Chapter-3

Transmission Line Parameters

 The power transmission line is one of the major components of an
electric power system.

 Its main function is to transport electric energy, with minimal

losses, from the power sources to the load centers.
 The design of a transmission line depends on four electrical
parameters:
1. Series resistance
2. Series inductance
3. Shunt capacitance
4. Shunt conductance
• Representation of transmission line

Fig: Distributed line parameters

• The parameters are uniformly distributed along the entire
length of the line as shown in figure above. But can be lumped
for the purpose of analysis on approximate basis.
o The series resistance relies basically on the physical
composition of the conductor at a given temperature.
o The series inductance and shunt capacitance are
produced by the presence of magnetic and electric fields
around the conductors, and depend on their geometrical
arrangement.
o The shunt conductance is due to leakage currents flowing
across insulators and air. As leakage current is
considerably small compared to nominal current, it is
usually neglected, and therefore, shunt conductance is
normally not considered
 3.1 Resistance of transmission line
 is the opposition of transmission line conductors to the flow of current.
 It causes a power loss in the conductor.
Power loss = 𝐼 2 R
 Therefore the resistance of the conductor is very important in transmission efficiency
and economic study.
 If DC current is flowing along a round cylindrical conductor, the current is uniformly
distributed over its cross-section area and its DC resistance is evaluated by;

L
RDC  ( )
A
Where; - resistivity of a conductor at a given temperature (𝜴-m)

L- conductor length (m)

A- conductor cross-section area (𝑚2 )

 If AC current is flowing, rather than DC current, the conductor effective resistance is
higher due to frequency or skin effect
1.Frequency Effect
The effective resistance is equal to the DC resistance of the conductor only if
the current is uniformly distributed throughout the section of the conductor.
When AC flows in a conductor, the current distribution is not uniform over the
conductor and the current density is greatest at surface of the conductor .
 the tendency of alternating current to concentrate near the surface of the
conductor is called skin effect.
As frequency f increases, the current tends to go toward the surface of the
conductor and the current density decreases at the center.
Skin effect reduces the effective cross-section area used by the current, and thus,
the effective resistance increases.
This causes the A.C resistance is greater than the D.C resistance.
Normally R A.C = 1.6 RD.C [for 50 Hz supply]
R A.C = 2 R D.C [for 60 Hz supply]
2. Temperature Effect
 The resistivity of any conductive material varies linearly over an
operating temperature, and therefore, the resistance of any
conductor suffers the same variations.

 As temperature rises, the conductor resistance increases linearly,

over normal operating temperatures, thus :
 Let R1 , R2 be the resistances at t1 and t2 °𝐶.

 Let T temperature coefficient for the particular material that

dependens on the conductor material. e.g ,for Aluminum T = 228 °𝐶

 R1~𝑇+t1; R2 ~ T+t2
 T+ t 2 
R2  R1  
 T + t1

 From the above effect, the resistance of the conductor is determined

from manufacturer ‘s data.
• Example: A solid cylindrical aluminum conductor 20Km long has an area
of 201.418 × 10−6 𝑚2 . Obtain the conductor resistance at (a)20℃ (b)40℃.
The resistivity of aluminum at 20℃ is 2.8× 10−8 Ω𝑚.

Ans: a) 2.78 𝜴 b) 3.0042 𝜴

3. Spiraling
o Since the stranded conductor is spiraled, each strand is longer than the
finished conductor.

o Therefore, the effective resistance is slightly higher than the calculated

value of 𝑅𝐷.𝑐
3.2 Inductance of Transmission line
o A current-carrying conductor produces concentric
magnetic flux lines around the conductor. If the current
varies with the time, the magnetic flux changes and a
voltage is induced.
o Therefore, an inductance is present, defined as the ratio of
the magnetic flux linkage and the current.
o The magnetic flux produced by the current in
transmission line conductors produces a total inductance
whose magnitude depends on the line configuration
• For the calculation of transmission line inductance knowing the following
parameters must be needed:
1. Magnetic field intensity H, from Ampers law

ර 𝐻. 𝑑𝑙 = 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑

2. Magnetic field density B

B = 𝜇H
3. Flux linkage λ
4. Inductance from flux linkage per Ampere

L = λ ൗ𝐼
Ampere’sLaw: the line integral of magnetic flux intensity(H) around
closed path is equal to the current enclosed in that path.

