetic flux can be determined
by using the right hand rule.
For nonmagnetic material, the
inductance L is the ratio of its total
magnetic flux linkage to the current I,
given by

L
I
where =flux linkages, in Weber turns.

INDUCTANCE :
A SINGLE CONDUCTOR
For illustrative
example, consider
a long round
conductor with
radius r, carrying
a current I as
shown.
The magnetic
field intensity Hx,
around a circle of
radius x, is
constant and
tangent to the
circle.

Ix
Hx
2 x

INDUCTANCE :
A SINGLE CONDUCTOR
The inductance of the conductor can be defined
as the sum of contributions from flux linkages
internal and external to the conductor.

INDUCTANCE :
A SINGLE CONDUCTOR
INTERNAL INDUCTANCE
Internal inductance can be express as
follows:-

0 1
7
Lint
10 H / m
8 2
Where
o = permeability of air (4 x 10-7 H/m)
The internal inductance is independent of
the conductor radius r

INDUCTANCE :
A SINGLE CONDUCTOR
INDUCTANCE DUE
TO EXTERNAL
FLUX LINKAGE
External
inductance
between to point
D2 and D1 can be
express as
follows:

D2
Lext 2 10 ln
H /m
D1
7

INDUCTANCE :
A SINGLE PHASE LINES
A single phase lines consist of a
single current carrying line with a
return line which is in opposite
direction. This can be illustrated as:

INDUCTANCE :
A SINGLE PHASE LINES
Inductance of a single-phase
lines can be expressed as below
with an assumption that the
radius of r1=r2=r.
1
D2
7
7
L Lint Lext 10 2 10 ln
H /m
2
D1
1
D
D
1
107 2 107 ln
H / m 2 107 ln H / m
2
r
r
4
1
1

D
D

7
2 10 ln e 4 ln H / m 2 10 ln 1 ln H / m

4
e

D
2 10 ln 0.25 H / m
re
7

SELF AND MUTUAL

INDUCTANCES
The series inductance per phase can
be express in terms of self-inductance
of each conductor and their mutual
inductance.
Consider the one meter length singlephase circuit in figure below:-

Where L11 and L22 are self-inductance and

the mutual inductance L12

SELF AND MUTUAL

INDUCTANCES
L1 2 x107 ln
L2 2 x107 ln

1
r1e 0.25

2 x107 ln

D
H /m
1

1
D
7

2
x
10
ln
H /m
0.25
r2 e
1

1 L11 L12 I1
2 L21 L22 I 2

r1e 0.25

1 L1 I1 2 x107 ln
L11 2 x107 ln

2 x107 ln

1
r1e 0.25

D
1
D
1

L12 2 x107 ln 2 x107 ln

1
D

L12 2 x107 ln

D
I1 L11 L12 I1
1

SELF AND MUTUAL

INDUCTANCES
L11, L22 and L12 can be expressed as
below:-

1
L11 2 10 ln 0.25
r1e
7

1
L22 2 10 ln 0.25
r2e
7

1
L12 L21 2 10 ln
D
7

SELF AND MUTUAL

INDUCTANCES
Flux linkage of conductor i
n

1
1
7
i 2 x10 I i ln 0.25 I j ln
ji

r
e
D
j

1
i
ij

SELF AND MUTUAL

INDUCTANCES
Exercise
An 132 kV, 50 Hz, single phase, two-wire
transmission line consists of aluminum
conductors with diameter of 50 mm. The two
conductors are spaced 1.8 m apart, the
transmission line is 25 km long, and the
temperature of the conductors is 20 C.
Calculate:
I. inductance per kilometer of this
transmission line
II. inductance of this transmission line

SELF AND MUTUAL

INDUCTANCES
Exercise
An 132 kV, 50 Hz, single phase, two-wire
transmission line consists of aluminum
conductors with diameter of 40 mm. The two
conductors are spaced 1.2 m apart, the
transmission line is 100 km long, and the
temperature of the conductors is 20 C.
Calculate:
I. inductance per kilometer of this
transmission line
II. inductance of this transmission line

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
Symmetrical Spacing
Consider 1 meter length of a three-phase
line with three conductors, each radius r,
symmetrically spaced in a triangular
configuration.

