# AC Transmission Line Losses – Curt Harting

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http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2010/ph240/harting1/

# AC Transmission Line Losses

## Curt Harting October 24, 2010

### Submitted as coursework for Physics 240, Stanford University, Fall 2010

 Fig. 1: Resistive Loss on a Al transmission line as a function of radius as a percentage loss over 1000km.

## Introduction

According to the Department of Energy, California lost about 19.7 x 109 kWh of electrical energy through transmission/distribution in 2008. [1] This amount of energy loss was equal to 6.8% of total amount of electricity used in the state throughout that year. At the 2008 average retail price of $0.1248/kWh, this amounts to a loss of about$2.4B worth of electricity in California, and a $24B loss nationally. [1] This report looks to explain and quantify the two major sources of loss in high voltage AC transmission lines: resistive loss and corona loss. The former occurs because of the non-zero resistance found wire’s metal. Corona loss is an ionization of the air that occurs when the electric fields around a conductor exceed a specific value. ## Resistive (Skin) Loss Although the conductors in a transmission line have extremely low resistivity, they are not perfect. This section seeks to quantify that loss through computation of the skin depth and power attenuation factors. ### Theory The amount of resistive loss in a system can be found estimated by using corona-free transmission line equations to find the amount of power delivered to any point along the wire and subtracting the initial amount of power. The equations for doing so are below: [2] In the above equation, c is the speed of light and L, the inductance per unit length of the transmission line is given as:  Fig. 2: Corona loss in kilowatts lost per kilometer of wire as a function of radius. An Al 3 phase 765kV transmission line and Peek’s formula were used to generate this graph. The equations for calculating Rl, the resistance per unit length, can be shown below. It includes the formula for finding the wire’s skin depth (&delta), which shows how far into the conductor 90% of the power is carried by current. [3] IB in this equation is correction factor found by using the first two Bessel I functions. Using the above equations, the total amount of power lost due to resistance is equal to the power at a given distance minus the inital power. Since the amount of loss as a percentage is a fixed amount regardless of initial power, the results listed are written as a percentage of total power. The parameters listed above and summaries of the results of these equations can be found in Table 1. In it, there are estimated losses of a typical US power line made of aluminum (case 1), a European power line at 50Hz (case 2), and a line made out of silver (case 3). A comparison of cases 1 and 3 show that building a long transmission cable can save in resistance loss (about$19M/year), but would cost significantly more to build ($18.5B) at 2010 market prices. Parameter Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 d Line Separation 10 m a Conductor Radius 0.015m L Inductance Per Meter 2.6uH/m f Frequency 60 Hz 50 Hz 60 Hz σ Conductivity of the Metal 3.82 x 107 S/m (Al) 3.82 x 107S/m 6.17 x 107S/m (Ag) IB Bessel Correction Factor 1.1 1.1 1.1 &delta Skin Depth 10.5 mm 11.5 mm 8.3 mm Rl Resistance per Meter 29.1 μΩ/m 26.5 μΩ/m 22.9 μΩ/m &alpha attenuation factor 18.6 x 10-9/m 17.0 x 10-9/m 14.7 x 10-9/m μ0 Permeability of Free Space 4π x 10-7 H/m c Speed of Light 3 x 108 m/sec %PRloss (1km) 37.2 ppm 34.0 ppm 29.3ppm %PRloss (1000km) 3.66% 3.34% 2.89% Table 1: Resistive loss values using sample parameters and the formulas listed above. ### Measured Values In a paper from the American Electric Power (AEP) company published in 1969, the authors make an estimate that the amount of power loss from non-corona based effects is about 4MW over 100 miles in a 1GW transmission system. [7] Converting to metric units, this gives a loss of about 25MW or 2.5% over a 1000km transmission line. This number is consistent with the resistive loss given in a contemporary, self-published report from the AEP. [11] In this report, the resistive loss was listed as between 3.1MW/100 miles and 4.4MW/100 miles, depending on the wiring configuration. This corresponds to between a 1.9% and 2.8% power loss over 1000km. ## Corona Loss Corona loss is the other major type of power loss in transmission lines. Essentially, corona loss is caused by the ionization of air molecules near the transmission line conductors. These coronas do not spark across lines, but rather carry current (hence the loss) in the air along the wire. Corona discharge in transmission lines can lead to hissing/cackling noises, a glow, and the smell of ozone (generated from the breakdown and recombination of O2 molecules). The color and distribution of this glow depends on the phrase of the AC signal at any given moment in time. Positive coronas are smooth and blue in color, while negative coronas are red and spotty. [5] Corona loss only occurs when the line to line voltage exceeds the corona threshold. Unlike resistive loss which where amount of power lost was a fixed percentage of input, the percentage of power lost due to corona is a function of the signal’s voltage. Corona discharge power losses are also highly dependent on the weather and temperature. ### Theory The corona factor equation was empirically derived by F.W. Peek and published in 1911.[4] In a later publication, he modified the original equation and he showed that the total amount of power loss in a wire due to the corona effect was equal to the equation below: [5] For examples of these values and their meaning, please refer to Table 2. Parameter Sample Value k0 Fixed constant 241 g0 Disruptive Gradient in Air 21.1 kv/cm kd Normalized Air Density Factor 1 (25 °C, 76 cm pressure) 1 a Radius of Conductor 3.5 cm (see Fig. 2) d Conductor Spacing 1000 cm f Frequency 60 Hz ki Wire Irregularity Factor 0.95 (weathered wires) V0 Line Voltage to Neutral (1/1.73 x Voltage Between Conductors) 442 kV (765 kV/1.73) Disruptive Critical Voltage (g0 ki a kd ln(d/a)) 397 kv Corona Loss kW/km/line 25kW/km Corona Loss % (1000km line at 2.25 GW) 3.3% Table 2: Sample corona loss calculation based on Peek’s formula. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the radius of the conductor has a large effect on the total amount of corona loss. One way of getting lines with a larger effective radius is through the use of bundles, where 2-6 separate, but close lines are kept at the same voltage via intermittent connectors. This reduces the amount of metal needed to achieve a given radius and corona loss. Transient calculations of corona loss can be found in reference [10].  Fig. 3: Total loss of a 2.25 GWm 3 phase 765 kV transmission line as a function of radius. ### Measured Values In reference [6], the authors measured the corona loss of a 765kV, 3 phase, and bundled transmission line to be about 1.87kW/km in fair weather. This amounts to only about a 0.083% loss over a 1000km line. In bad weather, however, the authors measured the loss to be 84.3kW/km, or about a 3.7% loss. Using these numbers and the average price of electricity, a day long rainstorm on a 100km stretch of 765kV wires costs an electric company about$25,000.

Looking at voltages greater than 765kV, the Hydro-Quebec Institute of Research measured the amount of corona loss at voltages up to 1200 kV. [8] They found that the corona loss of a 6 and 8 conductor bundles were 22.7 kW/km and 6.2 kW/km, respectively. These numbers were measured in “heavy artificial rain”. The discrepancies between [6] and [8] probably stemmed from different radii and conductor spacing.

Finally, researches in Finland measured the amount of corona loss in transmission lines under frost conditions. [9] This paper also shows the large reduction in corona loss from bundling wires: about 2.5-5x for each conductor added between 1-3. Under frost conditions, they show that the loss of the lines is about 21 kW for a 2 conductor bundle of a 400kV three phase transmission line.

 Fig. 4: Cost of a 2.25 GWm 3 phase 765 kV transmission line as a function of radius. The cost of a transmission line was found by taking the total wire volume and multiplying by the 2010 market price of aluminum (\$1.14 per pound).

## Summary

This report shows the how to estimate both corona and resistive losses in wire and also gives experimental results. Fig. 3 provides an estimate of the total amount of loss in a system as a function of the conductor radius. Looking at this figure, the amount of loss drops dramatically as the wire radius increases to about 4cm. If made of solid metal (as the formulas above assume), this would be a fairly unwieldy size. Because of this, power line companies bundle smaller lines to keep both building and loss costs as low as possible.

Fig. 4 shows the total amount of theoretical power loss and cost of a 1000km high voltage transmission line. As the wire gets larger, the amount of loss decreases as about 1/r (resistive) and quadratically to 0 (corona). Larger wires also incur a quadratically larger cost, and eventually reach a break-even point where larger conductor radii do not make financial sense. It should be noted that this figure (wrongly) assumes a solid, homogeneous wire. Power lines, in addition to being bundled, also contain a cheaper steel core on the interior of the wire. This is because once past the skin depth into the wire, where 90% of the power is carried, the resistivity of the wire becomes less important.

© 2010 C. Harting. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.

## References

[1] M. Bowles, “ State Electricity Profiles 2008,” US Energy Information Administration, DOE/EIA 0348(01)/2, March 2010.

[2] W. Hayt and J. Buck, Engineering Electromagnetics (Mcgraw-Hill, 2006), pp 346, 486.

[3] F. Rachidi and S. Tkachenko, Electromagnetic Field Interaction with Transmission Lines From Classical Theory to HF Radiation Effects (WIT Press, 2008).

[4] F. W. Peek, “The Law of the Corona and the Dielectric Strength of Air,” Transactions of A.I.E.E. 30, 1889 (1911).

[5] F. W. Peek, Dielectric Phenomena in High-Voltage Engineering (McGraw-Hill, 1929), pp 169-214.

