PowerWorld Transmission Line

Parameter Calculator Version 2

Introduction
The PowerWorld Transmission Line Parameter Calculator (TransLineCalc) is a tool
designed to compute characteristic line parameters given the type of the conductor and
the tower configuration of a three-phase overhead transmission line.
The parameters computed are the resistance R, reactance X, susceptance B, and
conductance G. These values are computed as distributed (per unit of distance),
lumped or total (for a specific line distance), and in per-unit.

PowerWorld provides TransLineCalc as a stand-alone program (.exe file) and also as

an automation server that can run from PowerWorld Simulator directly or from an
external application (.dll file).

2001 South First Street

Champaign, IL 61820, USA
(217) 384-6330
www.powerworld.com
support@powerworld.com
 Transmission Line Parameter Calculator Version 2

Table of Contents

1 FEATURES ........................................................................................................................................................1
1.1 CALCULATIONS ...........................................................................................................................................1
1.1.1 Parameters Calculation .........................................................................................................................1
1.1.2 Ampere to MVA Limit Conversion .........................................................................................................3
1.1.3 Reverse Lookup ......................................................................................................................................3
1.2 CONDUCTOR TYPE ......................................................................................................................................5
1.2.1 Edit By Form..........................................................................................................................................5
1.2.2 Edit By Table .........................................................................................................................................5
1.3 TOWER CONFIGURATION .............................................................................................................................7
1.3.1 Edit By Form..........................................................................................................................................7
1.3.2 Edit By Table .........................................................................................................................................7
1.4 DATABASE CONTROLS ................................................................................................................................9
2 AUTOMATION SERVER .............................................................................................................................. 10
2.1 COM OBJECT INITIALIZATION AND DESTRUCTION ................................................................................... 10
2.2 METHODS OF THE SIMAUTO OBJECT ......................................................................................................... 11
2.2.1 SetParameters ...................................................................................................................................... 11
2.2.2 GetParametersPU ................................................................................................................................ 11
2.2.3 GetParametersLumped ........................................................................................................................ 12
3 CALCULATIONS ........................................................................................................................................... 13
3.1 DISTRIBUTED PARAMETERS ...................................................................................................................... 13
3.2 LUMPED (TOTAL) PARAMETERS ................................................................................................................ 15
3.3 BASE VALUES ........................................................................................................................................... 16
3.4 PER UNIT (PU) PARAMETERS .................................................................................................................... 17
3.5 MVA TO AMPERE AND AMPERE TO MVA LIMITS CONVERSION .............................................................. 17
4 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................. 17

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1 Features

1.1 Calculations
The following controls are part of the calculations section:

1.1.1 Parameters Calculation

This section is to enter the necessary data to compute the characteristic line parameters
that are shown in the Results panel.

Input Data
Conductor Type: This is the combo box that lists all the conductor types
available in the Conductors table. To add, remove or edit a
specific conductor and its characteristics, see Conductor
Type section below.

Tower Configuration: This combo box lists all the tower configurations available in
the Tower Configurations table. To add, remove or edit a
specific tower configuration, please go to the Tower
Configuration section below.

Line Length: This is the value of the distance of the transmission line.
The units are miles when using English system, or
kilometers when using the Metric (SI) system.

Line Length Units: The line length units specify the measurement system to use
when entering the line length. The options are English
system or Metric (SI) system. The final and intermediate
results will also be shown in the system specified here.

Power Base: The system voltampere base in MVA.

Voltage Base: The line-line voltage base in KV.

Impedance Base: The impedance base in Ohms. This value is automatically

computed when the power base and the voltage base are
entered or modified.

Admittance Base: The admittance base in Siemens. It is also automatically

computed as the inverse of the impedance base.

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Lumped Results

When all the input data is entered, the results automatically will be displayed. The
values for R, X, B and G are shown in two different sections, one for actual total values
per phase, and one for Per Unit values. The Power Surge Impedance Loading is also
calculated.

Distributed Results

The values in this section will be displayed automatically too when all the input data is
entered. The values for R, X, B and G are shown in actual values per distance units per
phase.

Intermediate Results

The intermediate values calculated to compute the R, X, B, and G values are displayed
here. The computed geometric mean radius and geometric mean distance are shown
in the Distributed values section. The characteristic impedance and propagation factor
are displayed in the Lumped values section.

Note: To see the specific calculations used in this program, see the Calculations
section, at the end of this document.

