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Urban overhead transmission lines of compact design for 69,138 and 230 kV

Hoffmann, J. N. Wiedmer, R.W. Bubniak, M.J. Moreira, I.S.

COPEL - Companhia Paranaense de Energia
Brazil

SUMMARY

This article presents compact transmission lines for 69 kV, 138 kV and 230 kV, that have been
developed by Copel since 1975. Concrete poles with 22 m of average height are used, with distances
between phases of 1.2 m (69 kV), 1.7 m (138 kV) and 3.0 m (230 kV). These lines are intended for use
on urban or semi-urban areas. All studies are described, as well as details, measurements and results
obtained since this standard was first implemented.

KEYWORDS

Transmission Line, Line Compaction, Concrete Poles, Corona, Audible Noise, Radio Interference

1. INTRODUCTION

Copel is the electric utility in the state of Paraná, southern part of Brazil, having more than 7000 km of
transmission lines at voltages ranging from 69 kV to 500 kV. Overhead lines of compact design, called
Urban Transmission Lines (UTL), are used in many cities at 69 kV and 138 kV where space
and aesthetics are important factors, and are
considered a good alternative to underground
transmission. Due to line compaction and other
particular details, these lines look like distribution
lines to the population, being in operation for more
than 35 years. Also, a compact design at 230 kV has
been introduced more recently (Figures 1-4).
The first UTL in Copel was constructed in 1975 in
Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná, operating at
69 kV with 1.5 m between phases [1]. This standard
for 69 kV was improved since then, and 1.2 m
between phases is used nowadays [2] (Figure 1). In
1978 the first 138 kV UTL was designed and
constructed with 1.7 m between phases [3] (Figure 2),
and on 2000 a double circuit 69 kV was constructed
[4] (Figure 3). On 2003 a test site with a 230 kV UTL
was constructed with 3.0 m between phases, with a
twin conductors bundle. The first 230 kV UTL was
constructed on 2004 [5] (Figure 4).
Figure 1 - 69 kV

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 Figure 2 - 138 kV Figure 3 - 69 kV, double circuit Figure 4 - 230 kV

2. BASIC CHARACTERISTICS

UTLs have length in the range of 1 to 5 km. Figure 5 shows in red UTLs already implemented in
Curitiba, a city now with around 1,800,000 inhabitants.

Figure 5 – UTLs in Curitiba/Brazil

Concrete poles rather than steel towers are used. Poles are located on the sidewalks and therefore, in
order to improve aesthetics, pole height is limited to 25 m and base diameter is around 0.5 - 0.7 m.
Also, pole deflection on top is limited to 2.5% of total pole height. Although there is no need to cut
any trees, construction of UTLs requires approval of the City Hall.

Of particular interest is the use of two ground wires, one above and the other below phase conductors
(see Figures 1-4), intended for mechanical protection against accidental touching, and also

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contributing to the reduction of short-circuit currents and ground level electric fields. General
electrical and mechanical characteristics of the UTLs are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1 - Main Characteristics of Copel’s 69 kV, 138 kV and 230 kV urban compact lines
Voltage level, kV 69 138 230
Conductor 397.5 - 795 MCM 636 - 795 MCM 397 MCM
Conductors/phase 1 1 2
Ground wire 4/0 AWG, plus additional ground wire below conductors
Phase-ground short-circuit current 20 kA
Ground resistance Usually 20 Ω maximum; Up to 70 Ω in few cases
Conductor temperature 80/90ºC 80/90ºC 60ºC
Phase to phase distance 1.2 m 1.7 m 3.0 m
Radio interference Level Average all-weather level of 42 dB
Audible noise level 45, 55 or 60 dB(A), depending on the area of the city
Insulators Porcelain line-post Silicone rubber
Silicone rubber at sea coast Horizontal-V
Min. dry arcing distance 490 mm 1020 mm 1800 mm
Min. creepage distance 1300 mm 2500 mm 4600 mm
Min creepage distance (sea coast) 3500 mm
Isokeraunic level 60 to 100

Electrical design of the transmission line include limiting the average all weather radio interference
level to 42 dB at 1 MHz. Limits for audible noise are regulated by law, according to which maximum
allowable levels are 45, 55 or 60 dBA, depending on the area of the city.