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
Assume balance 3-phase current
Ia+ I b+ I c = 0
The total flux linkage of phase a
conductor

1
1
1
a 2 x10 I a ln 0.25 I b ln I c ln
ra e
D
D

Substitute for Ib + Ic=-Ia

a 2 x107 I a ln

1
1
D
7

I
ln

2
x
10
I
ln
a
a
ra e 0.25
D
ra e 0.25

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
Because of symmetry, a=b=c
The inductance per phase per
kilometer length

D
L 2 x10 ln 0.25 H / m
I
re
7

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
Asymmetrical Spacing
Practical transmission lines cannot maintain
symmetrical spacing of conductors because of
construction considerations.
Consider one meter length of three-phase line with
three conductors, each with radius r. The conductor
are asymmetrically spaced with distances as
shown.

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
The flux linkages are:-

1
1
1

a 2 10 I a ln 0.25 I b ln
I c ln
re
D12
D13

1
1
1

b 2 10 I b ln 0.25 I a ln
I c ln
re
D12
D23

1
1
1

c 2 10 I c ln 0.25 I a ln
I b ln
re
D13
D23

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
For balanced three-phase current with

Ia as reference, we have:-

I b I a 240 a I a
o

I c I a 120 aI a
o

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
Thus La, Lb and Lc can be found
using the following equation:-

a
1
1
1
7
2
La 2 10 ln 0.25 a ln a ln
Ia
D12
D13
re

1
1
1
2

Lb
2 10 a ln
ln 0.25 a ln
Ib
D12
re
D23

2
1
1
1
Lc
2 10 a ln
a ln
ln 0.25
Ic
D13
D23
re

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
Transpose Line
Transposition is used to regain symmetry
in good measures and obtain a per-phase
analysis.

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
This consists of interchanging the phase
configuration every one-third the length so
that each conductor is moved to occupy the
next physical position in a regular sequence.
Transposition arrangement are shown in the
figure

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
Since in a transposed line each phase takes all
three positions, the inductance per phase can be
obtained by finding the average value.

 Since in a transposed line each phase

takes all three positions, the
inductance per phase can be obtained
by finding the average value.

La Lb Lc
La
3

 Noting a + a2 = -1
2 107
L
3

1
1
1
1
3 ln 0.25 ln

ln
ln
re
D12
D23
D13

1
1
7
2 10 ln 0.25 ln
1
re
D12 D23 D13 3

2 10

D12 D23 D13

ln

1
3

re 0.25

Inductance per phase per kilometer

1
length

D12 D23 D13 3

L 0.2 ln
mH / km
re 0.25

What and How to Calculate: Lint , Lext @ L?

L1 , L2 @ L?
L11 , L12 @ L22?
GMR?
GMD?

Inductance of Composite
Conductors
In evaluation of inductance, solid round
conductors were considered. However, in
practical transmission lines, stranded
conductors are used.
Consider a single-phase line consisting of
two composite conductors x and y as shown
in Figure 1. The current in x is I referenced
into the page, and the return in y is I.

Inductance of Composite
Conductors
Conductor x consist of n identical strands or
subconductors, each with radius rx.
Conductor y consist of m identical strands or
subconductors, each with radius ry.
The current is assumed to be equally divided
amon the subconductors. The current per
strands is I/n in x and I/m in y.

Inductance of Composite
Conductors
c

c'

b'

d'

a'

m'

I 1
1
1
1
ln ln

a 2 10
ln
. . . ln
n rx '
Dab
Dac
Dan
7

I
1
1
1
1
ln

2 10
ln
ln
. . . ln
m Daa '
Dab '
Dac '
Dam
or
7

a 2 10 I ln
7

Daa ' Dab ' Dac ' ...Dam

n

rx ' Dab Dac ...Dan

m D D D ...D
a
aa ' ab ' ac '
am
7
La
2n 10 ln
n r ' D D ...D
I /n
x
ab ac
an
m D D D ...D
n
na ' nb ' nc '
nm
7
Ln
2n 10 ln
n r ' D D ...D
I /n
x
na nb
nc

GMD
Lx 2 10 ln
H /m
GMRx
7

where
GMD mn ( Daa ' Dab ' ...Dam )...(Dna ' Dnb ' ...Dnm )
GMRx n ( Daa Dab ...Dan )...(Dna Dnb ...Dnn )
2

where
Daa Dbb ... Dnn rx '

