International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

DIFFERENT VOLTAGE SELECTION CRITERIA

AND INSULATION DESIGN OF A TRANSMIS-
SION LINE FOR HV, EHV & UHV SYSTEM
Akhlaque Ahmad Khan1; Ahmad Faiz Minai2, Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department, Integral University, Lucknow [1][2]

tion in the comparison of competitive system in cost but the

Abstract case of maintenance, vulnerability to damage and public
amenity must also be taken into account. The table below
In this paper voltage selection and insulation design of a shows the comparative cost per mile for transmitting a given
transmission line are discussed. Electrical energy can be amount of power using over head lines and under ground
generated centrally in bulk and transmitted economically cable:-
long distances. Further it can be adapted easily and efficient-
ly to domestic and industrial application particularly for
lighting purposes and for mechanical work e.g. derives. The
system voltage in EHV system very much effect the capital
cost of transmission line. The weight of conductor material,
the efficiency of the line, the voltage drop in the line and
system stability depends upon system voltage. The choice of
voltage and insulation design therefore, a major factor in the
line designs.

Introduction
The per capital consumption and electrical energy is a re-
liable indicator of a countrys state of development. Conven- Figure 1:- Power consumption per Capita
tionally electrical energy is obtained by conversion from
fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), nuclear and hydro Table 1:- Comparative Cost per Mile for Transmitting a
sources. Heat energy released by burning fossil fuels or by given amount power using overhead line and under ground
fission of nuclear material is converted to electricity by first line.
converting heat energy to the mechanical energy and then
converting mechanical energy to the electrical energy Voltage Cost of O/H Line Cost of U/G Ca- Ratio
through generators. The earth has fixed non replenishable KV ( 1000/Km). ble (
resources of fossil fuels and nuclear materials. Hydro energy 1000/Km.)
though replenishable is also limited in terms of power. The 400 34 615 18
worlds increasing power requirements can only be partially
met by hydro sources. Further more ecological and biologi- 220 17 217 13
cal factors place a stringent limit on the use of hydro sources
for power production. 132 6.5 55 8

The plots showing energy demand installed generating ca-
pacity indicates that the electrical energy requirement is an
exponential growth function and as per the slope of these
plots the continuous increase in power demand has been
doubling every seven years. As per the plots the installed
generating capacity in India must rise from 140 GMW in
1995, 1840 GW in 2007 and 3680GW in 2014 which in turn
would require a corresponding development in coal re-
sources.
Among the different types of transmission systems are
overhead systems and cable systems. The primary considera-
The generation voltages are usually 11KV &33KV and
since these are low for transmission over long distances so it
is step up by step up transformer to voltages upto 132KV,
220KV or 400KV and transmitted to bulk power sub-station.
Difficulty of getting power station sites near the consuming
centers makes it inevitable to transfer bulk of electrical ener-
gy through longer distances and is possible only by high
voltage transmission systems. Extra High Voltage (EHV)
above 220KV thus not only transmits power but utilized for
interconnection purposes also. High voltage is desired due to
various reasons such as power loss which is inversely pro-

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 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

