International Forum on Energy, Environment Science and Materials (IFEESM 2015)

Study and Analysis of Dynamic Management Influence Factor in Current

Carrying Capacity of Overhead Transmission Lines
Yuanjing Deng1, a *, Yu Zhou2,b , Kaiquan Xia1,c ,Jun Kang2,d and Xichun Ren1,e
1

China Electrical Power Research Institute

100055,Beijing, China

Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Qinghai Electrical Power Company
810008,Xining, Qinghai, China
a

[email protected], [email protected],
[email protected] ,[email protected] ,[email protected]

Keywords: smart transmission lines; on-line monitoring; current-carrying capacity; influence factor;

sensitivity;
Abstract. Dynamic management in current-carrying capacity of overhead transmission line is a
significant application in smart grid. Dynamic management technology in current-carrying capacity
is to establish measurement information relationship model of conductor temperature, ambient
temperature, wind speed, wind direction, sunshine intensity etc parameters on basis of status
monitoring of the line. The sensitivity of several factors such as ambient temperature, wind speed,
sunshine intensity and parameters of the conductor on current-carrying capacity calculation of the
overhead conductor is analyzed through calculation and the key factors affecting maximum
current-carrying capacity is found out. The comparison between Specification in our country and
calculation model of IEEE and boundary conditions has been studied.
Introduction
Take the ultra-high voltage grid as the backbone network and strong grid with coordination
development of the grid at various voltage levels as basis, the smart grid is under construction which
highly integrates the modern and advanced sensing measurement technology, communication
technology, information technology, computer technology and control technology with the physical
grid. The smart transmission lines as an important part of the smart grid is proposed and studied.
Dynamic management of current carrying capacity in overhead transmission line is one of the most
significant applications in smart transmission line. Dynamic management technology of
current-carrying capacity establishes measurement relationship model conductor temperature,
ambient temperature, wind speed, wind direction, sunshine intensity etc parameters on basis of
real-time monitoring of overhead transmission lines, which provides real-time accurate information
about operation status and environment data of the equipment to the operation system.
Further increasing of power load-flow in the developed area will lead to the demand of capacity.
Even though finance investment is enough, construction of new overhead transmission lines is not the
most effective way to improve power transmission capability. Improving power transmission
capability of the current line is a basic way which will improve operation efficiency and also brings
benefit to the grid.
Dynamic capacity increasing technology can support the load-flow increase in short time. Provide
support to short time over load operation of the line from technical level at peak or N-1 condition of
load, avoid or reduce times and duration of fault. The key factors affecting current-carrying capacity
in the model through analysis and calculation are proposed in this paper.

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International Forum on Energy, Environment Science and Materials (IFEESM 2015)

Boundary Conditions For Designing Current-carrying Capacity

It is specified in GB50545-2010 Code for design of 110kV750kV overhead power transmission
line that following formula can be applied to calculate allowable current-carrying capacity of the
conductor.
(WR + WF - WS )

I=

Rt

'

(1)

In which: I allowable current-carrying capacity ( A) of the conductor;

WR Radiation heat dissipation power (W / m) of the conductor in unit length;
WF Convection heat dissipation power (W / m) of the conductor in unit length;
W Sunshine heat absorption power (W / m ) of the conductor in unit length;
'
Rt AC resistance (W / m) of the conductor at allowable temperature;
S

Calculation formula of radiation heat dissipation power W R :

WR = p D e S (q d + 273) - (q a + 273)
4

(2)
In which: D outer diameter of the conductor;
e Radiation heat dissipation coefficient of the conductor surface, it is 0.23~0.43 for bright
new wire; it is 0.9~0.95 for the old wire or wire coated with black anti-corrosion agent;
S Stefan-Boltzmann constant, 5.67 10-8 (W / m 2 ) ;
q d Surface temperature of the conductor;
q a Ambient temperature
Calculation formula of convection heat dissipation power W F :
WF = 0.57 p l f (q d - q a ) Re 0.485
(3)
In which: l f Heat transfer coefficient (W / m C ) of air layer on surface of the conductor;
Re Reynolds number.
Calculation formula of sunshine heat absorption coefficient Ws :
WS = a J D
(4)
In which: a heat absorption coefficient of conductor surface, it is 0.35~0.46 for bright new
wire; it is 0.9~0.95 for the old wire or the wire coated with black anti-corrosion agent.
J Sunshine strength coefficient (W / m ) of sunlight to the conductor.
When current-carrying capacity of the conductor is calculated, allowable temperature of the steel
core aluminum twist wire and the steel core gold twist wire is specified to 70 o C , and 80 o C can be
applied if necessary. Ambient temperature shall apply average maximum temperature in hottest
month, it means monthly average value of highest air temperature in every day in hottest month, take
average value of several months, solar radiation power density shall apply1000W / m 2 , and calculation
wind speed of the general line shall apply 0.5m /s. Because average height of the conductor in the
large span is above 30m, wind speed shall increase accordingly, and it takes 0.6m/s.
o

