ECONOMIC

OPTIMISATION OF 400
kV TRANSMISSION LINE

BY:
DIBYADEEP CHAKRABORTY,
GAUTAM CHATTOPADHYAY,
KOUSTAV BHOWMICK
AIM OF THE
PROJECT
OPTIMISATION OF
ELECTRICAL
PARAMETERS

CALCULATION FOR LOSS

OPTIMISATION OF
COMPONENTS

COMPARISON OF COST
POINTS TO
DISCUCSSED

INTRODUCTION

OUTLINEOF A 400 kV
TRANSMISSION LINE

PARAMETER
CALCULATION

LOSS CALCULATION

COST OPTIMISATION
INTRODUCTION
 OUTLINE OF A 400 kV
TRANSMISSION LINE
 Transmission line is an integrated system consisting of
conductor subsystem, ground wire subsystem and one
subsystem for each category of support structure.
 Mechanical supports of transmission line represent a
significant portion of the cost of the line and they play
an important role in the reliable power transmission.
 They are designed and constructed in wide variety of
shapes, types, sizes, configurations and materials. The
supporting structure types used in transmission lines
generally fall into one of the three categories: lattice,
pole and guyed.
 The supports of EHV transmission lines are normally
steel lattice towers. The cost of towers constitutes
about quarter to half of the cost of transmission line
and hence optimum tower design will bring in
substantial savings.
 The selection of an optimum outline together with
right type of bracing system contributes to a large
extent in developing an economical design of
transmission line tower.
Parameter calculation
Voltage Calculation:

Veco= 5.5 × √ [(Lt/1.6) +

(p×1000)/(cosØ×Nc×150)]

Where,
Veco = Economic Voltage.
Lt = Length of the Transmission
Line.
P =Power to be Transmitted.
cos Ø = Power Factor.
Nc = No. of Circuits.
Current Calculation
Current Calculation:

(IL)= ((P×1000)/(Veco×0.96))

Where,
IL = Line Current,
P = Power delivered,
Veco = Economic voltage

Veco Lt cosØ P Nc

1(Single
400KV 400KM 0.85 650MW
Ckt.)
SPECIFICATION TABLE FOR ACSR CONDUCTORS

ACSR
ACSR
SPECIFICATIONS SNOWBIRD(TRI
MOOSE(QUAD)
PLE)
No. of 3(Triple
4(Quad Bundle)
conductors/phase Conductor)

Al /3.53mm Al /3.99mm
(Conductors,54nos) (Conductors,42nos)
Stranding Diameter
Steel/3.53 Steel /2.21mm
(Reinforcement,7nos) (Conductors,7nos)

Overall Diameter 31.77mm 30.56mm

Approximate
2004kg/km 1657kg/km
Weight

Calculated DC
0.05552 Ω/km 0.05516 Ω/km
resistance at 20C

Minimum
UTS(Ultimate 161.2 kN 118.0 kN
Tensile Strength)
Modulus of
7034 kg/mm2 6460 kg/mm2
Elasticity

Coefficient of
19.30× 10-6 /C 21.42× 10-6 /C
Linear Expansion
 Resistance Calculation
DC RESISTANCE CONVERSION FROM 20°C TO
t°C:

(RDC)t°C = R20°C×(1+α(t-20))

CONVERSION FOR AC RESISTANCE FROM DC

RESISTANCE:

(Rac)t°C= (Rdc)t°C[1+ 0.00519(mr)n×K1+K2]

Where,
(RDC)20°C = D.C. resistance of conductor at 20°C
(RDC)t°C = D.C. resistance of conductor at temperature t
°C
α = Coefficient of Solar absorption of conductor= 0.004
for ACSR
t = temperature in degree Celsius
mr = 0.3544938/√(Rdc)t°C
n = 4 + 0.0616 + 0.0896(mr) + 0.0513(mr)2
p = 0.7 + (0.11 × (mr)) + (0.04× (mr)2) + (0.0094 ×
(mr)3)
 Resistance Calculation
Substituting the values in
formulae above:
(Rac)35°(Q/M) = 0.0617 Ω/ km
(Rac)35°(T/SB) = 0.0621 Ω/ km

PARAMETER ACSR QUAD ACSR TRIPLE

S MOOSE SNOWBIRD

DC
RESISTANCE 0.0589Ω/ km 0.05847Ω/ km
AT 35°C
AC
RESISTANCE 0.0617Ω/ km 0.621Ω/ km
AT 35°C
LOSS CALCULATION
There are various kinds of
losses in the transmission line,
amongst which LINE I2R
LOSS AND CORONA LOSS
constitutes a major portion.
Hence, for our simplicity we
have considered them in our
loss calculation.
 LINE I2R LOSS
As we already know the values of
resistance and current hence the
I2R loss will be as follow:

ACSR QUAD ACSR TRIPLE

PARAMETERS
MOOSE SNOWBIRD

CURRENT 977.5 A 977.5 A

AC RESISTANCE
0.0617 0.0621
(at 35°c)(in Ω/km)