portional to both system voltage and power factor (p.f.) re- cult and expensive. The corona loss are also inevitable as
duction in voltage drop in resistance, reduction in weight of communication line and EHV lines are run as the same
conductor material and enhanced efficiency of transmission. tower the problem of radio interference with communication
Three main problems associated with EHV, namely radio circuit become very serious at EHV. Shunt reactance com-
interference, line insulation and equipment insulation. The pensation (for improvement of p.f.) and series compensation
various voltages adopted by different countries above (for improvement of voltage regulation and stability) is re-
230KV are 275, 287, 345, 380, 400, 500, 735, 1100KV etc. quired.
The highest voltage used in India is 400KV. Voltages above While selecting the transmission voltage the present and
765KV are called ultra high voltages (UHV). future expectable voltage of other lines in vicinity of the line
Two main problems are involved which limits the large under design are taken into account. The number of circuits
amount of power to be transmitted over long distances by in EHV system can be one or two.
A.C. systems. The first is the technical limitation and other Different Criteria for Voltage Selection:-
is the economic consideration and usually later governs the
final choice of design.
Recently by virtue of its various advantages over A.C. First Criteria:-
transmission, high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmis- According to Indian standard
sion is also become popular in some countries. A.C. is better Table 2:- Table for Voltage Selection
for generating and distributing point of view but D.C. is pre- Distance (KM) No. of Phases Standard work-
ferable for transmission over long distances. \ ing voltage
(KV)
Voltage selection Upto 8
Upto 16
3
3
6.6
11
Upto 64 3 33
A transmission line transmits electrical energy in bulk
Upto 116 3 66
from generating station to distributing station. The maxi-
Upto 240 3 132
mum generation voltage in developed countries is 33KV
Upto 480 3 220
while in India it is 11KV. The amount of power that has to
Upto 800 3 400
be transmitted through transmission line is very large, if this
power is transmitted at 11KV or 33KV, the line current and
power loss would be large. Therefore this voltage is stepped Second Criteria:
upto higher value by using step-up transformers. The trans- Imperical formula is given by
mission voltages in India are 132KV, 220KV, 400KV & VL = 5.5 ((L/1.6) + (P1000/Cos NC 150))
765KV. Where,
The system voltage in EHV system very much effect the VL = Transmission line voltage in KV
capital cost of transmission line. The weight of conductor L = Length of line in Kms. = 300Km
material, the efficiency of the line, the voltage drop in the P = Power to be transmitted = 280MW
line and system stability depends upon system voltage. The NC = Number of circuits
choice of voltage therefore, a major factor in the line de- Cos =Power factor of load = 0.9 (lag-
signs. ging)
The EHV systems are not only the power transporting sys- VL = 5.5 ((300/1.6) + (2801000/0.9 NC 150))
tem but fulfill the need of interconnecting the different EHV For, NC = 1 (single circuit line)
systems so as to improve the reliability as well as efficiency VL = 261.55 KV
of the system. The EHV system here certain advantages such For, NC = 2 (double circuit line)
as the voltage goes on increasing the current reduces, the VL = 192.4 KV
size of the conductor reduces and cost of conductor decreas-
es. As current decreases line losses reduces thereby increas- The standard line voltage near to this is 220KV.
ing the efficiency and voltage regulation increase.
Although much economy can be affected in EHV system, Surge impedance Loading:-
the cost of insulation of conductors increases, the separation A surge is the movement of charge along the conductor,
or clearance between conductors is to be increased to avoid such surge are characterized by sudden very steep rise in
electrical discharge. The problem of mechanical supporting voltage followed by gradual decay in voltage. It is of very
structure and right of way an acquisition become more diffi- short duration of the order of few micro seconds. The surge

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 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

travel along the conductor in the form of waves. There are This power transmitting capability of system is greater
generally two types of surge such as switching surge and than the actual power to be transmitted, hence, Double Cir-
lightning surge. cuit, 220KV line is selected.
The lightning surges are of particular interest due to their
large magnitude and different wave shapes. The surges reach
the transformer, switch gear and may damage them if they
are not properly protected.
A transmission line may be considered as generative capa-
citive reactive voltmeter in its shunt capacitance and con-
suming reactive volt-amperes in its series inductance. The
load at which the inductive and capacitive reactive volt-
amperes are equal and opposite is called surge impedance
loading (SIL).

V2/VC = I2 XL
Or,
V/I = (L/C)
= Z0
Surge impedance load of any line may be defined as pow-
er delivered by it to a purely resistive load equal to its surge
impedance.
SIL also gives the power transmitting capability, P (t). To
determine P (t) SIL is multiplied by factor (MF) obtained
from standard capability curve.
SIL = (VL)2/Z0
Where, VL = Transmission line voltage in KV
Z0 = Surge impedance in ohm
= 200 ohm (for double circuit line)
= 400 ohm (for single circuit line)
The power transmitted decreases with length. To find out
the actual power that can be transmitted with stability SIL is
multiplied by MF (multiplying factor) which is obtained
from capability curve. The capability curve is plotted be-
tween MF and length (Km). From the capability curve the
value of MF is 1.44 corresponding to 300Km.
SIL = (VL)2 /Z0 MW
Figure 2:- Capability Curve
Design of insulation
The major aspect in designing a power transmission line is
choosing its insulation level which has a considerable influ-
ence on the cost as well as operating reliability. The influ-
ence of EHV systems is determined on the basis of possible
internal and external over-voltages. The recent advance-
ments achieved in the design of circuit breakers and other
protective devices have reduced the severe effects of switch-
ing transients and power frequency over-voltages allowing
considerable reductions in the insulation level of EHV net-
works. The earthing of the system also plays an important
role in reducing the insulation.
Reduced insulation level results in large swing in the size
and cost of equipment. The system over-voltage factors are
therefore to be evaluated carefully while choosing the insu-
lation levels.