For the 230 kV compact design, type tests with 195 kV (computed single-phase voltage that
corresponds to the electric field of Table 2 below) are suggested for RIV and visual corona on the
insulator and hardware assemblies. Chapter 4 shows that the electromagnetic fields comply with
ICNIRP limits, not only at 1 m height but also at any height above ground outside right-of-way.

3. CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS

The first 69 kV design used ACSR 397.5 MCM

Ibis conductor, and now up to the 795 MCM
Drake as used. For 138 kV, the radio interference
study [2] suggested that the minimum conductor
section should be the 636 MCM Grosbeak, and
now also 795 MCM Drake is used. For 230 kV it
was first intended that conductors should have the
same ampacity as the 795 MCM Drake. However,
due to line compaction, a bundle of conductors
should be used in order to improve corona and
radio interference performance. Laboratory tests
(Figure 6) suggested that a bundle of 3 ACSR 266
Partridge or 2 ACSR 397.5 Ibis could be used.
The twin buncle was chosen due to economic and Figure 6 - Visual Corona and RIV tests
mechanical reasons and also due to aesthetics.

The choice of conductors also considered the mechanical forces transmited to the concrete poles, since
poles with big diameter should be avoided due to aesthetics. As a result, cable tensions are lower than
usual, and EDS horizontal tensions from 500 daN to 800 daN have been used. For 230 kV each cable
of the bundle is strung with 500 daN, and then, pole diameter is around the same as for 138 kV.

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Suspension poles diameter lies in the range from 0.5 to 0.7 m, while dead end pole diameter is in the
range from 0.6 to 0.8 m.

Maximum computed electric field at the surface of conductors, and electric field for visual corona are
indicated in Table 1.

Table 2 - Electric Field at the Surface of Conductors

Maximum Electric Visual Corona
Tipo Condutor
Field (kV/cm) at (kV/cm)
69 kV 1 x Ibis 9.0 21.0
69 kV, double circuit 1 x Ibis 9.0 21.0
138 kV 1 x Grosbeak 13.8 19.7
230 kV 2 x Ibis 19.0 21.0

Conductor motions did not play any role in the design of Copel’s compact lines and, consequently, no
devices were used to control any conductor vibrations.

Porcelain linepost insulators are used for 69 kV and 138 kV, while for 230 kV a suspension
Horizontal-V type is used (horizontal porcelain or polymer, and a polymer insulator for suspension).
Also, the performance of porcelain line-post insulators has been acceptable except in sea coastal areas,
where composite insulators performed satisfactorily.

4. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

Limit values usually considered for electromagnectic fields (EMF) generated by transmission lines are
4.17 kV/m and 83 T [6] inside the right-of-way. Since these lines operate in urban areas, a spacial
study of the EMF distribution is necessary. Compuded values for 230 kV are shown in Figures 7 and
8. Also, Table 3 lists these values for all voltage levels, indicating the maximum 1 m height value, and
also the horizontal distance D (m) at which above limit is found at middle conductor heigth.

Figure 7 – Electric Field Profile (VPP = 242 kV) Figure 8 – Magnetic Field Profile (1150 A/phase)

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 Table 3 - Maximum Electromagnetic Fields

Electric Field Magnetic Field

Conductor (limit = 4.17 kV/m) (limit = 83 T)
UTL
1 m height D (m) 1 m height D (m)
69 kV 1 x Drake 0.28 kV/m 1.6 m 4.5 T 1.9 m
69 kV, double circuit 1 x Drake 0.45 kV/m 1.6 m 7.9 T 2.1 m
138 kV 1 x Drake 0.68 kV/m 2.7 m 5.5 T 2.1 m
230 kV 2 x Ibis 1.2 kV/m 5.1 m 6.0 T 2.9 m

5. PHASE-TO-PHASE SWITCHING SURGES

Assessment of switching surges from closing or recloring of transmission lines are described by [7],
[8] and [9], among others. A simple calculation for the 230 kV UTL is performed as follows:

