Abstract--Overhead transmission line is one of the basic

elements of power systems, whose parameters are of great

importance to the normal operation of the power system.
Thereby how to acquire the accurate parameters of overhead
transmission lines is crucial. In this paper a novel method to
identify the transmission lines parameters on-line is deduced,
where the data from PMU/WAMS (phasor measurement
unit/wide area measurement system) is used. Furthermore, the
impact of conductor sag on the line parameters is analyzed.
According to the parameter variation, abnormal conductor sag
can be identified and then the early warning message can be sent
out for overload and other abnormal condition causing the sag.
Besides, the proposed algorithm with different data windows is
implemented and the corresponding precision is analyzed. The
simulation results show that the proposed method can obtain
precise overhead transmission line parameters on-line and
identify abnormal conductor sag effectively.

Index Terms-- On-line parameter identification, overhead
transmission line, conductor sag, wide area measurement system,
power systems.
I. INTRODUCTION
VERHEAD transmission lines parameters are of great
importance to the normal operation of the power system.
The inaccuracy of the parameters of transmission lines will
result in negative impact on the analysis of the power system,
such as the power flow calculation, short circuit calculation,
fault analysis, relay settings, fault location and so on. It will
also affect the operating mode selection. It can be seen that
acquiring accurate parameters of transmission lines is crucial.
Traditionally the line parameters are measured off-line.
However there might have large difference between the off-
line and on-line parameters due to operating temperature, skin
effect of the current and other factors (weather, environment
and geography). Moreover, off-line measuring approach needs
several kinds of meters and usually complex wiring. Therefore,
on-line parameter identification gains great interests,
especially after the advent of WAMS (wide area measurement


This work was supported by Program for New Century Excellent Talents
in University (NCET-05-0216), NSFC (50607005), the Key Project of
Chinese Ministry of Education (NO.106052), 111 project (B08013) and
Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in
University (IRT0515).
T. S. Bi, J.M. Chen and Q.X. Yang are all with Key Laboratory of Power
System Protection and Dynamic Security Monitoring and Control under
Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing
102206, China (e-mail: tsbi@ncepu.edu.cn, jinmeng_chen@ncepu.edu.cn).
J.T. Wu is with Beijing Sifang Automation Co.,Ltd, Beijing 100085,
China.
system).
The synchronized phasor measurement technology opens a
new path to on-line parameter identification. There is a
quickly increase in the number of synchronized phasor
measurement units (PMU) and the wide area measurement
systems (WAMS) commissioned in Chinese power grid.
According to 11
th
Five Year Plan of State Power Grid
Company, all the 500 kV and above substations and all the
300 MW and above power station will be equipped with PMU.
This makes WAMS based on-line parameter identification of
overhead transmission lines becomes possible.
It should be pointed out that accurate on-line parameter
identification is good not only for the operating calculation
(power flow, fault analysis and so on), but also for early
warning of abnormal operating condition. Conductor sag of
overhead transmission lines is one of the root reasons of faults.
If the conductor sag can not be identified in early stage, then
the transmission line might be lower enough to touch trees and
get grounding fault. Conductor sag might happen due to
overload, wind, ice-coating of the transmission line, etc.
Considerable efforts have been made to identify conductor sag
[1-2] with the help of different kinds of sensors, such as
temperature or tension sensor. Extra sensors need additional
cost. In fact, once there is conductor sag, the parameter of the
corresponding line will be varied. Identifying variation of
parameters with PMUs is an effective and efficient way to
estimate conductor sag and then issue early warning message.
Several on-line parameter identification methods were put
forward against the inaccuracy and complexity of traditional
methods. The open circuit and short circuit impendence are
used to solve the overhead transmission line parameters in [3-
4]. But it needs measurements from open circuit and short
circuit operating condition respectively, which is complex.
The methods which are to solve differential equations or
integral equations are proposed in [5-6], where the distributed
capacitance is neglected. A method called asymmetry
increment is introduced in [7]. All of the above methods are to
solve equations directly, which is hard to adapt to the data
with errors.
In this paper, a new parameter identification method using
synchronized phasor is proposed, where the Least Square (LS)
method is adopted. Furthermore, the impact of conductor sag
on the line parameters is analyzed in detail. According to the
parameter variation, abnormal conductor sag can be identified.
The corresponding criterion to identify conductor sag is also
given in the paper. The proposed algorithm with different data
windows is implemented and the corresponding precision
Synchronized Phasor based On-line Parameter
Identification of Overhead Transmission Line
Tianshu Bi
1
, Member, IEEE, Jinmeng Chen
1
, Jingtao Wu
2
and Qixun Yang
1
O
DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
978-7-900714-13-8/08/ 2008DRPT 1657