For Double Circuit Line:- Over-Voltage

In extra high voltage system types of over-voltages
SIL = (220)2/200 MW likely to occur are:-
= 242 MW (a) Over voltages due to switching surges.
(b) Power frequency over voltages.
P (t) = SIL MF (c) Over voltages due to direct strokes of lightning
= 242 1.44
= 348.48 MW
Switching Over Voltages
Over voltages due to switching surges are of an internal
origin and are generally oscillatory in nature. These

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 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)
over voltages are of a short duration and are generally
caused by the following switching operations.
(1) Switching off of long lines on no load.
(2) Interruption of low inductive current such as the
transformer magnetizing currents.
(3) Energizing lines of no load.
(4) Clearance of short circuits.
The most dangerous transient over-voltages are caused by
tripping of long lines under no load conditions. The length of
EHV lines and high capacitance due to bundled conductors
increases the probability of high switching surges. Switching
surges of 3 to 4 times the crest value of the normal phase to
neutral voltage are likely to occur as a result of breaker re-
striking.
Modern CBS are therefore designed for disconnecting un-
loaded lines without restriking which limits the over-voltage
to 2-2.5 times crest value of the normal phase to neutral vol-
tage.
Dangerous switching over-voltages also occur by interrup-
tion of transformer magnetizing currents. The magnitude of
these over-voltages depends on the relation between the in-
ductance and capacitance of the transformer. In the case of
EHV transformers the factor is usually 1.5. Higher voltages
generated can be absorbed by the lightning arrestors between
the transformer and the circuit breaker.
Relatively high over-voltages occur on energizing high
voltage lines and particularly a three phase rapid recourses.
In absence of damping and in the most unfavorable case of
reclosing when the applied voltage is at its maximum. The
voltage at the open end may reach double the crest value of
the phase to neutral voltage or even more.
Power Frequency Over Voltages
Operating frequency voltage rise occurs when:-
(1) A loaded line is interrupted at one end especially
when the line is long and the impedance is high.
(2) On occurrence of a single phase or two phases to
earth fault.
(3) An open line is suddenly connected to the source.
(4) At the free end of a line connected at one end only
(FERRANTI EFFECT).
A practical line sections of the range 300 500Km in length
which is usual at 220KV and 400KV, increase in voltage
during dropping of load does not exceed 1.3 to 1.5 times the
maximum normal phase to neutral voltage (rms). The value
of these over-voltages in practice does not depend on the
operating voltage but depends only on the length of the line
and the number of lines terminating at or emanating from a
station.
ISSN NO: 2250-3536 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2, MAY 2012
A wider knowledge of the magnitudes of lightning and in-
ternal over-voltages has justified the revision of insulation
requirements. Further with the advancements made in pro-
tective devices such as a non-restraining circuit breaker.
Circuit breaker with the provision of pre insertion resistors,
improved lightning arrestors and provisions of bus-car pro-
tection against earth faults in EHV stations have made it
possible to limit the effects of switching over-voltages to a
value of 2.5 for lines operating at 220KV.
The power frequency over-voltage factor has been reduced
to a value 1.3 for 220KV. The provision of shunt reactors on
EHV lines for the absorption of excessive reactive power
limits switching surge over-voltages and prevents abnormal-
ly high fundamental frequency and harmonic voltages.
Lightning Over-Voltage
Lightning is a very serious cause of over voltages on the
lines. These over voltages are produced in the lines either by
a direct stroke or by an induced stroke. The voltages due to
induced strokes are very much less as compared to those
produced by direct strokes. The important lightning surges
against which apparatus must be protected are caused by
direct strokes which originate either at the station or an
overhead lines leading to the section. These direct strokes
attain values as high as 4000KV with a high rate of voltage
rise (1000-10,000KV per micro second) and a high current
magnitude of (5000 to 200,000 amperes). These conditions
impose severe stresses on the station equipments and may
even be fatal for protective systems.
Surges that originate as direct strokes on the lines have to
propagate into the station are by far the most common and
are generally less severe. The lightning discharge wave is
very short and steep at the point at which it strikes and the
amplitude goes on decreasing under the action of skin-effect
of conductor and ground while it is propagating along the
line.
The frequency of occurrence of over voltages due to
thunder storms varies according to the Iso-Chronic level of
the region. Their amplitude depending on the presence of
earth wires and the quality of earthing.
A study in connection with the magnitude of lightning
currents has shown that currents upto 30,000 amperes ac-
count for 90% of the total number of observations recorded
and the currents of the order of 100 amperes exceed for only
1.5% of the observations. A value of 300,000 amperes of
lightning stroke current is generally accepted as the criterion
for determining the insulation level for EHV systems.
Power lines and switch yards can however, be protected
adequately against direct lightning strokes by means of
screening conductors, if the protective angle is 25-30 de-
grees and the tower footing resistance is limited to about 10
76
 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