Considering a phase-to-phase distance of 3.0 m in the middle of span, the resulting phase-to-phase gap
on the pole is reduced to around 2.3 m due to insulator hardware. According to [7], CFO  1400 kV
for a ring-ring gap of 2.3 m ( = 0.33), and CFO  1250 kV for a conductor-conductor gap of 3.0 m
( = 0.33). For a 10-4 risk of failure and a 10% stardard deviation for switching surges, considering
100 gaps in paralel (UTL with 10 km length), the following is obtained from [7]:

S2 = 1250 / 1.24  1008 kV, and:

U50% = 1008 / (1 + 2.05 x 0.10)  836 kV

This value corresponds to a phase-to-phase switching surge of 836 / (230 x 1.41)  2.5 pu, which is
tipically a maximum value for 230 kV. It is concluded that the 230 kV geometry is satisfactory for
short transmission lines (up to 10 km). A similar study can be performed to 69 kV and 138 kV, leading
to similar conclusions.

6. RADIO INTERFERENCE

Radio interference generated by transmission lines is well studied for long lines at extra-high voltages
[7], however little literature is found for short compact lines or lower voltages. Applying the same
methodology of calculation for EHV to short lines, some additional imprecisions are found, such like
standing waves, or reflected waves at line terminations. An additional complication is the fact that the
generation of radio interference is not punctual, and theoretically, all line length contributes to radio
noise at a given point, i.e., the line in considered of infinite length on EHV computations.

Considering all above, computations were done for 230 kV, keeping in mind that the values obtained
will give a rough approximation of the generated radio noise, and so, additional measurements are
recommended.

Usually it is considered the criteria that the signal-to-noise ratio on the limit of right-of-way should be
24 dB or more, over 50% of the all weather condition. According to brazilian standards, at 1 MHz the
signal to be protected is 66 dB, which result on the admissible transmission line noise of 42 dB (66
dB - 24 dB), over 50% of the year. By using the methodology presented in [7] and summarized by
Figure 9, it is concluded that the required condition is achieved at 6.0 m from conductors, at 230 kV.
For 138 kV, similar studies and measurements were done, and it was concluded by [2] that the
minimum conductor section to comply to such requirements should be the 636 MCM.

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 Figure 9 - Radio interference at 6.0 m from conductors

7. AUDIBLE NOISE

Audible noise level must comply to specific laws of the city where the line is constructed. The limits
for the city of Curitiba are indicated by [10], and to check the audible noise limits for the 230 kV line,
measurements were performed for different climatic conditions, and for about 6 months.

Measurements were done according to [11], with the microphone positioned at 1.5 m height, at a
distance of 15 m from line conductors, and oriented to the middle conductor. Climatic conditions were
registered by an anemometer, an instrument for measuring wind direction, a thermometer for air
temperature, and a sensor to measure air umidity.

The "Frequency Analysis" method recomended by [12] and [13] were used. The sound spectra was
then compared with Noise Curves (NC), allowing to identify the frequency bands that did not goes
beyond the limits for each NC. Noise Curves curves from Table 2 of [10] are shown on Figure 10, as
well as some measured sound spectra.

Maximum limits for night period according to [13] are 45, 55 e 60 dBA, depending on the area of a
city, which corresponds to curves NC40, NC50 and NC55. Figure 11 shows the results on a day with
unstable climatic conditions. Measurement number 23 was on a cloudy period, while measurement 24
was done under a very light rain, where an increase on the audible corona was observed.

Other measurements were done at 5 m and right below conductors (Figure 11), with similar results.

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Figure 10 - Measured frequency spectra, and Noise Figure 11 – Audible noise measurements below
Curves NC40, NC50 e NC55. conductors

8. LINE GROUNDING

Since UTLs are located in populated areas, special steps are considered in order to guarantee safety of
people against the effects of short-circuit currents injected into earth, and also to reduce the electric
and magnetic fields to acceptable values. Three copperweld grounding rods each of 6 m long and 6 m
apart are used. Step voltages are reduced to acceptable values by using grounding rods buried 1.5 m
below ground level and with rod interconnections placed inside insulated tubes (Figure 12). Touch
voltages are reduced by the application of an asphalt layer (about 10 cm thick) around the transmission
poles (see Figures 12 and 13). Additional grounding rods are used when the required value of less than
20 Ω ground resistance is not reached.

