1

Insulation Coordination of Overhead

Transmission Lines
Miguel Carlos Valentim do Rosrio, n 56766

AbstractInsulation coordination methodologies are analyzed

and a program built by the author is presented, which executes
the insulation coordination algorithm proposed by the standards
of the International Electrotechnical Comission (IEC). Also
resulting from this analysis, a methodology for compacting
transmission lines is presented, where alternative tower
configurations are proposed and the benefits of this action are
analyzed.
The general analysis of the insulation coordination
methodology is carried out by comparison of the methodologies
presented in the international standards (IEC and IEEE).
In what concerns the specific case of line insulation, a more
detailed analysis is made of the insulation coordination
methodology presented in the IEC standards and the Insulation
Coordination Guide provided by REN (national electric grid
operator, former EDP). This analysis begins to focus on the
dielectric stresses that the line insulation must stand, then the
strength provided by the insulation as regards the previously
presented stresses, and finishes with the methods used in the
conjugation of these two factors.
Since this dissertation is concerned about overhead
transmission lines, whose major insulation component is air, an
analysis of the required distances between the variety of
components that constitute a transmission line tower is also made.
For that purpose, beyond the attention given to the evolution of
the models that characterize the dielectric breakdown, the real
distances implemented in the transmission lines owned by REN
are also analyzed.
Index TermsInsulation coordination, Overhead transmission
lines, Line compaction, Dielectric breakdown of long air gaps,
Overvoltages, Insulation Standards.

I. INTRODUCTION

of the most important requirements of any electrical

equipment or system refers to its capacity of insulating its
conductive parts against the exterior environment. Beyond the
risks that insulation failures may cause on humans and
animals, a correct insulation of an electrical equipment is
essential for an acceptable performance.
However, the insulation of an electric system is a complex
task, which requires the interoperability of several types of
insulator types - solid, liquid or gaseous. To this necessity of
using several insulator types with the objective of containing
electric current, is called insulation coordination.
Due to the non-ideality of all dielectric materials, this
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practice is particularly important in high voltage environments,

where the consequently high electric fields may cause
modifications in the properties of the insulation material.
The electric system, mostly its transport and distribution
components, are forced by their function to use high working
voltages. Therefore, because of the expanse of their use, air is
the most used type of insulation, complemented in the towers
by solid insulators. However, the dimensioning of the air
clearances are crucial, since air may become conductive when
exposed to extreme electric fields, causing line faults that
affect negatively their normal operation.
In this context, this dissertation proposes to establish the
insulation coordination methodologies used on overhead
transmission line design.

II. METHODOLOGIES AND STANDARDS OF INSULATION

COORDINATION

This chapters main objective is to analyze the general

methodology of insulation coordination, by comparing the two
most widespread standards of this matter: the IEC 60071-1 [1]
and IEEE Standard 1313.1 [2].
In this analysis, it was concluded that despite of the
disagreement in the nomenclature of several variables with
similar or even equivalent definitions, we can identify a
common line of action between those two. In both standards,
the first step consists in the analysis of the system and in the
identification of the representative overvoltages that best
characterize it. Then, the second step evaluates the strength
that the dielectric material presents to the overvoltage stresses
and how the relation between those two contribute to the line
performance. The last step takes the result from the previous
one, and returns the withstand voltage of the equipment as the
standardized value that best fits it.
Next, a more detailed analysis of these three steps will be
presented.
A. Determination of the representative overvoltages of the
system
This step analyzes the more relevant dielectric stresses that
occur in the system, as well as the limitation and protection
devices necessary for the desired line performance.
Therefore, the systems voltage stresses are separated in
four main classes.

Temporary overvoltages;
Slow front overvoltages (switching overvoltages);
Fast front overvoltages (lightning overvoltages);
Longitudinal overvoltages.

B. Comparison of overvoltages and insulation strength

Considering the previous results from the voltage stresses,
this chapter takes in consideration several factors that
influence the choice of the insulation. These factors are
similarly defined in both standards, and represent the several
uncertainties that characterize the system:
Performance (acceptable number of insulation
failures);
Statistical nature of test results;
Deviation of the characteristics of the insulators
production and installation;
Ageing;
Different shapes of overvoltages, different from the
standardized ones;
Real atmospheric conditions, different from the
standardized ones;
Analysis precision.

in substations, which led to the development of the very fast

front overvoltages class, and consequently to a reorganization
of the overvoltage classes.
B. Standard dielectric strength
In what concerns the dielectric strength, the two guides
characterize the accumulated probabilistic distribution of the
dielectric breakdown with very different expressions. IEC uses
a modified Weibull distribution, while REN uses a Gaussian.
The differences are negligible, and never higher than 5%.
However, the standard deviation used by these standards is
different. IEC uses a range of 3%-6%, while REN uses 6%8%, for disruptions caused by atmospheric and switching
overvoltages, respectively.
The expressions used to relate the U50 voltage with the air
clearance are also different, but both produce similar results,
always with differences below 4%. In figures 1 and 2, a
comparison is presented between the expressions used for each
standard.

