OVERHEAD LINE CONDUCTOR AND

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
a cable feeder cost /transmission of
For the equivalent power

11 kV 5
132 kV 8
400 kV 23
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
• Temperature:
The maximum, minimum and average ambient
temperature influences conductor current rating and
sag. ,Maximum conductor operating temperature
should not exceed 75°C for bare conductors to
prevent annealing of aluminum
• Wind velocity
• Solar radiation high thermal and ultraviolet (UV)
radiation. Typical values of 850W/m2 and 1200W/m2
• Rainfall : Important in relation to flooding, corona
discharge and associated electromagnetic
interference, natural washing and insulator
performance.
• Humidity Effect on insulator design.
• Altitude Effect on insulation and conductor voltage
gradient.
• Ice and snow :Required for design of conductor sags
and tensions.
• Atmospheric Effect on insulation and choice of
conductor pollution material
• Soil Electrically affecting grounding requirements (soil
characteristics resistivity) and structurally the
foundation design (weights, cohesion and angle of
repose).
• Lightning Effect on insulation levels and also earth
wire screening arrangements necessary to provide
satisfactory outage performance.
• Seismic factor Effect on tower and foundation design.
The selection of the most appropriate
conductor size

1. The maximum power transfer capability must

be in accordance with system requirements.
2. Minimize the initial capital cost and the
capitalized cost of the losses.
3. The conductor should conform to standard
sizes already used.
4- The conductor thermal capacity must be adequate.
5- The conductor diameter or bundle size must meet
recognized international standards for radio
interference and corona discharge.
6- Suitable for the environmental conditions and
conform to constructional methods understood in
the country involved (such as IEC, BS, etc.).
 Types of conductor
• For 36 kV transmission and above both
aluminum conductor steel reinforced (ACSR)
and all aluminum alloy conductor (AAAC) may
be considered.
• Aluminum conductor alloy reinforced (ACAR)
and all aluminum alloy conductors steel
reinforced (AACSR) are less common than
AAAC and all such conductors may be more
expensive than ACSR.
 • ACSR
• 54 Al strands
• seven steel strands,
• all strands of diameter d= 3.18 mm
• 54/7/3.18;
• Al area = 428.9mm2,
• steel area =55.6mm2
• a nominal aluminum area of 400mm2
 total area
54/7/3.18;
Al area = 428.9mm2,
steel area =55.

• France, 485mm2
• Germany , 429/56,.
• Canada and USA, in circular mils (1000
circular mils = 0.507mm2).
• ‘Gap type’ heat-resistant conductors offers the
possibility of higher conductor temperatures
of up to 210°C are possible
• ABC = aerial bundled conductor,

• BLX conductors are now preferred in many

countries.
• These are stranded, alloyed aluminum
conductors, with cross-section from 50mm2 to
150mm2, covered with a crosslinked and UV
resistant polymer.
Characteristics of different conductor materials
Properties of some ACSR conductors
Conductor breaking strengths
Bi-metal connectors
 Corrosion
• ACSR is known to suffer from bi-metallic
corrosion which is noticeable as an increase in
conductor diameter due to corrosion products
in the steel core known as ‘bulge corrosion’
• Pure aluminum had the best corrosion resistance
under the majority of environmental conditions.
• Smooth body conductors were the most corrosion
resistant, especially if the inner layers were
greased.
• Small diameter wires were most susceptible to
corrosion damage and to failure
• The overall corrosion performance of aluminum
alloy conductors depends upon the type of alloy
used.
•
 For very aggressive environments
• Aluminum conductor fully greased.
• Aluminum conductor with alumoweld core
fully greased.
• ACSR fully greased.
• Aluminum alloy conductor fully greased.
• Aluminum conductor with alumoweld core
ungreased.
• ACSR with greased core.
purposes wind speeds are
often taken
• Power carrying capacity
• 40°C ambient temperature,
• 0.894 m/s wind speed,
• 100mW/cm2 solar radiation and
• 35°C temperature rise
• ACSR twin conductors at 230 kV
• Power carrying capacity would be
Approximate conductor sizes (ACSR) for power transfer capabilities
Economic power transfer capacities
Economic power transfer capacities
Power transfer curves
Typical load carrying capacity of distribution
lines
Typical conductor configurations
 Corona discharge

• the breakdown strength of air is pproximately

31 kV peak/cm or 22kV rms/cm.
• The surface voltage gradient
Corona discharge calculation example – 132 kV zebra conductor spacing
Radio frequency interference (RFI) noise is measured in decibels
above 1 microvolt per meter (dB > 1 V/m) :
Overhead line calculation example
40MVA 132kV 70 km
ACSR conductors inductive reactance, Ω/km
(equivalent spacings given)
 DESIGN SPANS, CLEARANCES AND LOADINGS
Design spans

• the maximum working tension (MWT),

• the everyday stress (EDS) or, potentially, the
maximum erection tension (MET).
• The conductor has to be designed such that the
maximum anticipated loads do not exceed 50% of
the breaking load at - 6°C (MWT condition) and
• 20% at, say, an everyday temperature of 16°C
(EDS condition).
 Basic span
• The optimum spacing of towers and their height becomes a
financial exercise
• The overall height of the tower :
1. Conductors and earth wire – costs for supply
and installation.
2. Insulators – selection depending upon
mechanical loading and pollution levels such
that SA may be defined.
3. SB, SC, SE – a function of the still air clearance
coordinated with the insulation level.
4. Tower weight (W) – lengthy designs may be
omitted at this stage by using
Relative supply and installation costs for overhead lines
A ratio of weight span to wind span of approximately 1.5–2 is often
considered acceptable
Typical weight span values at 230 kV and 132 kV
Creep
Creep coefficients for ACSR conductors (Formula 1)
Creep coefficients for AAAC conductors (Formula 2)
Creep coefficients for AAC conductors (Formula 2)
Creep coefficients for ACAR conductors (Formula 2)
• The EDS is to be 20% of the UTS of the
conductor at 20°C.
• The maximum stress occurs when the
conductor is subjected to a wind of 50 kg/m2
at 0°C, no ice.
• The maximum operating temperature is 70°C.
• Accept a span length of 400 m.
• If the tension remains reasonably constant
throughout an interval, as could be the case
during running out and pre-tensioning of a
conductor, the creep at the end of that
interval is obtained directly from the relevant
equation:
•
Catenary equations for sloping spans
Examples of typical overhead line clearances (based on
maximum conductor temperature or the lo
Minimum height above ground for overhead lines in UK
400 kV Lydd-Bolney (UK) overhead line–quad conductor glass insulators
showing arcing horns and stockbridge dampers
Nomograph for determining level
span equivalents of non-level
spans.