A more detailed study for the UTL grounding design is found in [14].

Figure 13 -Asphalt layer with blocks

Figure 12 – Grounding Design

9. TEST SITE FOR COMPACT LINES

Copel has constructed a short test site for compact lines, located inside a substation, on which
experimental evaluations are done, as for the 230 kV case shown in Figure 14. The test site is
composed of 4 concrete poles of about 24 m height each, on 3 spans and total length of about 200 m.
The suspension insulator base is fixed on a steel rail which has holes located 25 cm from eachother,
intended to fix insulators and then to allow testing with diferent phase-to-phase distances (Figure 15).

Presently a new study is under consideration, a 138 kV UTL with 1,2 m between phases, allowing the
possibility in the future to uprate from 69 kV to 138 kV, with the same concrete poles.

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 Figure 14 – Test site overview Figure 15 – 230 kV insulators, and the steel rail for
changing phase-to-phase distances

10. CONCLUSIONS

The experience of Copel in operating these compact lines for about 35 years has been satisfactory so
far. No important outages are reported and there are no complaints regarding visual impact or
annoyance from RI, AN or EMF. It is concluded that, to a certain extent, the use of compact lines in
populated areas is a good alternative to underground transmission.

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Fujiwara, A., Martin, C. Soncin, A., Loewenthal, C.F., Experiência Com Uma LT 69 kV
Urbana (VI SNPTEE, 1981, Camboriú/SC, Brazil)
[2] Martin, C., Soncin, A., Santiago, N., RI e TVI em Decorrência de LT’s 138 kV Urbanas
Compactas da Copel (VII SNPTEE, 1983, Brasília/DF, Brazil)
[3] Nelson, P., Martin, C., Diretrizes Para Projetos de Linhas Aéreas de Transmissão Compactas
Urbanas (XII SNPTEE, 1993, Recife/PE, Brazil)
[4] Mokdese, H., Nelson,, P., Linhas de Transmissão Urbanas Compactas em 69 kV (XVI
SNPTEE, 2001, Campinas/SP, Brazil)
[5] Hoffmann, J.N., Souza, R.L., Nelson, P., Moreira, I.S., Linhas de Transmissão Urbana
Compacta Experimental em 230 kV (XVII SNPTEE, 2003, Uberlândia/MG, Brazil)
[6] Guidelines For Limiting Exposure To Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic, And Electromagnetic
Fields - ICNIRP Guidelines, 1998 (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation
Protection, Health Physics)
[7] Transmission Line Reference Book, 345 kV And Above, 1982 (EPRI Research Project)
[8] Transmission Line Reference Book, 115-138 kV Compact Line Design, 1978 (EPRI Research
Project)
[9] Phase-To-Phase Switching Surge Design, Addendum to Transmission Line Reference Book
115-138 kV Compact Line Design, 1980 (EPRI Research Project) [11] Standard For The
Measurement Of Audible Noise From Overhead Lines, 1985 (ANSI/IEEE Std 656)
[10] Lei Municipal No 8.583, Ruídos Urbanos e Proteção do Bem Estar e do Sossego Público
(Prefeitura Municipal de Curitiba, Brazil)
[11] Standard For The Measurement of Audible Noise From Overhead Lines, 1985 (ANSI/IEEE Std
656)
[12] NBR 10151, Avaliação do Ruído em Áreas Habitadas Visando O Conforto da Comunidade,
1987 (ABNT, Brazil)
[13] NBR 10152, Níveis de Ruído Para Conforto Acústico, 1987 (ABNT, Brazil)
[14] Hoffmann, J. N., Aterramento de Linhas de Transmissão em Áreas Urbanas (XI SNPTEE, 1991,
Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil)