Topology Considerations in Transmission Line Design

Sep 1, 2004 12:00 PM

By Dr. V. N. Rikh, Industry Consultant
Normally, the horizontal and vertical spacing between the phase conductors on a
transmission line is decided by the minimum clearances required between the cond
uctors and the supporting towers. In practice, for insulator strings installed o
n suspension towers and the jumper loops used on the tension towers, two differe
nt swing angles with corresponding conductor-tower clearances are normally speci
fied. Additionally, phase conductor spacing is also affected by the following fa
ctors:
The bigger the angle of incline (with the horizontal plane) of the top-tie s
tructural member of the bottom crossarm, the bigger the vertical distance has to
be between any two crossarms to maintain the specified conductor-tower clearanc
e. This results in an increase in vertical spacing of phase conductors.
The bigger the angle of incline (with the horizontal plane) of the outer (ne
arest) structural member of the tower hamper, the farther away the conductor has
to be placed from the tower to maintain the specified conductor-tower clearance
. This results in an increase in horizontal spacing of phase conductors.
To avoid exact verticality among phase conductors and thereby reducing the p
robability of clashing under galloping phenomenon, the middle crossarm is usuall
y kept somewhat longer than the other two (top and bottom) crossarms. This also
results in an increase in the horizontal spacing of phase conductors.
These considerations determine the normal conductor spacing on transmission line
towers. However, for circuits in a hilly terrain where long spans are encounter
ed, an allowance also has to be made for conductor galloping/ice accretion, whil
e fixing the minimum values of horizontal and vertical conductor spacing.
Transmission Line Design Practice
Transmission line specifications adopted by utilities include empirical formulas
that are developed using the operational experience for the location. As a resu
lt, regional and national variations exist. These formulas relate the conductor
spacing to the maximum conductor sag; for example, the greater the conductor sag
, the larger the conductor spacing.
While the greater sags used on longer spans require some increase in conductor s
pacing, the topology, that is, a combination of steep inclines with long spans,
is an important aspect that generally necessitates a substantial increase in con
ductor spacing, especially vertical spacing. Topology is often not given due con
sideration.
Figure 1 illustrates the effect of a steep incline (large difference in levels o
f supports) on the conductor catenary in a transmission line span in a simplifie
d manner. Fig. 1(a) shows span AB of a transmission line on level ground (rollin
g terrain) where AA' and BB' are the supporting towers (of the same height) at t
he same level on either side of the span. Position O is the null (or lowest) poi
nt of the conductor catenary, and OO' is the maximum conductor sag that is equal
when measured from the conductor attachment point at either support. With level
ground and equal tower heights, the minimum conductor-to-ground clearance gener
ally also will be at the null point, as shown by OG.
In Fig. 1(b), the right-hand support BB' is located on the foot of an inclined s
pan A'B' that has the same horizontal span-length (L) as span AB in Fig. 1(a). H
owever, the support A1A1' at the other end of the span is now located at a consi
derably higher level due to the steep incline in the ground profile. The curve A
1'O1B' shows a new shape of the conductor catenary, O1 being the new null point
of the catenary. It has been assumed that the minimum ground clearance, O1G1, wi
ll still be at the null point. Although, depending on the profile of the incline
, it could also be elsewhere along the conductor catenary. As seen in Fig. 1(b),
the maximum sag of the conductor catenary (i.e., the vertical distance between
the null point and the conductor-attachment point at the support) is now differe
nt for the two supports. Its height, O1'O1, is much more than the higher support
(tower A1A1').
Comparing Figs. 1(a) and 1(b), if one of the supports is placed at a higher leve
l because of an incline in a span of the same horizontal length, then:
The null point of the conductor catenary moves away from the higher support
and toward the lower support. The quantum of such a movement depends on the diff
erence in the levels of the two supports.
The maximum value of sag (from the higher support to the null point) is cons
iderably bigger as compared to the maximum sag with both the supports at the sam
e level.
As the empirical formulas determine the minimum spacing requirement for conducto
r galloping/ice dropping considerations (relating the spacing with the maximum c
onductor sag), the increase in the maximum sag due to the steep incline thus nec
essitates conductor spacings that are considerably higher than those used in nor
mal overhead line design. Unless the conductor spacings are decided at the desig
n stage, with due consideration for the possible values of span length-support le
vel difference combinations along the complete route of the transmission line, th
e line may encounter serious outage/conductor damage problems during its operati
on.
