Overhead Line Constants

Figure 1. Circuit representation of a multi-conductor line segment

Figure 2. Three-phase, single-circuit tower line (image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Consider the three-phase, single circuit tower line in Figure 2, which shows three phase conductors and an earth wire. A segmental length of this multi-conductor system can be represented by the equivalent circuit in Figure 1 above.

We can see that in a multi-conductor system, there is mutual coupling between the phase conductors (a, b and c), represented by the shunt inductances and capacitances. Note that there could also be resistive coupling between phases, but this is not shown in Figure 2 since resistive coupling is normally assumed to be negligible in overhead lines (i.e. shunt conductances G = 0).

This equivalent circuit can be represented as two $n\times n$ matrices (where n is the number of conductors in the system), one representing the series impedance Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle [Z]\,} and the other representing the shunt admittance Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle [Y]\,} .

For example, the four conductor system in Figure 2 has the $4\times 4$ series impedance matrix:

$[Z]=\left[{\begin{matrix}Z_{aa}&Z_{ab}&Z_{ac}&|&Z_{ae}\\Z_{ba}&Z_{bb}&Z_{bc}&|&Z_{be}\\Z_{ca}&Z_{cb}&Z_{cc}&|&Z_{ce}\\--&--&--&|&--\\Z_{ea}&Z_{eb}&Z_{ec}&|&Z_{ee}\end{matrix}}\right]\,$

And the $4\times 4$ shunt admittance matrix:

$[Y]=\left[{\begin{matrix}Y_{aa}&Y_{ab}&Y_{ac}&|&Y_{ae}\\Y_{ba}&Y_{bb}&Y_{bc}&|&Y_{be}\\Y_{ca}&Y_{cb}&Y_{cc}&|&Y_{ce}\\--&--&--&|&--\\Y_{ea}&Y_{eb}&Y_{ec}&|&Y_{ee}\end{matrix}}\right]\,$

Elements in the series impedance and shunt admittance matrices are complex quantities of the form: Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle Z_{ij}=R_{ij}+jX_{ij}\,} and Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle Y_{ij}=G_{ij}+jB_{ij}\,} .

For most types of analyses, we can assume that the elements in the series impedance and shunt admittance matrices are constant terms without introducing too much error. These matrices are commonly called the overhead line constants and are calculated based on the overhead line conductor properties and cross-sectional geometry.

Assumptions

The following assumptions are made to simplify the line constants calculations:

• There is uniform current distribution in the conductor, thus conductor stranding is not taken into account
• The earth is flat along the length of the transmission line, i.e. earth curvature not allowed for
• Uniform soil conditions along the length of the transmission line, i.e. constant soil resistivity

Series Impedance Matrix

The lengths and angles referred to in the calculations below are all based on the geometry of two aerial conductors i and k shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Geometry of two aerial conductors

Self Impedance Terms

The self impedance of an aerial conductor is calculated as follows:

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle Z_{ii}^{'}=\left(R_{int}^{'}+\Delta R_{ii}^{'}\right)+j\left(X_{int}^{'}+X_{geo}^{'}+\Delta X_{ii}^{'}\right)}

where Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle R_{int}^{'}} is the internal resistance of the conductor ($\Omega$/km)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle X_{int}^{'}} is the internal reactance of the conductor ($\Omega$/km)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle X_{geo}^{'}} is the geometrical reactance ($\Omega$/km)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \Delta R_{ii}^{'}} and Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \Delta X_{ii}^{'}} are the Carson earth correction factors ($\Omega$/km) - see separate section below

When skin effect is not taken into account, the internal resistance is simply the DC resistance of the conductor $R_{int}^{'}=R_{dc}$.

The internal reactance of the conductor depends on the type of conductor used, e.g. solid conductor (AAAC) vs a tubular conductor, where there is a non-conducting reinforcing material in the centre of the conductor (ACSR).

The reactance of a solid conductor (in $\Omega$/km) is calculated as follows:

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle X_{int}^{'}=1000\times j\omega {\frac {\mu _{0}}{8\pi }}}

where Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \mu _{0}} is the permeability of free space (Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle 4\pi \times 10^{-7}} H/m)

The reactance of a tubular / hollow core conductor (in $\Omega$/km) is calculated as follows:

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle X_{int}^{'}=1000\times j\omega {\frac {\mu _{0}}{2\pi }}\left[{\frac {q^{4}}{(r^{2}-q^{2})^{2}}}\cdot \ln {\frac {r}{q}}\cdot {\frac {3q^{2}-r^{2}}{4(r^{2}-q^{2})}}\right]}

where $\omega$ is the nominal angular frequency of the system (rad/s)

$r$ is the inner radius of the tubular conductor (m)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle q} is the outer radius of the tubular conductor (m)

The geometrical reactance (in $\Omega$/km) can be calculated as follows:

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle X_{geo}^{'}=1000\times \omega {\frac {\mu _{0}}{2\pi }}\ln \left({\frac {2h_{i}}{r_{i}}}\right)}

where Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle r_{i}} is the radius of the conductor (m)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h_{i}} is the height of the conductor above ground level (m)