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International Forum on Energy, Environment Science and Materials (IFEESM 2015)

Table 1 Boundary conditions of current-carrying capacity in every country

Boundary condition
Ambient
temperature( o C )
Wind speed(m/s)
Sunshine
strength (W / m 2 )
Heat absorption
coefficient
Radiation
coefficient
Allowable
temperature of
conductor( o C )

China

Japan

40

0.5

0.5

1000

1000

IEC

Winter

British
Summer
Broil area

20

35

0.61

0.45

0.45

0.2

900

850

850

1000

0.9

0.9

0.5

0.9

0.9

0.9

0.9

0.9

0.6

0.9

0.9

0.9

70

90

70

15~100

30~120

50~120

Influence Analysis of Parameters on Dynamic Management of Current-carrying Capacity

Take conductor type LGJ-240/40 as sample, temperature of the conductor is maximum 70 o C , wind
speed is 0.5m/s, conductor type is LGJ-240/40, D=21.66mm, Rd=0.1209 (W / m) , and describe
calculation result of maximum current-carrying capacity under different operation environment.
Influence Analysis of Ambient Temperature on Current-carrying Capacity. When wind speed is
2
0.5m/s and sunshine strength is 1000 W / m , influence of ambient temperature about current-carrying
capacity of the conductor is shown in figure 1.

Current-carrying capacity (A)

Influence of ambient temperature on current-carrying

capacity of conductorLGJ240/40

Ambient temperature 30
Ambient temperature 35
Ambient temperature 40

Operation
temperature of
conductor

Fig. 1. Influence of ambient temperature on current-carrying capacity

Seen from figure 1: when wind speed is 0.5m/s, sunshine strength is 1000 W / m 2 , current-carrying
capacity under heat balance at ambient temperature lower than 40oC and conductor temperature of
70o C is improved to 546A from 400A; when operation temperature of the conductor is fixed and wind
speed is fixed, lower is ambient temperature, greater is current-carrying capacity. Current-carrying
capacity at ambient temperature of 30oC is improved 20~24% compared that at 40o C .
Influence of Sunshine Strength on Current-carrying Capacity. When the wind speed is 0.5m/s
and ambient temperature is 40C , influence of ambient temperature about current-carrying capacity
of the conductor is shown in figure 2.

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International Forum on Energy, Environment Science and Materials (IFEESM 2015)

Current-carrying capacity (A)

Influence of sunshine strength on current-carrying capacity

of conductor

Sunshine strength

Fig. 2. Influence of sunshine strength on current-carrying capacity

Seen from figure 2: when ambient temperature of the conductor and wind speed are fixed, lower is
sunshine strength, greater is current-carrying capacity. When sunshine strength drops down to 200
W / m 2 from 1000 W / m 2 allowable maximum current-carrying capacity of the conductor is
improved 24.4%.
Influence of Wind Speed on Current-carrying Capacity of Conductor. When sunshine strength is
2
1000 W / m and ambient temperature is 40C , influence of ambient temperature about current-carrying
capacity of the conductor is shown in figure 3.

Current-carrying capacity (A)

Influence of wind speed on current-carrying capacity of

conductor

Wind speed 0.5m/s

Wind speed 0.6m/s
Wind speed 0.7m/s
Wind speed 0.8m/s
Wind speed 0.9m/s
Wind speed 1.0m/s
Wind speed 1.5m/s

Ambient
temperature

Fig. 3. Influence of wind speed on current-carrying capacity of conductor

Seen from figure 3: current-carrying capacity of the conductor under heat balance is improved to
534A when wind speed is 1.0m/s from 400A when that is 0.5m/s; when operation temperature of the
conductor, ambient temperature and sunshine strength are fixed, greater is wind speed, greater is
current-carrying capacity. If wind speed is improved one time, allowable current-carrying capacity of
the conductor will improve 35%.
Influence of heat dissipation and heat absorption coefficient on current-carrying capacity of
conductor.