[6] N, Kolcio et al., “Radio-Influence and Corona-Loss Aspects of AEP 765-kV Lines” IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems PAS-88, No.9, 1343 (1969).

[7] G. S. Vassell and R. M. Maliszewski, “AEP 765-kV System: System Planning Considerations” IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems PAS-88, 1320 (1969).

[8] N. G. Trinh, P. S. Maruvada and B. Poirier, “A Comparative Study of the Corona Performance of Conductor Bundles for 1200 kV Transmission Lines,” IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems PAS-93,940 (1974).

[9] K. Lahti, M. Lahtinen and K. Nousiainen, “Transmission Line Corona Losses Under Hoar Frost Conditions,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery 12, 928 (1997).

[10] X. Li, O. Malik and Z. Zhao, “Computation of Transmission line Transients Including Corona Effects,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery 4, 1816 (1989).

[11] “ Transmission Facts,” American Electric Power.

Power loss during transmission – Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange

# Power loss during transmission

I have no background of electrical engineering so if my question sounds stupid then accept my apology in advance. I want to calculate the power loss during the transmission. I am using the simple formula which is

$$P_{loss} = Resistance \cdot I^2$$

Where P is power loss

Resistance is in Ohms

and I is the current

Replacing the I by P / V
Where V is the voltage
now the formula looks like

$$P_{loss} = Resistance \cdot \Big( \frac{P}{V} \Big)^2$$

If the value of resistance is 5.24 Ohms and voltage is 50 kV and the value of P is 940 kW then I get the value of P(loss) = 1852 W which does not seem intuitive.

Looking for your guidance (if i am calculating wrong). Accept my apology in advance if my question bothers you.

-
1852 watts per kilometre seems like a valid result. Please note this is true only for unity power factor. Otherwise the losses will be higher. Formulae for 3-phase line loss can be found here
– venny
Aug 19 ’14 at 9:10
@venny i consider the value of R as 0.2 ohms per km so the distance between two points are 26.2 km so in order to get the total resistance i multiplied 26.2 by 0.2 which is equal to 5.24 ohms. Is it the right way? or shall i calculate the loss by putting the value of R by 0.2 and then multiply the result with the distance to get the total loss?
– user2293224
Aug 19 ’14 at 10:24
you can do both, the result will be same. The loss is actually 1852 watts, not 1852 watts per km as stated in my previous comment.
– venny
Aug 19 ’14 at 10:37

Common approach would be:
Try to approach this way: What causes the power loss if you transmit power along a line?

For simple, resistive loads (based on Ohms law: $U = R \cdot I$ and $P = U \cdot I$)

• The current flowing through the line (which is the current that you may use as well to power a device connected at the end of the line):

$$P_{loss} = R_{line} \cdot I_{line}^2$$

or

• The voltage drop along the line (from where you feed in the power [start] to where you extract it [usually end of the line] – NOT the voltage between line and ground, which I assume you 50kV are)

$$P_{loss} = \frac{V_{along\;line}^2} {R_{line}}$$

However, since you seem only to know the load and line-to-ground voltage, using

$$P = I_{line} \cdot V_{line,gnd}$$

to substitute the current is correct. The resistance appears reasonable for a longer medium voltage line and < 1 % ohmic losses is not that bad.

AC Transmission Line Losses, by Curt Harting

For AC: Use RMS values. If you have a multiple phase system, make sure you dont confuse line-to-line and line-to-ground voltages… Also the skin effect has to be taken into account.

General advice: If you are referring to values per length, use a dash: [P’] = W/m and also use them if you write something like “P = …”.

-
It seems that substituting a permuted form of the same equation into itself would not yield any new information. I have always used P = IV to calulate energy/time of a circuit component using the voltage across and current through it. So naturally, I would think of the line as a large (long) resistor of vale 5.25 Ohms. Since we do not know the voltage across it, nor the current through it, how can we confidently calculate the power consumed by it?
– sherrellbc
Aug 19 ’14 at 12:23
.. The subtitution of current using I = P/V assumes the line resistance is disspiating 940kW with 50kV across it with 18.8A through it; that is not true. Unless there is some trickery here I am not seeing this does not make much sense.
– sherrellbc
Aug 19 ’14 at 12:27
@sherrellbc Do you have any suggestions??
– user2293224
Aug 19 ’14 at 23:13
First step would be to clearly name all known values: What do you know about the line (resistance, line-ground voltage) and its load (voltage = line-ground voltage of line, power consumption 940 kW?). The most important thing is to get a good overview of what is given. With a given load and voltage, calculating the current makes sense and so does calculating power losses if resistance of the line is given and current equals load current. Hope this helped…
– molotovsoda
Aug 20 ’14 at 8:19