Mutual Impedance Terms

The mutual impedance between any two aerial conductors is calculated as follows:

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle Z_{ik}^{'}=Z_{ki}^{'}=\Delta R_{ik}^{'}+j\left(X_{geo,i,k}^{'}+\Delta X_{ik}^{'}\right)}

where Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle X_{geo,i,k}^{'}} is the geometrical reactance between conductors i and k ($\Omega$/km)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \Delta R_{ik}^{'}} and Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \Delta X_{ik}^{'}} are the Carson earth correction factors ($\Omega$/km) - see separate section below

The geometrical reactance between conductors i and k (in $\Omega$/km) can be calculated as follows:

$X_{geo,i,k}^{'}=1000\times \omega {\frac {\mu _{0}}{2\pi }}\ln \left({\frac {D_{ik}}{d_{ik}}}\right)$

where Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle d_{ik}} is the distance between conductor i and conductor k (m)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle D_{ik}} is the distance between conductor i and the image of conductor k in the ground (m)

Carson Earth Correction Factors

Because the earth/ground is a conducting medium, it has an effect on the magnetic field produced by the current flowing in an aerial conductor. During unbalanced operation or in single-phase earth return (SWER) systems, the earth also acts as a conductor for currents to return to the source.

The Carson earth correction factors are infinite series (with terms that repeat in groups of four):

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \Delta R_{ii}^{'}=4\omega \times 10^{-4}\left({\frac {\pi }{8}}-b_{1}a\cos {\phi }+b_{2}\left[(c_{2}-\ln {a})a^{2}\cos {2\phi }+\phi a^{2}\sin {2\phi }\right]+b_{3}a^{3}\cos {3\phi }-d_{4}a^{4}\cos {4\phi }-b_{5}a^{5}cos{5\phi }+b_{6}\left[(c_{6}-\ln {a})a^{6}\cos {6\phi }+\phi a^{6}\sin {6\phi }\right]+b_{7}a^{7}\cos {7\phi }-d_{8}a^{8}\cos {8\phi }+\dots \right)}

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \Delta X_{ii}^{'}=4\omega \times 10^{-4}\left({\frac {1}{2}}(0.6159315-\ln {a})+b_{1}a\cos {\phi }-d_{2}a^{2}\cos {2\phi }+b_{3}a^{3}\cos {3\phi }-b_{4}\left[(c_{4}-\ln {a})a^{4}\cos {4\phi }+\phi a^{4}\sin {4\phi }\right]+b_{5}a^{5}\cos {5\phi }-d_{6}a^{6}\cos {6\phi }+b_{7}a^{7}cos{7\phi }-b_{8}\left[(c_{8}-\ln {a})a^{8}\cos {8\phi }+\phi a^{8}\sin {8\phi }\right]+\dots \right)}

where $a=4\pi {\sqrt {5}}\times 10^{-4}\cdot D{\sqrt {\frac {f}{\rho }}}$

$b_{i}=b_{i-2}\cdot {\frac {sign}{i(i+2)}}$ with Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle b_{1}={\frac {\sqrt {2}}{6}}} , Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle b_{2}={\frac {1}{16}}} and Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle sign} alternating in groups of 4, i.e. Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle sign=+1} for i=1,2,3,4, $sign=-1$ for i=5,6,7,8, Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle sign=+1} for i=9,10,11,12 and so on

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle c_{i}=c_{i-2}+{\frac {1}{i}}+{\frac {1}{i+2}}} with Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle c_{2}=1.3659315}

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle d_{i}={\frac {\pi }{4}}b_{i}}

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \rho } is the soil resistivity (Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \Omega \cdot m} )

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle D=2h_{i}} for self impedance terms and Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle D=D_{ik}} for mutual impedance terms

Note that this formulation is only valid if $a<5$.

Shunt Admittance Matrix

The self potential terms of the shunt admittance matrix are calculated as follows:

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle Y_{ii}^{'}=1000\times \omega {\frac {1}{2\pi \epsilon _{0}}}\ln \left({\frac {2h_{i}}{r_{i}}}\right)}

where Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle r_{i}} is the radius of the conductor (m)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h_{i}} is the height of the conductor above ground level (m)

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \epsilon _{0}} is the permittivity of free space (Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle 8.85418782\times 10^{-12}} F/m)

The mutual potential terms of the shunt admittance matrix are calculated as follows:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle Y_{ik}^{'} = 1000 \times \omega \frac{1}{2\pi \epsilon_0} \ln \left( \frac{D_{ik}}{d_{ik}} \right) }

where Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle d_{ik}} is the distance between conductor i and conductor k (m)

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle D_{ik}} is the distance between conductor i and the image of conductor k in the ground (m)

Kron Reduction

Assuming that the voltage in the earth conductors are zero (i.e. earth is the reference voltage), the earth conductors in the primitive series impedance and shunt admittance matrices can be eliminated by means of a Kron Reduction.