Figure 1: Calculations Tab

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1.1.2 Ampere to MVA Limit Conversion

This section converts the limits of the transmission line from Amperes to MVAs, given
the voltage base, and vice versa.

Figure 2: Amp to MVA Conversion

1.1.3 Reverse Lookup

Use this section to do a reverse lookup of the conductor, given a tower configuration
and the characteristic line parameters in per unit.

Input Data

Tower Configuration: This combo box lists all the tower configurations available in
the Tower Configurations table. To add, remove or edit a
specific tower configuration, please go to the Tower
Configuration section below.

Line Length: This is the value of the distance of the transmission line.
The units are miles when using English system, or
kilometers when using the Metric (SI) system.

Line Length Units: The line length units specify the measurement system to use
when entering the line length. The options are English

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system or Metric (SI) system. The final and intermediate

results will also be shown in the system specified here.

Power Base: The system voltampere base in MVA.

Voltage Base: The line-line voltage base in KV.

R: Resistance in per unit per phase.

X: Reactance in per unit per phase.

B: Susceptance in per unit per phase.

G: Conductance in per unit per phase.

Results

When all the input data is entered, click on the Calculate button to display the results in
the table on the right. This table will compute the characteristic line parameters for each
of the conductors in the data base, using the input tower configuration. The conductors
will be sorted according to the match of their characteristics line parameters results with
the input characteristic line parameters.

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1.2 Conductor Type

This section is used to add, remove, rename, and edit the information related to the
conductor types. This can be done in two ways: using the form for an individual
conductor type, or using the table for all the conductor types available.

1.2.1 Edit By Form

Conductors are identified by a unique code word. All the available conductors are listed
in the Conductor Code Word combo box. By selecting one conductor, all its properties
are displayed in the form. There, the user is able to modify any of those values. After
modification of any value, the user has to save the changes by clicking on the button
Save before changing tabs, otherwise the changes will be lost.

By clicking on New, a message prompting for a name for a new conductor will be
shown. By clicking on Rename, a new name for the current conductor type is required.
In order to save the current conductor type with a different name is necessary to click on
Save As. Finally, to remove the current conductor the user can do so by clicking on the
Delete button.

1.2.2 Edit By Table

In this tab, all the conductor types are shown as records in a table, where every field is
a characteristic of the conductor. In order to edit the records in this table, use the
Database button described in the Database section. While editing the table, the user
can not change of tab until changes are posted or discarded.

Conductor Properties

The available properties of the conductors are the following:

Code Word: Code name for the type of conductor. The names of bird
species are typically used. Code Word has to be unique.

Area: The area of aluminum conductor in circular mils. A circular

mil is the cross-sectional area of a circular conductor having
a diameter of 1 mil. One mil is one thousandth of an inch
(0.001).

Aluminum strands: Number of aluminum strands.

Steel layers: Number of steel strands.

Aluminum layers: Number of aluminum layers.

External diameter: Outside diameter of the conductor in inches.

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GMR: Geometric Mean Radius in feet.

DC Resistance: DC resistance of the conductor at 20C per 1 mile in Ohms.

AC Resistance 25: AC resistance of the conductor at 60 Hz and 25C per 1 mile

in Ohms.

AC Resistance 50: AC resistance of the conductor at 60 Hz and 50C per 1 mile

in Ohms.

AC Resistance 75: AC resistance of the conductor at 60 Hz and 75C per 1 mile

in Ohms.

Inductive Reactance: Inductive reactance per conductor at 1 foot spacing at 60 Hz

in Ohms/mile.

Capacitive Reactance: Capacitive reactance per conductor at 1 foot spacing at 60

Hz in MegaOhms/mile.

Figure 3: Conductors Tab (Editing by Table)

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1.3 Tower Configuration

This part is used to add, remove, rename, and edit the information related to the tower
configurations. This can be done in two ways: using the form for an individual tower
configuration, or using the table for all the tower configurations available.

1.3.1 Edit By Form

Tower configurations are identified by a unique name. All the available tower
configurations are listed in the Tower Configuration Name combo box. By selecting one
specific tower configuration, all its characteristics are displayed in the form. There, the
user can modify any of those characteristics. After modification of any value, the user
has to save the changes by clicking on the button Save before changing tabs, otherwise
the changes will be lost.

By clicking on New, a message prompting for a name for a new tower configuration will
be shown. By clicking on Rename, a new name for the current tower configuration is
required. In order to save the current tower configuration with a different name is
necessary to click on Save As. Finally, to remove the current tower configuration the
user can do so by clicking on the Delete button.

1.3.2 Edit By Table

In this tab, all the tower configurations are shown as records in a table, where every
field is a value of the tower configuration. In order to edit the records in this table, use
the Database button described in the Database section. While editing the table, the
user can not change of tab until changes are posted or discarded.

Tower Configuration Values

The values of the tower configuration are the following:

Name: Name for the tower configuration. Name has to be unique.

Phase spacing: x and y coordinates of phases A, B and C positions. Values

are in feet for English system and meters for Metric (SI)
system. When these values are modified, the phase spacing
graph is automatically updated. Draw axis has to be
checked for x and y axis to be drawn in the graph.

Conductors per bundle: This section specifies the number of conductors (either
single conductor or a bundle of conductors) per phase. The
maximum number of conductors per bundle allowed is 4.

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Use regular spacing: When using a bundle of conductors, checking the Use
Regular Spacing of check box will use the specified value
as a regular spacing among the conductors. If the Use
Regular Spacing of check box is not checked, then the
custom conductors spacing section has to be used.

Conductors spacing: x and y coordinates of the conductors in the bundle. Values

are in feet for English system and meters for Metric (SI)
system. When these values are modified, the bundle
spacing graph is automatically updated. Draw axis has to
be checked for x and y axis to be drawn in the graph.

Temperature: The temperature is in Celsius degrees regardless of the

System of units that is selected.

Frequency: Frequency of the system in Hertz.

System of units: The system of units used to specify the values of the tower
configuration. The options are English system or Metric (SI)
system. The units specified here not necessarily have to
math the units specified in the Input Data section.

Figure 4: Tower Configuration (Editing by Form)

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1.4 Database Controls

The conductor type and tower configurations tables are read by default from the file
conductors.mbd, which is a MS Access database. This database can be read from
another *.mdb file by clicking on the Select Conductors and Configurations
Database button.

Note: The conductors.mdb file can also be viewed and edited in MS Access.

In order to edit a record in the database tables, the user can use the toolbar designed to
do that. Following there is a figure showing this toolbar:

The First, Prior, Next, and Last buttons are used to move among records. The Insert,
Delete and Edit buttons are used to insert, delete or edit the current record,
respectively. While editing a record, the user can not change of tab until modifications
are posted through the Post edit button or canceled with the Cancel edit button. The
Refresh data button just refreshed the data of the entire table.

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2 Automation Server

The following automation server is useful for take advantage of the TransLineCalc
functionality from an external application. Note that we also have included a script
command in Simulator that is designed to run TransLineCalc and compute the
characteristics parameters of a set of transmission lines, without the need of an external
application: CalculateRXBGFromLengthConfigCondType(filtername);

CalculateRXBGFromLengthConfigCondType takes the set of lines specified by the

filtername, and computes the characteristic parameters for each of them, using the
existing fields ConductorName and TowerConfiguration fields. If these fields are empty
or can not be found within the TransLineCalc conductors database, no computations
are performed or modified. The filtername is optional. See the Simulator Help for more
information.

2.1 COM Object Initialization and Destruction

To initialize the TransLineCalc COM object, see the documentation for the particular
programming environment being used. Sample code for initialization and destruction is
provided for VB for Applications (which should easily port to VB 6). The calls for
initialization and destruction are provided below. If for some reason the COM
initialization code fails, be sure you have the TransLineCalc add-on for Simulator and
you have either run the application on the computer where the COM object is being
created or run the command regsvr32 c:\path\TransLineCalcSvr.dll at the command
line. Also, some programming languages (e.g. Visual Basic) require an explicit
reference to the COM object when using early binding. Late binding, on the other
hand, requires no explicit reference.
If, for some reason, you would like SimAuto to unregister itself as a COM object, run the
command regsvr32 /u c:\path\TransLineCalcSvr.dll at the command
line.

TransLineCalc Initialization Code Samples

VB for Applications

Dim TransAuto As New PWTransLineCalcAuto Early binding

-or-

Dim TransAuto As Object

Set TransAuto = CreateObject("PWTransLineCalcSvr.PWTransLineCalcAuto") Late
binding

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2.2 Methods of the SimAuto Object

2.2.1 SetParameters

Function Prototype: SetParameters(ConductorName as String, TowerConfiguration as

String, LineLength as Single, Units as Integer, VoltageBase as Single, PowerBase as
Single)

SetParameters is used to set the initial configuration of a transmission line. This input
data will be used to compute the parameters of the transmission line.