analysis is carried out. The simulation results show that the
proposed method can obtain precise overhead transmission
line parameters on-line and identify abnormal conductor sag
effectively.
II. ON-LINE PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION ALGORITHM
With PMU, the measurements at the terminals of the
transmission line can be obtained. Suppose the line is
described by model, which is shown in Fig.1. Then we can
get the following equations.
1
I

2
I

1
U

2
U

/ 2 Y

/ 2 Y

Fig. 1 model of transmission line

( )
( ) 2 / /
2 / /
2 2 1 2
1 2 1 1


Y U Z U U I
Y U Z U U I


+ =
+ =

where
1
I

,
2
I

,
1
U

,
2
U

are the phasor measurements at the

both ends of line respectively.

Z and

Y are the line

parameters.
The matrices form is listed below.
UY I = (1)
where
(
(

=
2
1
I
I

I ;
(
(

=
2 /
2 /
2 2 1
1 2 1
U U U
U U U


U ;
(

Y
Z / 1
Y
With m (m>2) group data, equation (1) will be super-
coupled equations. Least square method [8] is used to get the
solution.
M M M M
E Y U I = (2)
Where [ ]
T
T
m
T T
M
E E E E "
2 1
= (2m2) is the error matrix.
[ ]
T
T
m
T T
M
I I I I "
2 1
= (2m2) is the current measurement
matrix. [ ]
T
T
m
T T
M
U U U U "
2 1
= (2m2) is the voltage
measurement matrix. Y
M
=Y (21) is the unknown parameter
matrix.
Then the square of error matrix J is expressed as:
M
T
M
E E J =
( ) ( )
M M M
T
M M M
Y U I Y U I = (3)
M M
T
M M
T
M
M M
M
Y U U I U
Y
J
Y Y

2 2

+ =

=
(4)
The estimated value
( )
M
T
M M
T
M M
I U U U Y
1

= (5)
With the above equations, the model parameters of
overhead transmission line can be estimated. If the distributed
parameter is wanted, it can be got though the relation between
model parameters and distributed parameters of overhead
transmission lines as shown below.
( )
L Z
L
Y
L Z Z
c
c

sinh
1 cosh 2
sinh

=
=
(6)

Y
Y Z
Z
Z
L
Y Z
c
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=

2
1
2
1 cosh
1
(7)
c
c
Z y
Z z
/

=
=
(8)
where z and y are distributed parameters, Z
c
and are the
characteristic impedance and propagation constant. L is the
length of the overhead transmission line.
It can be seen both lump parameters and distributed
parameters can be calculated on-line with PMU data. Since LS
method is used instead of solving the equation directly, the
proposed algorithm has good error tolerance capability. On the
basis of this, relation between parameter variation and
conductor sag is derived. The corresponding sag identification
method is suggested in the following part.
III. ON-LINE CONDUCTOR SAG IDENTIFICATION METHOD
A. Relation between Conductor Sag and Parameters
Sag will lengthen the transmission line, and
correspondingly make the parameters change. The accuracy
equation of conductor sag is very complex, the leveled span
model with parabolic equation is adopted here as show in
Fig.2.
y
x
0
f
x
f
l

Fig. 2 Leveled span model

In Fig. 2, l represents Span length.
0
f is the maximum sag
due to self weight of the conductor, and
s
L is the conductor
length.
The relation between sag and length is given [9-10]:
l
f
l L
s
3
8
2
0
+ =
0
2
0
8
gl
f = (9)
Where g is unit-length & unit-area weight.
0
is conductor
tension at the lowest point
The equations of conductor length augment, while the
conductor sag increases is written as below.
( )
l
f
l
f f
L
s
3
8
3
8
2
0
2
0 0