Current-carrying capacity (A)

Influence of heat dissipation and heat absorption

coefficients on current-carrying capacity of conductor

Heat
absorption/
heat dissipation
coefficien

Fig. 4. Influence of heat dissipation and heat absorption coefficient on current-carrying capacity of conductor

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International Forum on Energy, Environment Science and Materials (IFEESM 2015)

According to regulation of Specification, radiation heat dissipation coefficient on surface of the

conductor is 0.23~0.43 for the new wire, it is 0.9~0.95 for the old wire or the wire coated with black
anti-corrosion agent, heat absorption coefficient on surface of the conductor is 0.35~0.46 for the
bright new wire, it is 0.9~0.95 for the old wire; seen from figure 4, allowable maximum
current-carrying capacity between the old wire and the new wire is about 20A at certain environment
parameters. Influence of the radiation heat dissipation coefficient and the heat absorption coefficient
on calculation result of the current-carrying capacity is not great.
Comparison between IEEE calculation method and our specification
The method provided in IEEE is mainly used to calculate temperature of the conductor when
current of the conductor is already known or calculate allowable maximum current at given
maximum temperature of the conductor. Its main principle is thermal balance and calculation formula
of its stable current-carrying capacity is 1.
In which, calculation formula of radiation heat dissipation power WR is same but calculation
formula of convection heat dissipation WF in IEEE is slightly different to the specification, besides
wind speed, IEEE specification also considers influence of wind direction, temperature and altitude
on air density and air viscosity.
0.52

1000DrVw

WF 1 = 1.01 + 0.0372
k K
(q - q a )

m f f angle d

0.6

1000DrVw

(q - q a )
WF 2 = 0.0119
k K

m f f angle d

(5)

(6)

In which, r is air density, Vw is wind speed, m f is heat conduction rate of air, k f is heat
conduction rate of air, K angle is wind direction factor.
Calculation formula of the sunshine heat absorption W S in IEEE is slightly different to the
specification. IEEE also considers influence of environment cleanness degree, days and sun
inclination angle of sun at different hour every day, intrusion effective angle, height angle and
altitude.
WS = a K S J D sin g
(7)
In which, a is surface heat absorption coefficient of the conductor, J is light heating heat of unit
area, D is diameter of the conductor, K S is correction factor of heat height, g is effective intrusion
angle of sun light.
The inclination angle of sun light and the hour angle is considered in IEEE calculation d is the
inclination angle of sun light, d
w = (t - 12) 15o

284 + N

= 23.4583 sin
360 ,
365

N means no day in one year. w is hour angle,

Current-carrying capacity

Calculation comparison of current-carrying capacity in IEEE

and our national specification

IEEE
current-carrying
capacity
Current-carryi
ng capacity of
specification

Fig. 5. Comparison of current-carrying capacity of conductor in IEEE and specification in our country

Current-carrying capacity in IEEE and calculation in Specification are deduced based on heat
balance principle, they are consistent for calculation of the radiation heat dissipation; for convection
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International Forum on Energy, Environment Science and Materials (IFEESM 2015)

heat dissipation, calculation of IEEE considers influence of wind direction and altitude, calculation
result is slightly less than calculation result of the specification; for sunshine heat absorption, valve
2
specified in Specification is 1000 W / m , and influence of latitude of the conductor, time, altitude and
route are considered in IEEE, calculation results are changed following above factors as can be seen
in fig.5.
Take one of overhead transmission lines in Qinghai as sample, and take monitoring data of the line
on May 3. It is shown in fig 6, its ambient temperature is 1-20, wind speed is 0.5-4.6m/s and
2
sunshine strength is 0-800 W / m .
Monitoring data of sunshine strength of some line in Qinghai on
May 3rd

Monitoring data of air temperature and wind speed of some line in

Qinghai on May 3rd

Wind
speed
Temperature

Sunshine
strength

Fig. 6. Air temperature, wind speed and Sunshine strength monitoring data of some line in Qinghai on May 3rd

Conclusion
The sensitivity of boundary conditions during dynamic management of current-carrying capacity
of the overhead conductor is analyzed through calculation, conclusions are shown as following:
Ambient temperature, wind speed, sunshine strength and own parameters of the conductor have
influence on allowable maximum current-carrying capacity of the conductor, in which influence of
wind speed on current-carrying capacity is great;
Occurrence possibility in sunshine strength of 1000 W / m 2 and wind speed of 0.5m/s specified in the
specification is very low. There is certain tolerance when value taken according to regulation is used
to calculate current-carrying capacity.
It is convenient to apply Specification for control of the maximum allowable current-carrying
capacity during long term operation. For dynamic management of current-carrying capacity in some
time section, find out hidden capacity, it shall apply IEEE calculation.
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