ර 𝐻. 𝑑𝑙 = 𝐼
Inductance of Single conductor
 Transmission lines are composed of parallel conductors and
can be assumed as infinity long.
 First we will develop expressions for flux linages of an
isolated current carrying cylindrical conductor with return
path lying at infinity.
 To calculate the inductance of a conductor, it is necessary to
consider the flux inside the conductor as well as the external
flux.
 This division is helpful as the internal flux progressively
links a smaller amount of current as we proceed inwards
to wards the center of the conductor and the external
flux always links the total current inside the conductor.
 Internal inductance
• Consider a solid cylindrical conductor of radius r carrying
sinusoidal current I
• For simplicity assume that the conductor is:
o sufficiently long that the end effect is neglected
o non magnetic material(like Cu, Al) ,𝜇r = 1,𝜇 = 𝜇0 .
o has uniform current density(skin effect is neglected)

Fig: flux linkage of a long round conductor

• Magnetic field inside the conductor(x<r) from Amperes laws,

ර 𝐻. 𝑑𝑙 = 𝐼

 Length of closed path at radius x is 2𝜋𝑥

ර 𝐻𝑥. 2𝜋𝑥 = 𝐼𝑥

• The current density is uniform, the current in the closed path is

I𝑥x 2I
Hx 
Ix = ( Τ𝑟 I2 x( A / M )
)
2 x 2 r
H, magnetic field intensity at a distance x, inside the conductor is directly
proportional to the distance from the center of the conductor, H∝x.
Magnetic field intensity (H) at the surface of the conductor is max when x=r.
Magnetic field intensity (H) at the center of the conductor is zero when x=0.
 0 Ix
Bx   H x  ( 2 )(T )
2 r
• For a non-magnetic conductor with constant permeability
𝜇0 the magneticflux density 𝐵𝑥 at a distance x from the
center is
0 Ix
Bx   H x  ( 2 )(T )
2 r
• The differential flux d∅𝑥 for a small region of thickness dx
and one meter length of the conductor is

• The flux d∅𝑥 links only the fraction of the conductor.

Therefore, on the assumption of uniform current density,
𝜋𝑥 2
only the fraction turn ( ൗ𝜋𝑟 2 ) of the total current is linked
by the flux, i.e.
• Integrating from 0 to r, we get the total internal flux
linkages as

• Or
• Or

• Note that Lint is independent of the radius of the

conductor.
 where GMR (geometric mean radius)=0.7788r=R’

 Self GM D is also called geometric mean radius , or GM R .

For Conductor let X.

 Self GM D is also called geometric mean Distance.

Between Conductor X and y.
 External Inductance
• The external inductance is evaluated assuming that the
total current I is concentrated at the conductor surface
(maximum skin effect). At any point on an external
magnetic field circle of radius y the magnetic field intensity
Hy and the magnetic field density By , per unit length, are
Iy
Hy  (A/ M )
2 y
 I
BY   HY  0 (T )
2 y

 The differential flux dϕ enclosed in a ring of

thickness dy, from point D1 to point D2, for
A 1-m length of conductor is
I
  BY y  0 y( wb / m)
2 y
• As the total current I flows in the surface conductor, then
the differential flux linkage dλ has the same magnitude as
0 I
the differential flux dϕ.     BY y  ( wb / m)
2 y
• By integrating the flux linkage from D1 to D2
D2
0 I D 2  0 I  D2 
12       ln   (wb / m)
D1
2 D1 y 2  D1 

• In general, the total external flux linkage from the surface

of the conductor to any point D, per unit length, is
D
0 I  0 I  D 
D
ext       ln   ( wb / m)
r
2 r y 2  r 
• The summation of the internal and external flux linkage at
any point D permits evaluation of the total inductance of the
conductor Ltot, per unit length, as follows:

0 1 0  D 
D
int  ext  I (  ln  )  I (ln  1 ) wb / m
2 4  r  2  4 
e r
int  ext 0  D 
Ltot   (ln  ) wb / m
I 2  GMR 
• where GMR (geometric mean radius)=0.7788r
 Inductance of a Two-Wire Single-Phase Line
 consider a two-wire single-phase line with solid cylindrical
conductors A and B with the same radius r, same length l, and
separated by a distance D, where D > r, and conducting the
same current I, as shown in Fig below.