+
= (10)
Define the relative augment of conductor length as
following.
% 100 %
+

=
s s
s
s
L L
L
L (11)
DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
1658

An example is given to illustrate the relation between sag
and the length with different spans. The conductor tension is
50MPa, unit-length & unit-area weight is
3
10 40


) /(
2
mm m N , the span changes from 200m to 500m. The
results show in fig. 3.
0 5 10 15
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Sag augment (m)
L
i
n
e

r
e
l
a
t
i
v
e

a
u
g
m
e
n
t


(
%
)
span 400m
span 500m
span 300m
span 200m

Fig. 3 Relation between sag and length with different spans

When the sag increases 5m, the length of the transmission
line parameters relative augment is 0.29%~0.31%. The change
can be identified, if the accuracy of parameter identification
algorithm is high enough as compared with the length
augment. This will be discussed later.
0 s
L L N L = + (12)
N The equivalent span numbers of transmission line,
0
L
Length of transmission line with normal sag
By (6), (10) and (12), we can get the parameter variation
with the change of sag.
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ =
l
f f f
N L Z Z
c
3
8 16
sinh
2
0 0 0
0

(13)
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
=
l
f f f
N L Z
l
f f f
N L
Y
c
3
8 16
sinh
1
3
8 16
cosh 2
2
0 0 0
0
2
0 0 0
0

(14)
Temperature is the most important factor that leading to sag
increasing, which also influence the resistance of the
conductor heavily. With the augment of resistance, the sags
may be identified.
( ) [ ] 20 1
20
+ = t r r
t
(15)
We try to illustrate this point by an example. 200kV LGJ-
400/50, transmission line length L=200km, resistance at
2
o
C, 0036 . 0 = , r
20
=0.07875 km /
It can be seen that the change of resistance with the
temperature is very obvious, and with this change the sags can
be monitored.

TABLE I
TEMPERATURE AND RESISTANCE

-10 0 10 20 30
(rt-r20)/r20 -0.108 -0.072 -0.036 0 0.036
40 50 60 70 80
(rt-r20)/r20 0.072 0.108 0.144 0.18 0.216
B. Sag Identification Criterion
Definition: K
W
stands for accuracy of the parameter
identification algorithm, K
P
stands for parameters variation
due to sag, and K
M
stands for the degree of sag augment.
0
0
0
0
0
0
, ,
s
s s
PB
s
s s
PX
s
s s
PR
B
B B
K
X
X X
K
R
R R
K

=
where 1 , 0 = s stands for zero sequence or positive sequence
respectively,
0
s
R

,
0
s
X

and
0
s
B

stands for the values at the

normal condition.
W
P
M
K
K
K = (16)
It can be seen that K
M
for normal condition will be around 1,
while K
M
for abnormal sag condition will become quite large
with the variation of the parameter (case studies are given in
the following section). Therefore, a clear boundary can be
found between the abnormal sag and the normal condition.
The threshold of K
M
can be obtained by experience. With the
change of K
M
, the sags can be monitored in real time.
The flow chart is shown below.
, ,
fault fault
I U I U
( , , )
( , , )
M s s s
Mset s s s
K R X B
K R X B


>
MR MRset
K K >
M
K

Fig. 4 Sag identification flow chart
IV. CASE STUDIES
The method just needs the measurement data from PMUs
installed on both ends of the transmission line, so any complex
system can be equivalent to the following simple simulation
system. The sample frequency of PMU is 4800Hz. The
simulation was done on a 500kV overhead transmission line.
The model is as show in Fig.5 and the parameters are as
followings:
km j z / 20153 . 0 016370 . 0
1
+ =
km j z / 9416 . 0 26340 . 0
0
+ =
km F c / 01767 . 0
1
=
km F c / 00715 . 0
0
=
DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
1659

km L 243 =


Fig. 5 Test system

The simulation results done by PSCAD are considered as
the true value, while the proposed algorithm is implemented
with Matlab.
A. Identification Results with Different Data Windows
Supposing the transmission line parameter is constant
during a short time, the following results were acquired with
different data window as shown in Fig.6.
The length of data window is 0.1~1cycles (5-48 sample
data). The figures just show the X
1
, B
1
as examples. The z axis
stands for relative error, which is defined as (real value-
identified value)/real value. The x axis stands for the length of
data window. The y axis stands for the identified time. It can
be seen that the relative errors are restricted to 10
-4
with
0.1~0.4 cycles, 10
-6
with 0.5~1 cycles.
0
0.5
1
0
0.05
0.1
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
x 10
-5
Circle (rad)
Time (s)
E
r
r
o
r