Application by Indian Power Utilities
The importance of this aspect is illustrated by following an example for a 400-k
V transmission line in India. The empirical formulas commonly used in India for
minimum requirements of conductor spacing from conductor galloping/ice dropping
considerations are as follows:
Minimum horizontal spacing, Ch = 0.62 (v f+lk) + V/150 meters (1)
Minimum vertical spacing, Cv = 0.75 (v f+lk) + V/150 meters (2)
where, Ch = Horizontal spacing of conductors at the tower, m.
Cv = Vertical spacing of conductors at the tower, m.
f = Conductor sag at maximum temperature of 75°C and no wind, m.
lk = Swinging length of suspension insulator string, m.
V = Voltage of the transmission line, m.
Figure 2 shows a barrel-type suspension tower for a typical Indian 400-kV double
-circuit line where A, B and C indicate the conductor attachment points on the t
ower crossarms for the two circuits (1 and 2), each phase comprising bundle cond
uctors. The horizontal and vertical conductor spacing also have been identified
as Ch and Cv.
The dimensional characteristics of the typical Indian 400-kV line are:
Normal span length: 400 m (1312 ft).
 Conductor: Twin MOOSE ACSR bundle (in horizontal formation) with 0.45 m (1.5 f
t) intra-group spacing.
Swinging length of insulator string, lk: 3.85 m (12.63 ft).
Swing angle/Electrical clearance combinations: (a) Swing angle = 22° with minimu
m clearance = 3.05 m (10 ft).
(b) Swing angle = 44° with minimum clearance = 1.86 m (6.1 ft).
The normal horizontal and vertical conductor spacing adopted for these lines in
plane areas, having in general a level rolling terrain, are Ch = 12.6 m (41.3 ft
) and Cv = 7.4 m (24.3 ft).
Figure 3 shows the conductor spacings as obtained from the empirical formulas (1
,2) for the typical Indian 400-kV line for different combinations in the practic
al range of span lengths from 500 to 2000 m (1640 to 6562 ft) and support level
difference from 0 to 100 m (328 ft). Fig. 3(a) shows the vertical spacing, and F
ig. 3(b) shows the horizontal spacing. The normal values of these clearances ado
pted on Indian 400-kV lines are also shown in these figures.
A close examination of Fig. 3 reveals the following:
To allow for conductor galloping/ice dropping, the required values of the ve
rtical and horizontal conductor spacing increase sharply with the increase in sp
an length.
An increase in support level difference (steepness of incline) necessitates
a further substantial increase in these spacings, especially in the lower range
of span lengths.
The normal value of 7.4 m (24.3 ft) vertical conductor-spacing for typical I
ndian 400-kV lines only satisfies the conductor galloping/ice dropping requireme
nts for a span length of less than 700 m (2297 ft), having a support level diffe
rence of less than 50 m (164 ft). This vertical spacing is increased by up to 10
0% for spans in excess of 1750 m (5741 ft).
The horizontal conductor spacing of 12.6 m (41.3 ft) normally provided for t
ypical Indian 400-kV lines adequately meets the requirement of conductor gallopi
ng/ice dropping with the exception of span lengths in excess of 2000 m (6562 ft)
span that have a difference in support level greater than 75 m (246 ft).
Summary
This example of Indian 400-kV transmission line design practice provides confirm
ation that where the line is routed through hilly terrain areas with steep incli
nes, the horizontal and vertical spacing of phase conductors needs to be properl
y determined at the design stage for the line route topology. Failure to do so w
ould inevitably result in serious operational problems with frequent line trip-o
uts and severe conductor/tower damage.
Dr. V.N. Rikh was awarded a BE degree in 1953, ME degree in 1977 and Ph.D. degre
e in engineering and technology in 1986. Following a 36-year career with the U.P
. State Electricity Board, one of India's largest public sector power undertakin
gs, in which Rikh reached the position as chairman, he retired but continued to
work as an advisor to many government/public power utilities, including Power Gr
id Corporation of India. With 48 years experience in power transmission and dist
ribution systems, Rikh currently works as a consulting engineer with a number of
consultancy groups in India. He has published more than 100 technical papers an
d presented numerous papers at national and international conferences (including
 CIGR , IEEE, IEE and IE). In addition to a number of honors and awards in India,
he represented India as an expert on CIGR Study Committee 36.