 The current flows from the source to the load in conductor A

and returns in conductor B (IA= -IB).
 Inductance of a Two-Wire Single-Phase Line(Cont…)

The magnetic flux generated by one conductor links the other

conductor. The total flux linking conductor A, for instance, has two
components: (a) the flux generated by conductor A and (b) the flux
generated by conductor B which links conductor A.
 thus the total flux linkage from conductors A and B at point P is

AP  AAP  ABP

BP  BBP  BAP
 Cont…
 The expressions of the flux linkages above, per unit length, are
0 I DAP
 AAP  ln( )( wb / m)
2 GMRA
0 I
DBP
D
 ABP  
D
BBP P  
2
ln( BP )( wb / m)
D
0 I
DAP
D
BAP  
D
BAP P  
2
ln( AP )( wb / m)
D
0 I DBP
BBP  ln( )( wb / m)
2 GMRB
 The total flux linkage of the system at point P is the algebraic summation of λAP and λBp

P  AP  BP
   AAP  ABP    BBP  BAP  
0 I DAP D D DBP 0 I D2
 ln(( )( )( )( ))( wb / m)  ln(( )( wb / m)
2 GMRA DAP D GMRB
BP
2 GMRAGMRB
 For equal radius , the total flux linkage at infinity point is given
as; 0 I D
 ln(( )( wb / m)
 GMR
 Cont…
Then  0  D 
; L1  
  GMR 
ln H /m
I
 Cont…
 Inductance of a Three-Phase Lines.
 The derivations for the inductance in a single-phase system can
be extended to obtain the inductance per phase in a three-phase
system
 Consider a three-phase, three-conductor system with solid
cylindrical conductors with identical radius rA, rB, and rC, placed
horizontally with separation DAB, DBC, and DCA (where D > r)
among them. Corresponding currents IA, IB, and IC flow along
each conductor as shown
 Inductance of 3-φ (cont…)
 The total magnetic flux enclosing conductor A at a point P away from
the conductors is the sum of the flux produced by conductors A, B,
and C as follows: AP  AAP  ABP  ACP
 Where;  AAP flux produced by current IA on conductor A at point P
  ABP -flux produced by current IB on conductor A at point P
  ACP -flux produced by current IC on conductor A at point P
 Inductance of 3-ϕ (cont…)
0 I A  DAP 
 Thus;  AAP  ln    wb / m 
2  GMRA 
0 I B  DBP 
 ABP  ln    wb / m 
2  DAB 
0 I C  DCP 
 ACP  ln    wb / m 
2  DAC 
 The corresponding flux linkage of conductor A at point P is evaluated
as AP  AAP  ABP  ACP
0 I A  DAP 
AAP  ln    wb / m 
2  GMRA 
0 I B  DBP 
D BP

ABP   BBP P  ln    wb / m 
D AB
2  DAB 
0 I C  DCP 
DCP

ACP   BCP P  ln    wb / m 
DAC
2  DAC 
 Cont…
; 0   DAP   DBP   DCP  
  I A ln    I B ln    I C ln     wb / m 
2 
AP
 GMRA   DAB   DAC  
0   1   1   1 
 AP   I A ln    I B ln    I C ln  
2   GMR A   AB 
D  DAC 
0
  I A ln DAP  I B ln DBP  I C ln DCP   wb / m 
2
Assuming a balanced three-phase system, where I A +I B +I C =0, and
shifting the point P to infinity in such a way that D AP =D BP =D CP ,
then the second part of Eq. is zero, and the flux linkage of
conductor A becomes
0   1   1   1 
A   I A ln    I B ln    I C ln     wb / m 
2   GMRA  D  D 
0   1   1   1 
B   I A ln    I B ln    I C ln     wb / m 
2  D  GMRB   D 
0   1   1   1 
C   I A ln    I B ln    I C ln     wb / m 
2   D   D   GMRC 
 Cont…
 The flux linkage of each phase conductor depends on the three
currents, and therefore, the inductance per phase is not only one as in
the single-phase system. Instead, three different inductances (self and
mutual conductor inductances) exist. Calculating the inductance
values from the equations above and arranging the equations in a
matrix form we can obtain the set of inductances in the system
A  LAA LAB L AC  I A
B   LBA LBB LBC  I B
C  LCA LCB LCC  I C