ohm in the case of transmission lines and 0.5 to 1 ohm in the
case of substations.
(1) Pin type insulator
(2) Suspension type insulator
(3) Strain or tension type insulator.
Choice of Insulation Level for Transmis-
sion Lines
Insulation requirements are a function of internal and ex-
1. Pin Type Insulator
ternal over voltages. The number of insulators, swing angle,
weather conditions, phase spacing and clearance to tower
and ground wires determine the tower dimensions and cost.
Economy and practicability of design demand that the insu-
lation strength b e kept a minimum and should provide basic
protection. One must strike a balance between the chances of
failure and the cost of greater insulation strength.
Multiplying Factors
The string insulation must be sufficient to prevent a flash
over from the stationary over voltages and switching surges
into account all the abnormal and prevailing circumstances
which decrease the flashover voltage such as rain, dust, insu-
lator pollution, fog etc.
Some additional multiplying factors are therefore allowed
to account for contaminated, non-standard atmospheric con-
ditions, polluted insulation surface etc. These factors influ-
ence the value of normal frequency flashover voltages more
than impulse flashover voltage. Further it becomes necessary
to make some allowance for safety margin for unforeseen
conditions.
Types of Insulators
Overhead line insulators are used to separate line conduc-
tors from each other and from supporting structure electri-
cally. While designing an insulator the following points are
kept in view:-
a) The insulator should be able to withstand the over
voltages due to lightning, switching or other causes
under severe conditions in addition to the normal
working voltages.
b) It should posses high mechanical strength to bear
the conductor load under worst leading conditions.
c) It needs to have a high resistance to temperature
changes to reduce damage from power flashover.
d) The leakage of current to earth should be minimum
to keep the corona loss and ratio interference within
reasonable limits.
There are three types of insulators used for overhead lines.
The pin insulator is supported on a forged steel pin or bolt
which is secured to the cross arm of the supporting structure.
The conductor is tied to the insulator on the top groove on
straight line position and side groove in angle positions by
annealed binding wire of the same material as conductor. A
lead thimble is connected into the insulator body to receive
the pin.
Suspension Insulator
A suspension insulator consists of a number of separate
insulator units connected with each other by metal lines to
form a flexible chain or a string. The insulator string is sus-
pended from the cross arm of the support. The conductor is
attached to the lowest unit.
An insulator assembly is shown in figure. Suspension in-
sulator offers the following advantages:-
(a) Each unit is designed for operating voltage of about
11KV so, that a string can be assembled by connecting sev-
eral units to suit the service voltage and weather conditions.
(b) In case the line is to operate on a higher voltage in future
to cope with the increasing load, additional units would be
introduced to the same string. In case of damage to one of
the units, only the damaged insulator but not the whole
string is replaced by one.
(c) The string is free to swing in any direction and therefore,
greater flexibility is provided. The tensions in the successive
spans are balanced. The lines can therefore be designed for
longer spans and higher mechanical loading.
(d)There is decreased liability to lightning disturbances if
the string is suspended from a metallic supporting structure
which works as a lightning shield for conductor.
Since the spring is hung from the support, the tower height is
to be increased. Greater spacing between the conductors is to
be provided to allow for swinging.
The types of suspension insulators in use are:
(a) Cap and Pin type
(b) Hewlett or interlink type.
Strain or Tension Insulators

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 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