AC RESISTANCE 0.0617×401 0.0621×400.1

(at 35°c)(in Ω) =24.74 =24.85

I2R LOSS 977.52 × 24.74 977.52 × 24.85

(in MW) =23.64 =23.74
 CORONA LOSS
We have our transmission line length of
400 km. With reference to Wikipedia we
consider corona loss for distance above
160 km. Hence, we take corona loss
under consideration for our project.
Now, according to formula, we know
that,

Pufwc= (K/δ)×(f+25)×√(R/d)×(V0 -Edcv)2 ×10-5

And, Edcv = DGA×δ×md×Rlog(d/R)

 CORONA LOSS
(ACSR QUAD MOOSE)
Sample
Parameter Value

Pufwc Power loss under fair weather condition(in MW/phase) 0.2

Puswc Power loss under stormy weather condition(in MW/phase)

0.24

K Fixed constant 243

Normalized Air Density δ = 0.386×p/(273+t)
Factor p = 750 torr
δ 0.9399
(35 °C, 750 torr pressure) t = 35°C

f Frequency 50 Hz
R Radius of Conductor 1.584cm

d Conductor Spacing 900 cm

V0 Line Voltage to Neutral 230.9 kV

(1/1.73 x Voltage Between Conductors) (400
kV/1.73

Disruptive Critical
Voltage (under fair Edcv = 73.90
Edcv
weather condition) DGA×δ×md×Rlog(d/R) kV
Disruptive Critical
Voltage (under the
59.12
Edcv |uswc stormy weather Edcv |uswc = 0.8× Edcv
kV
condititon)

DGA Disruptive Gradient in Air(in kV/cm) 21.2

0.85
Irregularity factor for disruptive critical voltage
md
 CORONA LOSS
(ACSR TRIPLE SNOWBIRD)
Sample
Parameter
Value

Pufwc Power loss under fair weather condition(in MW/phase) 0.203

Puswc 0.241
Power loss under stormy weather condition(in MW/phase)

K Fixed constant 243

δ = 0.386×p/(273+t)
Normalized Air Density Factor p = 750 torr
δ (35 °C, 750 torr pressure) 0.9399
t = 35°C

f Frequency 50 Hz

R Radius of Conductor 1.528cm

d Conductor Spacing 900 cm

230.9 kV
Line Voltage to Neutral
V0 (400
(1/1.73 x Voltage Between Conductors)
kV/1.73)

Disruptive Critical Voltage (under fair Edcv =

Edcv weather condition) 71.23 kV
DGA×δ×md×Rlog(d/R)

Disruptive Critical Voltage (under the

Edcv |uswc stormy weather condition) Edcv |uswc = 0.8× Edcv 56.98 kV

DGA Disruptive Gradient in Air(in kV/cm) 21.2

Irregularity factor for disruptive critical voltage

md 0.85
 SAG AND TENSION CALCULATION
By substituting the values in the formulae mentioned in the
table we get the respective sag and
tension of the conductor for ACSR QUAD MOOSE
CONDUCTOR and ACSR TRIPLE SNOWBIRD
CONDUCTOR as shown below:

SAG CALCULATION

ACSR MOOSE ACSR SNOWBIRD

PARAMETERS
(QUAD) (TRIPLE)
S Span length 400 m 400 m

W Weight of the conductor 2.004 kg/m 1.657 kg/m

UTS Ultimate tensile strength 161.2 kN 118.0 Kn

FS Factor of Safety 1.1 1.1

H Tensile strength UTS / FS 146.5 kN 107.3 Kn

D Sag of the conductor S2×w×10-3 / 8H 2.688 m 3.028 m

TENSION CALCULATION

W Weight of the conductor 2.004 kg/m 1.657 kg/m

L Length of the conductor 401 m 400.1 m

S Span length 400 m 400 m

D Sag of the conductor 2.688 m 3.028 m

Θ Tension angle tan-1(2D/S) 0.77° 0.8674°

Tension of the
T w×g×l/2sinθ 293 kN 274.4 kN
conductor
LINE
MATERIAL
AND
TOWER COST
ESTIMATION
COST COMAPRISON FOR
LINE CONDUCTOR
MATERIAL:

TOTAL
CONDUCTOR PER UNIT TOTAL COST
QUANTITY
USED COSTING (in Rs. Lakhs)
REQUIRED

401,000
ACSR Moose Rs.39 per
metre. 469.2
(QUAD) metre.
×3

ACSR 400,100
Rs. 65 per
Snowbird metre 780.2
metre.
(TRIPLE) ×3
COST COMPARISON FOR STEEL
TOWERS (BASED ON
CONDUCTOR):
COST FOR GALVANISED
ANGLE STEEL FOR
ELECTRIC TOWER
= US$ 600 per 25 tons.

Withstand Capacity of Lattice

Tower
= 1000 kN per 108 tons.
= 9.259 kN per ton.

Now, Load on tower mainly

comprises of:
1) Load due to conductor.
2) Load due to wind
 Load on tower
1) LOAD DUE TO CONDUCTOR:
From previous calculation of
conductor tension,
A) For Quad moose= 293 kN.
B) For triple Snowbird= 274.4 kN.

Safety factor = 1.1. So,

Value (A) = 293.0×1.1 = 322.3 K.N.