GMR of Bundled Conductors

Extra high voltage transmission lines are
usually constructed with bundled conductors.
Bundling reduces the line reactance, which
improves the line performance and increases
the power capability of the line.
d
d
d

d
d

d
d

GMR of Bundled Conductors

GMRx n ( Daa Dab ...Dan )...(Dna Dnb ...Dnn )
2

for the two subconductor bundle

Dsb 4 ( Ds d ) 2

Ds d

for the three subconductor bundle

Dsb 9 ( Ds d d ) 3 3 Ds d 2
for the four subconductor bundle
Dsb 16 ( Ds d d d 21/ 2 ) 4 1.094 Ds d 3

Inductance of Three-phase Double

Circuit Lines
A three-phase double-circuit transmission
line consists of two identical three-phase
circuits. To achieve balance, each phase
conductor must be transposed within it group
and with respect to the parallel three-phase
line.
Consider a three-phase double-circuit line
with relative phase positions a1b1c1-c2b2a2.

Inductance of Three-phase Double

Circuit Lines
a1

S11

c2

S22

b1

b2

S33
c1

a2

GMD between each phase group

DAB 4 Da1b1 Da1b 2 Da 2b1 Da 2b 2
DBC 4 Db1c1 Db1c 2 Db 2 c1 Db 2 c 2
DAC 4 Da1c1 Da1c 2 Da 2 c1 Da 2 c 2

Inductance of Three-phase Double

Circuit Lines
The equivalent GMD per phase is then
GMD 3 DAB DBC DAC

Similarly, GMR of each phase group is

DSA 4 ( D bs Da1a 2 ) 2

D bs Da1a 2

DSB 4 ( D bs Db1b 2 ) 2

D bs Db1b 2

DSC 4 ( D bs Dc1c 2 ) 2

D bs Dc1c 2

b
D
where s is the geometric mean radius of
bundled conductors.

Inductance of Three-phase Double

Circuit Lines
The equivalent GMR per phase is then
GMRL 3 DSA DSB DSC

The inductance per-phase is

Lx 2 10

GMD
ln
H /m
GMR L

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES
Question 4
A three-phase, 50 Hz transmission line has a
reactance 0.5 per kilometer. The conductor
geometric mean radius is 2 cm. Determine the
phase spacing D in meter.

CAPACITANCE
Transmission line conductors
exhibit capacitance with respect
to each other due to the potential
difference between them.
The amount of capacitance
between conductors is a function
of conductor size, spacing, and
height above ground.
Capacitance C is:-

q
C
V

LINE CAPACITANCE
Consider a long
round conductor
with radius r,
carrying a
charge of q
coulombs per
meter length as
shown.
The electrical
flux density at a
cylinder of radius
x is given by:

q
q
D
A 2 x

LINE CAPACITANCE
The electric field intensity E is:-

q
2 0 x

Where permittivity of free space, 0 = 8.85x10-12 F/m.

The potential difference between cylinders

from position D1 to D2 is defined as:-

D2
V12
ln
2 0 D1
The notation V12 implies the voltage drop from 1
relative to 2.

CAPACITANCE OF SINGLEPHASE LINES

Consider one meter length of a singlephase line consisting of two long solid
round conductors each having a
radius r as shown.

For a single phase, voltage between

conductor 1 and 2 is:-

D
V12
ln
F /m
0 r

CAPACITANCE OF SINGLEPHASE LINES

The capacitance between the
conductors:-

C12

0
D
ln
r

F /m

CAPACITANCE OF SINGLEPHASE LINES

The equation gives the line-toline capacitance between the
conductors
For the purpose of transmission
line modeling, we find it
convenient to define a
capacitance C between each
conductor and a neutral line as
illustrated.