X
1

(a) Relative errors of X1
0
0.5
1
0
0.05
0.1
-2
-1
0
1
2
x 10
-5
Circle (rad)
Time (s)
E
r
r
o
r

B
1

(b) Relative errors of B1
Fig. 6 Relative errors of X1, B1 with 0.1~1cycle data window

Fig.7 shows the results with the data window 3/4 cycles.
The accuracy is very high at 10
-6
level.
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
x 10
-6
Time (s)
E
r
r
o
r

B
1

(a) Identified value of X1
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
-8
-7.5
-7
-6.5
-6
-5.5
-5
-4.5
-4
x 10
-6
Time (s)
E
r
r
o
r

X
1

(b) Relative error of X1
Fig. 7 Identified value and relative error of X1 with 3/4 cycles data window

B. Identified Results with Different Measurement Errors
The identified results above are without measurement
errors. Now take the data window with 3/4 cycles as an
example and analyze the identified results of different
measurement errors. Fig.8 shows the identified results of X
1
,
B
1
with three different random measurement errors,
respectively 0%, 2.5%, 5%. From the figures it can be seen
that the method has good ability of error tolerance. High
accuracy parameters can be obtained, although the
measurement data have bad errors.
The parameters X
1
, B
1
are taken as examples. The rest
parameters have the same rules. Table II and Table III give the
results for all distributed parameters with 3/4 cycles and 5%
random measurement errors. It can be seen that with the
proposed method the overhead transmission line parameters
can be identified accurately in real time condition. The
identified parameters with high accuracy can be used in the
power system analysis as well as the conductor sag motoring.
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
x 10
-6
Time (s)
E
r
r
o
r

X
1
0% measurement noise
2.5% measurement noise
5% measurement noise

(a) Relative errors of X1
DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
1660

0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
x 10
-6
Time (s)
E
r
r
o
r

B
1
0% measurement noise
2.5% measurement noise
5% measurement noise

(b) Relative errors of B1
Fig. 8 Relative errors of X1B1 with different measurement errors

TABLE.II
POSITIVE SEQUENCE IDENTIFIED RESULTS

R1(/km) X1(/km) B1(S/km)
True value 1.637010
-2
2.0153010
-1
5.551194
Identified value 1.6368710
-2
2.01531210
-1
5.5511941
Relative errors 7.875410
-5
-6.155810
-6
2.035310
-8


TABLE.III
ZERO SEQUENCE IDENTIFIED RESULTS

R0(/km) X0(/km) B0(S/km)
True value 2.63410
-1
9.41610
-1
2.246239
Identified value 2.6257010
-1
9.4173010
-1
2.246243
Relative errors 3.152310
-3
-1.385210
-4
-2.011110
-6

C. Simulation Results of sag monitoring
The test system is same with the above section. While the
sag augment lengthens the transmission line with 0.2%
additionally, the simulation results are given in Fig.9, Table
IV and V. Suppose the sag augment make the length of
transmission line increase 0.03%, the simulation results are as
shown in Table VI and VII.
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
40
40.02
40.04
40.06
40.08
40.1
Time (s)
X
1

(
O
h
m
)

