Power System Analysis

Assignment # 02
Submitted To:
Dr. Sohaib Tahir
Submitted By:
M. Waleed Abdullah
Registration #
FA16-BEE-051
Date:
21-05-2020

COMSAT UNIVERISTY
ISLAMABAD, SAHIWAL CAMPUS
Q: Investigate the components, conductors and types of power transmission
line used in Pakistan. Also discuss the different types of electrical transmission
poles used for transmitting power across Pakistan. Please discuss the HVDC
transmission lines and their protection by considering an example of a HVDC
transmission lines.

Electricity transmission is the bulk motion of electrical power from a producing site, such
as a electricity plant, to an electrical substation. The interconnected lines which facilitate
the motion are known as transmission network. This is different from the local wiring
between high-voltage substations and customers, which is normally referred as electric
power strength distribution. The mixed transmission and distribution network is phase of
electrical energy delivery, acknowledge as the “power grid” in Pakistan, or simply “the
grid”. There are 39 grid stations in overall with 27 grid stations of 220 KV and 12 grid
stations of 500 KV, whereas the length of high-voltage and medium voltage transmission
lines is 12, 436 km with 7,359 km of 220 KV and 5077 km of 500 KV. In addition to that
Karachi area has a network of 59 grid stations and 1117 km of transmission lines of 220,
132 and 66 KV. The transmission of electricity from medium grid to lower grid and then
to consumption centers is controlled by respective distribution companies in their
respective regions.
The main components of high-voltage electric transmission lines and associated facilities
include:

Transmission Towers:
Transmission towers are the most visible component of the power transmission system.
Their function is to keep the high-voltage conductors (power lines) separated from their
surroundings and from each other.

Conductors:
Conductors are the power lines that carry the electricity to and through the grid to
consumers. Generally, several conductors are strung on a tower for each electrical circuit.
Secondary functions of transmission line conductors are to:
a) Maintain electrical safety and minimize adverse effects on the environment
b) Provide a whole-of-life cost-effective service.

Transmission Line Insulators

Transmission line insulation has two primary functions:
a) To insulate energized components from earthed structures at rated operating voltages and
specified switching and lightning impulses
b) To support the conductor system up to ultimate mechanical load limits and transfer the
mechanical loads to structure.

Transmission Line Earthing

The primary functional requirement of a transmission line earthing system is to:
a) Provide an electrical path for lightning and fault currents to earth, to ensure safety of people,
assets and the environment;
b) Ensure that faults are cleared within the NER time limits, transmission line components are
not damaged, and the network performance (due to lightning) is within agreed NER limits;
c) Provide an earth (i.e. zero) potential reference to ground under normal circuit conditions for
the dissipation of leakage currents.

Transmission High Voltage Cables

The primary functions of transmission high voltage cables are to transfer electrical power
between designated locations, within prescribed performance, operating and environmental
conditions and to insulate energised components from earthed structures at rated operating
voltages and specified switching and lightning impulses.
Secondary functions of transmission high voltage cables are to:
a) Maintain electrical safety and minimise adverse effects on the environment
b) Provide electrical insulation
c) Provide a whole-of-life cost-effective service.

Substations:
The very high voltages used for electric transmission are converted to lower voltages for
consumer use at substations. Substations vary in size and configuration but may cover
several acres; they are cleared of vegetation and typically surfaced with gravel.

ROWs :
A ROW is a largely passive but critical component of a transmission line. It provides a
safety margin between the high-voltage lines and surrounding structures and vegetation
B) Conductors used in Power Transmission Lines:
Copper
Copper is an ideal material for overhead lines owing to its high electrical conductivity
and greater tensile strength. It is always used in the hard drawn form as stranded
conductor. This metal is quite homogeneous, durable and has high scrap value. Copper
is an ideal material for transmission and distribution of electric power. However, due to
its higher cost and non-availability, it is rarely used for these purposes.
Aluminum
Aluminum conductors have an edge over copper conductors considering combined factors of
cost, conductivity, tensile strength, weight etc. Aluminum conductors have completely replaced
copper conductors in overhead power lines because of their lower cost and lower weight.
Though an aluminum conductor has larger diameter than that of a copper conductor of same
resistance, this is actually an advantage when 'Corona' is taken into consideration. Corona
reduces considerably with increase in the conductor diameter.
1. AAC: All Aluminum Conductor
2. AAAC: All Aluminum Alloy Conductor
3. ACSR: Aluminum Conductor, Steel Reinforced
4. ACAR: Aluminum Conductor, Alloy Reinforced