 However, a single inductance per phase can be obtained if the three

conductors are arranged with the same separation among them
(symmetrical arrangement), whereD=DAB=DBC=DCA. For a balanced
three-phase system (IA+IB+IC=0, or IA=-IB -IC), the flux linkage of
each conductor, per unit length, will be the same
 Cont…
Then; 0   1  1  1 
A   I B  I C  ln    I B ln    I C ln     wb / m 
2   GMRA  D  D 
   D   D 
A  0   I B ln    I C ln     wb / m 
2   GMRA   GMRA  
0   D 
A   I A ln     wb / m 
2   GMRA  
 If GMR value is the same for all conductors (either single or bundle
GMR), the total flux linkage expression is the same for all phases.
Therefore, the equivalent inductance per phase is
   D 
LPhase  0 ln     wb / m 
2   GMR phase  
 Inductance of Transposed Three-Phase Transmission Lines
 it is possible to assume symmetrical arrangement in the transmission
line by transposing the phase conductors. In a transposed system, each
phase conductor occupies the location of the other two phases for one-
third of the total line length as shown in Fig. In this case, the average
distance geometrical mean distance (GMD) substitutes distance D, and
the calculation of phase inductance derived for symmetrical
arrangement is still valid
0   GMD 
LPhase   ln 
 
  H / m
2  
  GMR phase

Once the inductance per phase is obtained, the inductive reactance per unit length is
  GMD 
X Lphase  2 fLPhase  f 0 ln 
 
  / m

  GMR phase 
 Cont…
for bundel cond.
;   GMD  
X Lphase  2 fLPhase  f 0 ln     / m 
  GMRbund  
where GMR bundle =(d n-1 GMR stranded )1/n up to three conductors per bundle (m)
GMR bundle =1.09(d 4 GMR stranded )1/4 for four conductors per bundle (m)
GMR phase =geometric mean radius of phase conductor, either solid or stranded (m)
GMD = 3 DAB DBC DCA = geometrical mean distance for a three-phase line (m)
d=distance between bundle conductors (m)
n=number of conductor per bundle
f=frequency (Hz)
 Capacitance and Capacitive Reactance
 Capacitance exists among transmission line conductors due to
their potential difference.
 To evaluate the capacitance between conductors in a surrounding
medium with permittivity , it is necessary to determine the
voltage between the conductors, and the electric field strength of
the surrounding.
 Capacitance of a Single-Solid Conductor
 Consider a solid, cylindrical, long conductor with radius r, in a
free space with permittivity 0 , and with a charge of q+ coulombs
per meter, uniformly distributed on the surface. There is a
constant electric field strength on the surface of cylinder.
The resistivity of the conductor is assumed to be zero (perfect
conductor), which results in zero internal electric field due to
the charge on the conductor.
 Cont…
 The charge q+ produces an electric field radial to the conductor
with equi-potential surfaces concentric to the conductor.
 According to Gauss’s law, the total electric flux leaving a closed
surface is equal to the total charge inside the volume enclosed by
the surface. Therefore, at an outside point P separated x meters
from the center of the conductor, the electric field flux density
and the electric field intensity are