CAPACITANCE OF SINGLEPHASE LINES

Voltage to neutral is half of V12
and the capacitance to neutral is
C=2C12 or:-

2 0
C
F /m
D
ln
r

Potential Difference in a
Multiconductor configuration
Consider n parallel long conductors
with charges q1, q2,,qn
coulombs/meter as shown below.
Potential difference between conductor
i and j due to the presence of all
charges is
Vij

1
2 0

q
k 1

ln

q2

Dkj

q3

Dki
q1

qn
qi

qj

CAPACITANCE OF THREE-PHASE
LINES
Consider one meter length of 3-phase
line with three long conductors, each
with radius r, with conductor spacing
as shown below:
qa
D12
D13

qb
D23

qc

CAPACITANCE OF THREEPHASE LINES

For balanced 3-phase system, the
capacitance per phase to neutral is:

qa
C

Van

2 o

D12 D23 D13

ln

1/ 3

F/m

CAPACITANCE OF THREEPHASE LINES

The capacitance to neutral in F per
kilometer is:

0.0556
D12 D23 D13

ln

1/ 3

F/km

Effect of bundling
2 0
C
GMD
ln
rb

F /m

The effect of bundling is introduce an

equivalent radius rb. The radius rb is
similar to GMR calculate earlier for the
inductance with the exception that
radius r of each subconductor is used
instead of Ds.

Effect of bundling
If d is the bundle spacing, we obtain for
the two-subconductor bundle
rb

rd

For the three-subconductor bundle

rb 3 r d 2

For the four-subconductor bundle

r b 1.094 r d 3

Capacitance of Three-phase Double

Circuit Lines
The per-phase equivalent capacitance
to neutral is obtained to
2 0
C
GMD
ln
GMR c

F /m

GMD is the same as was found for

inductance calculation
DAB 4 Da1b1 Da1b 2 Da 2b1 Da 2b 2
DBC 4 Db1c1 Db1c 2 Db 2 c1 Db 2 c 2
DAC 4 Da1c1 Da1c 2 Da 2 c1 Da 2 c 2

Capacitance of Three-phase Double

Circuit Lines
The equivalent GMD per phase is then
GMD 3 DAB DBC DAC

The GMRC of each phase is similar to

the GMRL, with the exception that rb is
used instead of Dsb
This will results in the following equ
rA

r b Da1a 2

rB

r b Db1b 2

rC

r b Dc1c 2

GMRC 3 rArB rC

EFFECT OF EARTH ON THE

CAPACITANCE
For isolated charged conductor the
electric flux lines are radial and
orthogonal to cylindrical equipotential
surfaces, which will change the
effective capacitance of the line.
The earth level is an equipotential
surface. Therefore flux lines are forced
to cut the surface of the earth
orthogonally.
The effect of the earth is to increase
the capacitance.

EFFECT OF EARTH ON THE

CAPACITANCE
But, normally, the height of the conductor is
large compared to the distance between the
conductors, and the earth effect is negligible.
Therefore, for all line models used for balanced
steady-state analysis, the effect of earth on the
capacitance can be negligible.
However, for unbalance analysis such as
unbalance faults, the earths effect and shield
wires should be considered.

MAGNETIC FIELD INDUCTION

Transmission line magnetic fields affect objects
in the proximity of the line.
Produced by the currents in the line.
It induces voltage in objects that have a
considerable length parallel to the line (Ex:
telephone wires, pipelines etc.).

MAGNETIC FIELD INDUCTION

The magnetic field is effected by the presence of
earth return currents.
There are general concerns regarding the
biological effects of electromagnetic and
electrostatic fields on people.

ELECTROSTATIC INDUCTION
Transmission line electric fields affect
objects in the proximity of the line.
It produced by high voltage in the
lines.
Electric field induces current in
objects which are in the area of the
electric fields.
The effect of electric fields becomes
more concern at higher voltages.

ELECTROSTATIC INDUCTION
Primary cause of induction to vehicles,
buildings, and object of comparable
size.
Human body is effected to electric
discharges from charged objects in the
field of the line.
The current densities in human cause
by electric fields of transmission lines
are much higher than those induced by
magnetic fields!

CORONA
When surface potential gradient exceeds the
dielectric strength of surrounding air, ionization
occurs in the area close to conductor surface.
This partial ionization is known as corona.
Corona generated by atmospheric conditions
(i.e. air density, humidity, wind)

CORONA
Corona produces power loss and audible noise
(Ex: radio interference).
Corona can be reduced by:
Increase the conductor size.
Use of conductor bundling.

INDUCTANCE :
3-PHASE TRANSMISSION LINES

What and How to Calculate: Lint , Lext @ L?

L1 , L2 @ L?
L11 , L12 @ L22?
GMR?
GMD?