Strain or tension insulators are design for handling me- (2) Highest System Voltage = 1.10
chanical stresses at angle positions where there is a change (3) Over voltage factor = 1.3 for 220 KV
in the direction of the line or at termination of the lines. For = 1.5 for 400 KV
high voltage lines having longer spans and greater mechani- (4) Flashover Voltage = 1.15
cal loading, suspension insulator strings are arranged in a (5) Non-standard atmospheric condition, contaminated
horizontal position. In case a single string is not sufficient to surface = 1.2
take the load, two are more strings in parallel may be em- (6) Overall safety margin = 1.50
ployed for higher conductor tensions. 50HZ wet flashover voltage (rms)
= Vpn 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.15
= 3 (220/3) = 380 KV
Number of discs corresponding to this voltage = 10.7 = 11
Table 3:- Doultons Insulation Characteristic
units
S.No. No. of Power frequency withstand Impulse
units voltage withstand
(Disc) test voltage
Dry Wet KV(Peak)
KV(rms) KV(rms)
1. 1 78 45 105
2. 2 135 80 200
3. 3 185 115 300
4. 4 235 150 380
5. 5 275 185 450
6. 6 315 225 530
7. 7 365 260 600
8. 8 415 295 680
9. 9 455 330 750
10. 10 495 360 820
11. 11 530 395 890 Figure3:- Characteristic of Power Frequency Over Voltage
Curve
Switching Surge Over Voltage Factors
(1) System voltage = 220 KV Conclusion
(2) Highest system voltage
=1.1system voltage (for 220 KV) The EHV systems are not only the power transporting sys-
= 1.05 system voltage (for 400 KV) tem but fulfill the need of interconnecting the different EHV
(3) Crest factor = 1.414 systems so as to improve the reliability as well as efficiency
(4) Switching surge = 2.5 for 220 KV of the system. The EHV system here certain advantages such
= 2.0 for 400 KV as the voltage goes on increasing the current reduces, the
(5) Switching surge strength = 1.15 size of the conductor reduces and cost of conductor decreas-
(6) Impulse flashover voltage = 1.15 es. As current decreases line losses reduces thereby increas-
(7) Contaminated surface, on standard condition = 1.1 ing the efficiency and voltage regulation increase.
(8) Overall factor of safety = 1.15
+ve impulse flashover voltage (crest 1.2/50 sec)
= Vpm 1.414 2.5 1.5 1.15 1.15 1.1
References
= 6.5 Vpn for line at 220 KV
= (220/3) 6.5 = 825 KV [1]D. Povh, D. Retzmann, Perspectives of Power system
Corresponding to this voltage the number of discs required = interconnections Siemens, Erlangen Germany
10.1 = 11 units [2] FACTS Overview. IEEE and Cigr, Catalog Nr. 95 TP
108
[3] Muller, H.-C.; Haubrich, H.-J.; Schwartz, J.: Technical
Power Frequency (50 HZ) Over Voltage Limits of Interconnected Systems.CIGRE Report 37-301,
Factors Paris, Session 1992.
(1)System Voltage = 220 KV [4]UPSEB Statistics at a Glance, March 1988.

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 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research (IJATER)

[5]Energy Statistics Year Book, 1966 Published by

U.N. New York.
[6] J. Nagrath & D.P. Kothari Modern Power System Anal-
ysis Tata McGraw-Hill Education, 2003.
[7] H.P. Young Electric Power System control Edition 3,
Chapman & Hall, 1950.
[8] W.D. Stevenson Elements of Power System Analysis
fourth edition. TMH, New York 1982.
[9] Wadhawa, C.L. Elements of Power System New Age
International 2009.
[10] Ashfaq Husain Electrical power system Edition 2004,
Danpat Rai & Co, (Pvt.) Ltd. 1982.

Akhlaque Ahmad Khan was born in

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 01
July 1987. He Received the Bachelors
Degree from Integral University, Luck-
now, U. P. India.
He is with the Integral University, as
Lecturer in the Electrical and Electronics
Engineering Department from August, 08.

Ahmad Faiz Minai was born in Luck-

now, Uttar Pradesh, India, on November
2, 1985. He Received the Masters De-
gree from Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh, U. P. India.
He is with the Integral University, as
an Assisstant Professor in the Electrical
and Electronics Engineering Department from July, 09.

ISSN NO: 2250-3536 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2, MAY 2012 79