C. Standardized results
Both standards present the standard insulation level as the
main output of the insulation coordination process. This
standard insulation level is the combination of:
The maximum system voltage;
Set of standard rated values of withstand voltages
that best fit and characterize the insulation, for
each of the overvoltage class that stresses the
system.

III. INSULATION COORDINATION ON OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION

LINES

Fig. 1 Comparison between expressions of U50(d) for switching

overvoltages

In this chapter, a more detailed analysis is made of the

insulation coordination methodology, when applied to
overhead transmission line design. With this objective in mind,
another two standards will be compared and analyzed: the IEC
60071-2 [3] and the Insulation Coordination Guide from REN
[4].
This analysis will firstly focus on the dielectric stresses, then
on the dielectric strength of the insulation, followed by the
application of insulation coordination methods that relate both
of these factors, concluding with the air clearances proposed in
both standards.
A. Standard dielectric stresses
Both standards divide the main representative dielectric
stresses in equivalent classes, already analyzed in chapter II.
However, the time lag between these two guides results in
different designations of the classes, as well as different
expected values for the statistical overvoltages. With the
natural technological evolution, since the last version of
RENs guide, theres been an intensification in the use of SF6

Fig. 2 - Comparison between expressions of U50(d) for lightning

overvoltages

C. Insulation coordination method application

Both guides suggest the same insulation coordination
methods, although each one applies a different insulation
coordination factor. The differences found in the deterministic
method are exposed in table 1.

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Table 1 Comparison of deterministic insulation coordination factors

Switching

IEC
1

Lightning

REN
1,2: 72,5 kV 220kV
1,15: 420 kV
1,2: 72,5 kV 220kV
1,25: 420 kV

From table 1 its possible to verify that the values proposed

by IEC are clearly less conservative than the ones from REN.
Although there are no differences in the probabilistic
method in the two guides, the simplified probabilistic method
is suggested in each standard with different values for the
statistical insulation coordination factor. These differences are
presented in figure 3.

IV. INSULATION DISTANCES ON OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION

LINES

In this chapter, the minimum air clearances used for

insulation in overhead transmission lines are presented, as well
as the methodology and critical analysis to achieve them.
A. Characterization of air clearances
In this section, an extensive analysis is made of the
expressions used to calculate the U50 voltage (voltage where
the air gap has a 50% probability of breakdown) of an air gap
with length d. This analysis is extended to the breakdown
caused by both types of overvoltages, and the several
expressions are compared, with their validity range evaluated.
B. Phase-to-ground air clearances
The phase-to-ground air clearances are divided in two types
of clearances: the air clearances between protection rods, and
between live parts and structures.
The first one is given by insulation coordination, and the
standard values are given by IEC. However, some deeper
research [5] revealed that the standard rated air clearances
used by IEC do not use the most adequate gap factor for
overhead transmission lines. With the proper gap factor, we
could reach a reduction of 6% to 15%, as shown in figure 5.

Fig. 3 Comparison between statistical insulation coordination factors

D. Standard air clearances

Both guides present mainly different types of air clearances,
as the IEC suggests only insulation coordination air clearances,
while REN presents mainly security related air clearances, due
to conductor movement. However, REN also presents a range
of distances used in protection rods, designed by insulation
coordination. The differences between these two are shown in
figure 4.
From figure 4 its possible do conclude that even the
maximum values are similar, the minimum ones are very
different. It can be also seen that from the range of 170kV to
420kV, the minimum values of IEC are consistently smaller.

Fig. 5 Comparison between minimum air clearances

On the other hand, the air clearances between live parts and
structures are given by security reasons, due to wind deviation
of the insulator set.
C. Phase-to-phase air clearances
The phase-to-phase air clearances have two types as well.
The values suggested by IEC are concerned with insulation
coordination. In addition, the values proposed by REN and
DGEG are related with security, due to mid-air cable
oscillations caused by wind and snow. These values are
compared in figure 6, where we can conclude that the security
air clearances dominate the dimensioning for the phase-tophase air clearances. In phase-to-earth distances on the other
hand, its the insulation coordination that defines this type of
air clearances.