Fig. 9 Parameter variation due to sag augment

TABLE IV
POSITIVE SEQUENCE PARAMETERS

X1() B1 (mS)
Relative errors KW -6.603110
-7
1.400310
-7

Relative bias KP -1.977510
-3
-2.015610
-3

Sag degree coefficient KM 299.4805 14394

TABLE V
ZERO SEQUENCE PARAMETERS

X0() B0 (mS)
Relative errors KW -1.365810
-4
-3.055410
-6

Relative bias KP -2.085110
-2
-2.025810
-3

Sag degree coefficient KM 15.2665 663.0228

TABLE VI
POSITIVE SEQUENCE PARAMETERS

X1() B1 (mS)
Relative bias KP -3.026810
-4
-3.013410
-4

Sag degree coefficient KM 45.8391 2152

TABLE VII
ZERO SEQUENCE PARAMETERS

X0() B0 (mS)
Relative bias KP -4.281610
-4
-3.273910
-4

Sag degree coefficient KM 3.1349 107.1513

TABLE VIII
RESISTANCE KM

o
C 40 50 60 70 80
KP (rt-r40)/r40 0 0.036 0.072 0.108 0.144
KM 369.38 738.76 1108.1 1477.5

The critical K
M
values may be different with the different
practical situation, which can be determined by experiences.
V. CONCLUSION
A novel method of on-line the parameters identification of
overhead transmission lines is proposed. Because of its high
accuracy, the parameter variation caused by conductor sag can
be identified. The feasibility of the method is analyzed and the
conductor sag monitoring method is suggested also. Lots of
the simulation results show that the method can identify the
parameters with high accuracy and can overcome the
measurement noise well, while the proper data window is
chosen. It can be realized on-line with ease.
VI. REFERENCE
[1] Robert G. Olsen, Kenneth S. Edwards, A New Method for Real-Time
Monitoring of High-Voltage Transmission-Line Conductor Sag, IEEE
Trans on Power Delivery, 17(4), pp. 1142-1152, Oct. 2002.
[2] Poorani Ramachandran, Vijay Vittal, On-Line Monitoring of Sag in
Overhead Transmission Lines with Leveled Spans, Power Symposium,
NAPS. 38th North American,pp. 405-409, June 2006.
[3] Sergio Kurokawa, Jose Pissolato, Maria Cristina Tavares, Carlos Manuel
Portela, Afonso J. Prado, A New Procedure to Derive Transmission-
Line Parameters: Applications and Restrictions, IEEE Trans. on Power
Delivery, 21(1), pp. 492-498, Jan. 2006.
[4] Sergio Kurokawa, Jose Pissolato, Maria Cristina Tavares, Carlos Manuel
Portela, Afonso J. Prado, Behavior of Overhead Transmission Line
Parameters on the Presence of Ground Wires, IEEE Trans. on Power
Delivery, 20(2), pp. 1669-1676, Apr. 2005
[5] Zhijian Hu, Yunping Chen, Nin Hu, Dawei Fan, Zhouwen Zhong and
Zhuqin Hong, New Live Line Measurement Methods of Transmission
Lines Inductance Parameters Based on GPS. In Proc.
2004.International Conf. on Power System Technology, pp. 1-6.
[6] Ning Hu, Zhijian Hu, Gang Zheng. Live line parameter measurement of
transmission lines with mutual inductance based on GPS technology and
integral equations, Power System Technology, 29(16) pp. 76-80. Aug.
2005
[7] Qi Fan, Gang Mu, Keying Wang, Studies on lines parameters
measurement based on synchronized phasor measurement, Journal of
Northeast China Institute of Electric Power Engineering. 22(4), pp. 1-6,
Sept. 2002.
[8] Chongzhi Fang, Deyun Xiao, Process Identification, Beijing:
Tingshua University Press, 1988
[9] Xiande Zhao, Basic principle of overhead transmission lines, Beijing,
CEPP,.2006
[10] Northeast Electric Power Design Institute, Energy Dept. Manual of
high voltage transmission line design, Beijing, 1989.
DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
1661

VII. BIOGRAPHIES
T.S. Bi (St.M1998, M2002) received her B. Sc. (Eng.) and M. Sc. (Eng.)
degrees in EE from North China Electric Power University in 1994 and 1997
respectively and her Ph. D. degree in EE form the University of Hong Kong in
2002. Now she is a professor in North China Electric Power University in
Beijing. Her research interest is power system protection and control, WAMS
application and the application of artificial intelligence in power systems.
Chen Jinmeng was born in Hebei Province China, on January 25, 1982. He
graduated from Hebei University of technology in 2005. He is now studying
at North China Electric Power University for his master degree in power
system and its automation. His special fields of interest included power
system model and parameters identification.

DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
1662