q
DP  C  ,
2 x
DP q
EP   V / m 
 2 x 0
109
 = 0  -permittivity of free space assumed
36
for the conductor (F/m)
 Cont…
 The potential difference or voltage difference between two outside
points P1 and P2 with corresponding distances x1 and x2 is given as,
x2
q  x 
V1 2   EP x  ln  2  V 
x1
2 0  x1 
 Then, the capacitance between points P1 and P2 is evaluated as
q 2 0
C1 2    F / m
V1 2  x2 
ln  
 1
x
• If point P1 is located x1=r1and point P2 is located at ground surface
below the conductor (x2=h), then the voltage of the conductor and the
capacitance between the conductor and ground are
q h
V1 2  ln   V 
2 0  r1 
q 2 0
C1 2    F / m
V1 2 h
ln  
 r1 
 Capacitance of a Single-Phase Line with Two Wires
 Consider a two-wire single-phase line with conductors A and B
with the same radius r, separated by a distance D > rA and rB. The
conductors are energized by a voltage source such that conductor
A has a charge q+ and conductor B a charge q- as shown in Fig.
 The charge on each conductor generates independent electric
fields. Charge q+ on conductor A generates a voltage VAB–A
between both conductors. Similarly, charge q on conductor B
generates a voltage VAB–B between conductors.
 Cont…
D
q  D
‘
VAB  A  
rA
E A x
2 0
ln  
 A 
r
 q  D
rb

VAB  B  
D
EB x
2 0
ln  
 rB 
 D2 
q
VT  VAB  VAB  A  VAB  B  ln  
2 0  rA rB 
If the cond, has the same radius
q  D
VAB  ln   V 
 0  r 
 0
C AB  F / m
 D
ln  
 r 
 Cont…
 The voltage between each conductor and ground (G) (Fig.) is one-half
of the voltage between the two conductors.
VAB q D
VAG  VBG   ln   V 
2 2 0  r 
2 0
C AG   F / m
D
ln  
r
 Capacitance of a Three-Phase Line
 Consider a three-phase line with the same voltage magnitude between
phases, and assuming a balanced system with abc (positive) sequence
such that qA+qB+qC=0.
 The conductors have radii rA, rB, and rC, and the space between
conductors are DAB, DBC, and DAC (where DAB, DBC, and DAC > rA, rB,
and rC).
• The expression for voltages between two conductors in a single-phase
system can be extended to obtain the voltages between conductors in a
three-phase system

1   DAB   rB   DBC  
VAB   q A ln    qB ln    qC ln  
2 0   rA   DAB   DAC  
1   DAC   DBC   rC  
VAC   q A ln    qB ln    qC ln  
2 0   rA   DAB   DAC  
 Cont…
 If the three-phase system has triangular arrangement with
equidistant conductors such that DAB=DBC=DAC=D, with the same
radii for the conductors such that rA=rB=rC=r (where D > r), the
expressions for VAB and VAC are

1  D  r  
VAB   q A ln    qB ln    qC ln 1 
2 0   r  D 
1  D  r 
  q A ln    qB ln    V  .......eq ( y
2 0   r   D 
1  D  r 
VAC   q A ln    qB ln 1  qC ln    )
2 0   r   D 
1  D  r 
  q A ln    qC ln    V  .......eq (x
2 0   r   D 
 Cont…
 Balanced line-to-line voltages with sequence abc, expressed in
terms of the line-to-neutral voltage are
VAB  3VAN 300 ,VAC  VCA  3VAN  300

 Therefore, VAN can be expressed in terms of VAB and VAC as

VAB  VAC
VAN 
3
and this by the above two eqn;

1 D  r  D  r 
VAN  q ln    q ln    q ln    q ln  
6 0 
A B A C
  r  D  r   D 
1  D  r 
 2 q ln    ( q  q ) ln    V 
6 0 
A B C
  r   D 
Under balanced conditions q A +q B +q C =0, or -q A =(q B +q C )
then, the final expression for the lineto-neutral voltage
1 D
VAN  q A ln   (V )
2 0  r 
2 0
C AN  ( F / m)
D
ln  
 r 
 Cont…
for stranded transposed conductor
1  GMD 
VAN  q A ln   (V )
. 2 0  re 
2 0
C AN  ( F / m)
 GMD 
ln  
 re 
1
XC 
2 fC AN
GMD  3
 DAB DAC DBC 
where; re =(d n-1r)1/n -equivalent radius up to three
conductors per bundle (m)
re =1.09 (d 3 r)1/4 =equivalent radius for four conductors per bundle (m)
d=distance between bundle conductors (m)
n=number of conductors per bundle