Value (B) = 274.4×1.1 = 301.8 K.N.
 Load on tower
2) LOAD DUE TO WIND:

Any area can be subdivided into three

Wind zones. i.e.

Zone 1= Coastal area, Desert, Large

Span of water.

Zone 2= Normal Cross Country lines

with moderate obstacles.

Zone 3= Urban area or forest.

FOR OUR CALCULATIONS WE

TAKE WIND ZONE AS 3.
 LOAD DUE TO WIND
a) Wind load on conductors:

Wind load on conductors can be given by the following formula……..

Fwc= Pd×L×d×GC×Cdc

Where, Pd=Design wind pressure in Newton/ m2.

L= Wind span
d = Diameter of conductor in meter.
Gc= Gust response factor.
Cdc = Drag coefficient =1 for conductor. And 1.2 for Ground wire.

Now we take Basic wind speed as 44 m per second (Vb).

Wind zone = 3
Reference wind speed = VR= Vb / K0 = 31.43 m per second.
[where, K0= constant=
1.4]

Therefore, Designed wind speed (Vd) = VR × K1×K2

=31.43 × 1 × 1.11 m per second
= 34.88 m per second.
[where, K1 = constant= 1.11 K2 =
constant= 1]

Designed wind pressure (Pd) = 0.6 × Vd2 N/ m2.

= 0.6 × 34.892
= 730.4 N/ meter2.
LOAD DUE TO WIND

WIND LOAD ON CONDUCTORS

PARAMETERS ACSR MOOSE ACSR SNOWBIRD

(730 × 400 ×
0.03177 (730 × 400 ×
FWC × 1.70 × 1) N 0.03056× 1.70 × 1) N
= 15700 N = 15180 N
= 15.7 kN. = 15.18kN.

Total Wind load

per Tower due 15.7 × 3 kN 15.18 × 3 kN
to conductors = 47.1 kN. = 45.54 Kn

Safety factor 1.1 1.1.

total wind load 47.1 × 1.1 45.54 × 1.1

= 51.81 KN. = 50.09 kN.
LOAD DUE TO WIND
b) Wind load on Insulators:
FWi = 1.2 × Pd × Ai × Gi Newton
Where, Pd= Designed wind pressure
Ai= 0.5 × diameter of insulator × length of string
Gi = Gust response factor

PARAMETERS ACSR ACSR

MOOSE SNOWBIRD
Pd Designed wind 730.4 N/m2 730.4 N/m2
pressure
Ai 0.5 × diameter of 0.518 m2 0.480 m2
insulator × length
of string

diameter of insulator 0.255 m 0.255 m

length of string 0.145 m 0.145 m
Gi Gust response 2.20 2.20
factor

Fwi Force due to wind 998.8 N 925.6 N

TOTAL LOAD
FT =(FWC+FWI+FC) 1020 kN 956.4 kN
INSULATOR DISC
 COSTING FOR TOWER STRUCTURE
We know,
Withstand Capacity of Steel Lattice Tower = 9.259 kN/Ton.
So, Weight Per tower for ACSR MOOSE conductor
= (1020 ÷ 9.259 × 1.1) = 121.2 Ton.
So, Weight Per tower for ACSR SNOWBIRD conductor
= (956.4 ÷ 9.259 × 1.1) = 114.7 Ton

Cost for steel Lattice parts = $600 for 25 tons.

So, COST PER TOWER (ACSR MOOSE)

= (600 ÷ 25 × 121.2) $ = 2909 $ …… (1)

So, COST PER TOWER (ACSR SNOWBIRD)

= (600 ÷ 25 × 114.7) $ = 2753 $ ........ (2)
Taking, 1 $ = 63 Rs,

Cost for eq. 1 = 2909 × 63 = 183300 INR

Cost for eq. 2 = 2753 × 63 = 173400 INR

Total no. of Towers = 101.

COST CALCULATION
 So, Total Cost of Towers in case of ACSR
MOOSE conductor = 18500000 INR.
 Total Cost of towers in Case of ACSR
SNOWBIRD conductor= 17510000 INR.
 Total Power loss for Moose

= (23.64+0.7) MW= 24.34 MW

 Total Power loss for Snowbird

= (23.74+0.723) MW= 24.46 MW

 Standard Cost per Mw Power loss

= $1000 per MW
 Power loss cost for moose = 1533000 INR
 Power loss for Snowbird = 1541000 INR
 Insulator cost for MOOSE

= 84084 × 101 INR = 84, 92,000 INR

 Insulator cost for Snowbird

= 78078 × 101INR= 78,86,000 INR

COST OPTIMISATION

AREA OF ACSR MOOSE ACSR

COSTING SNOWBIRD

Line power loss Rs 1.53 lakh Rs 1.54 lakh

Conductor cost Rs 469.2 lakh Rs 780.2 lakh

Insulator cost Rs 8.492 lakh 7.886 lakh

Support Tower Rs 185 lakh 175.1 lakh

cost
TOTAL COST 664.2 Lakh 964.7 lakh

So, according to the compared cost

list, using ACSR MOOSE conductor
will provide with more economic
design.
THANK
YOU ….