Fig. 4 Comparison between air clearances of protection rods

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structure with a 2,49m air clearance and a 10% probability of
disruption for that specific switching withstand voltage, would
result in a decrease of breakdown probability to 2,8%, with the
REN air clearance.

Fig. 6 Comparison between phase-to-phase minimum air clearances

D. RENs transmission line analysis

This section verifies the air clearances and gap factors
effectively used by REN, in the overhead transmission lines of
the Portuguese national electric grid.
It was concluded that for any class of voltage and air
clearance, the tower dimensions are always at least 23%
greater than any air clearance proposed by standards.
With the use of [6], it was also possible to calculate in a
more accurate way, the gap factor of each of the tower
configurations. Considering this, figure 7 presents the
comparison between the Conductor-Crossarm gap factor
suggested by IEC and the real gap factor calculated.

Figure 8 - Comparison between real and IEC Conductor-Window gap

factors

V. CI-LINE PROGRAM
Due to the complexity of the algorithm proposed by IEC
60071-2, a program was developed to execute the
methodology presented by this standard.
This program receives the values of the representative
overvoltages, and returns the air clearances determined by the
standards for a line with specified characteristics.
The general architecture is presented in figure 9.
Inicial data

Uw
Range 1

Urp

Ucw

Voltage range

Urw

Range 1

Range 2

Fig. 7 Comparison between real and IEC Conductor-Crossarm gap

factors

From figure 7, we can assess that the mean value of the

Conductor-Crossarm gap factor (1,447) is very similar to the
one proposed by IEC (1,45). However, this is not true for the
Conductor-Window configuration, as can be seen in figure 8.
From figure 8 we can conclude that the mean value of the
calculated gap factor is 1,2, against the 1,25 suggested by IEC.
Once again, we conclude that the value proposed by REN for
this specific gap factor configuration is overestimated,
following the propensity already verified in the methodology
of this guide. For example, considering a switching withstand
voltage of 950kV (average for 400kV class), the air clearance
according to IEC would be 2,49m. However, with the real gap
factor of 1,2, we would obtain 2,64m. Consequently, an IEC

Range 1 air
clearances

Uw
Range 2

Phase-toearth air
clearances

Voltage type
Phase-toearth

Phase-tophase

Phase-tophase air
clearances

Figure 9 General architecture of the CI-LINE program

This program can be downloaded from:

https://fenix.ist.utl.pt/homepage/ist156766/dissertacao/progr
ama-ci-line
VI. OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINE COMPACTION
In this chapter, a methodology that describes overhead
transmission line compaction is presented. Subsequently, some
alternative compact tower configurations will be offered, and
their benefits and impacts analyzed.

5
A. Base configuration
The base configuration for this compaction will be the
400kV YS tower from the Portuguese national electric grid, as
shown in figure 10 [7].

3,10

3,10

2,23

15,58

10,00

7,75

R 3,40

R 3,40

R 3,40

5,10

Figure 12 Proposed configuration

Figure 10 YS tower configuration

The only objective of this compaction is to reduce the top

width of 24m, considered the minimum for this class of
voltage. The height of the tower will remain unchanged, as this
compaction would imply the consideration of local installation
factors that are clearly out of scope.
B. Proposed configuration
From the data obtained previously in chapter IV, we can
collect the minimum air clearances that the standards propose
for the various types of air clearances. This data is shown in
figure 11, along with the actual distances measured in the base
configuration.

Figure 11 Comparison between real and normative distances

From figure 11, we can assess that both air clearance types
used in the base configuration can be reduced. The Conductor
Structure air clearance is limited by the IEC value of 3,4 m,
calculated by insulation coordination. However, the minimum
distance between phases is limited by the REN guide, which
declares 6 m as the minimum safety distance.
Respecting these distances, an alternative compact
configuration is proposed in figure 12.