C) Types of Poles used in Power Transmission lines:

The line supports used for transmission and distribution of electric power are of various types
including
a) wooden poles
b) steel poles
c) RCC poles
d) lattice steel towers
The choice of supporting structure for a particular case depends upon the line-span, X-sectional
area, line voltage, cost and local conditions.
Wooden poles:
These are made of seasoned wood (sale or chirr) and are suitable for lines of the moderate X-
sectional area and of relatively shorter spans, say up to 50 meters. Such supports are cheap,
easily available, provide insulating properties and, therefore, are widely used for distribution
purposes in rural areas as an economic proposition. The wooden poles generally tend to rot
below the ground level, causing foundation failure. In order to prevent this, the portion of the
pole below the ground level is impregnated with preservative compounds like creosote oil.
Double pole structures of the ‘A’ or ‘H’ type are often used to obtain a higher transverse strength
that could be economically provided by means of single poles.

The main objections to wooden supports are:

(I) the tendency to rot below the ground level
(ii) comparatively smaller life (20-25 years)
(iii) cannot be used for voltages higher than 20 kV
(iv) less mechanical strength and
(v) require periodical inspection.
Steel poles:
The steel poles are often used as a substitute for wooden poles. They possess greater
mechanical strength, longer life and permit longer spans to be used. Such poles are generally
used for distribution purposes in the cities. This type of support needs to be galvanized or
painted in order to prolong its life. The steel poles are of three types
(i) rail poles
(ii) tubular poles
(iii) rolled steel joints.

RCC poles:
The reinforced concrete poles have become very popular as line supports in recent years. They
have greater mechanical strength, longer life and permit longer spans than steel poles.
Moreover, they give a good outlook, require little maintenance and have good insulating
properties. The figure shows RCC poles for the single and double circuit. The holes in the poles
facilitate the climbing of poles and at the same time reduce the weight of line supports. The
main difficulty with the use of these types of electric poles is the high cost of transport owing to
their heavyweight. Therefore, such poles are often manufactured at the site in order to avoid the
heavy cost of transportation.
Steel towers:
In practice, wooden, steel and reinforced concrete poles are used for distribution purposes at
low voltages, say up to 11 kV. However, for long-distance transmission at higher voltage, steel
towers are invariably employed. Steel towers have greater mechanical strength, longer life, can
withstand most severe climatic conditions and permit the use of longer spans. The risk of
interrupted service due to broken or punctured insulation is considerably reduced owing to
longer spans. Tower footings are usually grounded by driving rods into the earth. This minimizes
the lightning troubles as each tower acts as a lightning conductor. The figure below shows a
single circuit tower. However, at a moderate additional cost, the double-circuit tower can be
provided. The double circuit has the advantage that it ensures continuity of supply. In case there
is a breakdown of one circuit, the continuity of supply can be maintained by the other circuit
D) Matiari to Lahore HVDC Transmission Lines:
HVDC technology is used to transmit electricity over long distance by overhead lines.
Components of HVDC transmission system
 converts
 smoothing reactor
 harmonic filters
 reactive power supplies
 electrodes
 DC lines
 AC circuit breakers
The Matiari–Lahore transmission line is a privately developed $2.1 billion transmission
line under construction as part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).The line will
stretch 878 kilometers from Matiari, Sindh, to Nankana Sahib District near Lahore, Pakistan, of
which 550.65 kilometers will be in Punjab province, and 314.9 kilometers in Sindh Province.
It will be a 660 kilovolt High Voltage Direct Current line and will help transmit 4,000 MW of
generated electricity from new coal power plants at Port Qasim, Hub, and Thar, to northern
Pakistan. Construction is expected to last 36–42 months.
It is being developed by State Grid Corporation of China,[1] and will be built on a "Build-Own-
Operate-Transfer" basis with the Chinese company handing the infrastructure over to the
Government of Pakistan in 25 years. The Matiari to Lahore transmission line is to be built on an
"urgent basis" by the China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Company.