C. Live line works

The proposed configuration in figure 12 has been
dimensioned considering only insulation coordination.
However, due to the necessity of service continuity in the
transmission lines, many maintenance operations are made
with the line energized. In these operations, called live line
works, it is necessary to ensure the safety of the workers, with
a minimum air clearance determined by (1) [8].
U 50 k Cd Cw Ca U 50rp

(1)

where
U50rp is the voltage where a rod-plane air gap configuration has
a 50% probability of breakdown;
Cd is a factor that compensates damaged cap&pin insulators;
Cw is a factor that compensates the existence of metallic
floating objects and other tools used by workers that weakens
the dielectric strength of the air gap;
Ca is a factor that compensates atmospheric variations.
However, since 70% of the Portuguese territory is under
400 m of altitude [9], there is no reason to design a tower
configuration for the worst case. Therefore, two configurations
will be proposed, one that can only be used till 400 m of
altitude, and another till 1500 m.
Applying this minimum security air clearance to the
proposed configuration, we obtain the configurations in figure
13 and 14.
Considering this, it is possible to reduce the width of the
tower in 24% for the 400m and 18,6% for the 1500m in
relation to the base configuration.

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performance (0,55 to 0,4 faults/100km of line/year obtained
with the program IEEE Flash v1,9).
In conclusion, the use of these compact configurations
provides not only a reduction in costs of production and
installation, but also an increase in service continuity due to
the enhanced lightning performance.

3,10

3,10

2,23

18,32

10,00

9,21

R 4,20
R 3,83

5,10

Figure 13 Proposed configuration for altitudes under 400 m

3,10

2,23

19,52

3,10

VII. CONCLUSION

R 3,83

10,00

9,79

R 4,43

R 4,04

R 4,04

5,10

Figure 14 Proposed configuration for altitudes under 1500 m

D. Lightning performance
To conclude the design of the proposed configurations, it is
necessary to calculate the position of the shield wires, which
will be based in two main conditions. First, the minimum
clearance between the shield wires and the phase conductors
will have to be the same as the phase-to-phase clearance.
Second, it will be used the shielding failure current of the base
configuration, and therefore the same striking distance.
The conjugation of these two conditions results in the
configuration proposed in figure 15.

Pursuing the main objective of this dissertation, an analysis

was made of the general methodology of insulation
coordination presented in the international standards. It was
concluded that both provided a similar path to achieve it.
Then, a more detailed analysis was made, comparing the
insulation coordination methodologies when applied to
overhead transmission lines. Some conclusions were drawn
from the comparison of IEC and REN guides, more
specifically, the consequences of the temporal lag existing
between them and the differences in the application of the
insulation coordination factors.
Subsequently, an analysis was made to the air clearances
needed to specify the insulation of an overhead transmission
line. The phase-to-earth and phase-to-phase air clearances
were specified based on the several existing standards for this
matter. Also, an analysis was made of the real air clearances
and gap factors implemented in REN transmission lines, which
were compared with the values proposed by the standards.
The architecture of a program built by the author was also
presented. The program executes the insulation coordination
algorithm suggested by IEC, and generates all types of air
clearances for the specified overhead transmission line.
Finally, a methodology for overhead line compaction is
presented, and applied to a specific REN line configuration.
Some alternative configurations were proposed, with a
possible reduction of 24% in width. The impacts that this
modifications had on the lightning performance were studied,
leading to an enhancement of 27%. This chapter is then
concluded with a brief evaluation of the benefits that can be
drawn from compaction of overhead transmission lines.

18,32
3,44

3,44

REFERENCES

[2]

3,10

3,10

2,23

1,81

1,81

[1]

10,00

[3]
[4]
[5]
R 6,00

R 6,00

R 6,00

[6]

5,10

[7]
[8]
Figure 15 Shield wire position for the proposed configuration till 400m
[9]

With this shield wire configuration, both the proposed

configurations allow an increase of 27% in lightning

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principles and rules", 2006.
IEEE, Standard 1313.1 for Insulation Coordination - Definitions,
Principles and Rules, 1996.
IEC, Standard 60071-2, Insulation coordination - Part 2: Application
Guide", 1996
REN (former EDP), Guia de coordenao de isolamento para a rede
PTI - EDP, 1985.
L. Thione, Evaluation of the switching impulse strength of external
insulation, Electra n 94, 1976.
L. Paris et al., Phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase air clearances in
substations, Electra n 29.
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Postes da C.P.E., 1975.
CIGR, Dielectric Strength of External Insulation Systems Under Live
Working, Sesses CIGR de 1994, 33-306.
A. M. P. Jorge Ferreira, Dados Geoqumicos de Base de Sedimentos
Fluviais de Amostragem de Baixa Densidade de Portugal Continental,
Banco de dados do LNEG - Tese de Doutoramento, 2000.