SetParameters takes six arguments:

The first and second arguments correspond directly to the conductor and the
tower configuration names of the transmission line. These names should be
present in the TransLineCalc conductors database.
The third and fourth arguments correspond to the transmission line length and
the units for that value. The options for units are 0 for English units or 1 for Metric
(SI) units.
The fifth and sixth arguments correspond to the voltage and power bases.

SetParameters returns only one element in Outputany errors which may have
occurred when attempting to setting the initial input data.

Sample Implementation

VB for Applications

Output = TransAuto.SetParameters("Bluebird", "Default", 25, 0, 138, 100)

2.2.2 GetParametersPU

Function Prototype: GetParametersPU(Rpu, Xpu, Bpu, Gpu as Single)

GetParametersPU is used to return the characteristic per-unit parameters of a

transmission line.

GetParametersPU takes fourth variant arguments:

The resistance R, reactance X, susceptance B, and conductance G will return
the calculated parameters.

GetParametersPU returns only one element in Outputany errors which may have
occurred when attempting to setting the initial input data.

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Sample Implementation

VB for Applications

Output = TransAuto.GetParametersPU(Rpu, Xpu, Bpu, Gpu)

2.2.3 GetParametersLumped

Function Prototype: GetParametersLumped(Rpu, Xpu, Bpu, Gpu as Single)

GetParametersLumped is used to return the characteristic total parameters of a

transmission line. The units of these values will be in Ohms/ length unit. The length unit
will be the one entered in the SetParameters method.

GetParametersLumped takes fourth variant arguments:

The resistance R, reactance X, susceptance B, and conductance G will return
the calculated parameters.

GetParametersLumped returns only one element in Outputany errors which may have
occurred when attempting to setting the initial input data.

Sample Implementation

VB for Applications

Output = TransAuto.GetParametersLumped(Rt, Xt, Bt, Gt)

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3 Calculations

3.1 Distributed Parameters

Resistance
R R50
R25 + 25 (t 25)
25 50
Rt = 0 t 50
N
R R75
R50 + 50 (t 50 )
50 75
Rt = 50 t
N
Where:
Rt AC resistance at temperature t per phase per 1 mile in Ohms
t Assumed temperature in Celsius degrees
R25 AC resistance of the conductor at 60 Hz and 25C per 1 mile in Ohms
R50 AC resistance of the conductor at 60 Hz and 50C per 1 mile in Ohms
R75 AC resistance of the conductor at 60 Hz and 75C per 1 mile in Ohms
N Number of conductors per phase

Inductive Reactance
Deq
X L = 4f 10 7 ln
DSL
Where:
XL Inductive reactance in Ohms/meter
f Frequency of the system in Hertz
Deq Geometric mean distance between phases in meters
DSL Geometric mean radius between conductors of one phase in meters

The geometric mean distance between phases is defined as:

Deq = 3 d ab d bc d ca
Where:
d ab , d bc , d ca Distances between phases a-b, b-c, c-a, respectively in meters

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The geometric mean radius between conductors of one phase is defined as:

DSL = GMR For 1 stranded conductor

DSL = e 1 / 4 r For 1 solid cylindrical conductor
1
N N N2
DSL = d km For more then 1 conductor bundle
k =1 m =1

Where:
DSL Geometric mean radius in meters
r External radius of conductor in meters
GMR Geometric mean radius given in tables for one stranded conductor
d km Distance between conductors k and m in meters.
Note: If k = m, then d km = DSL for one stranded or solid cylindrical conductor.

Susceptance

2
B = 2f
ln Deq

D
SC

Where:
B Susceptance in Siemens/meter
f Frequency of the system in Hertz
Constant permittivity = 8.85418 10-12
Deq Geometric mean distance between phases, defined as above
DSC Geometric mean radius between conductors of one phase using external
radius in meters

The geometric mean radius between conductors of one phase using external radius is
defined as:

DSC = r For 1 conductor

1
N N N2
DSC = d km For more then 1 conductor bundle
k =1 m =1

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Where:
DSC Geometric mean radius in meters
r External radius of conductor in meters
d km Distance between conductors k and m in meters.
Note: If k = m, then d km = r.

Conductance

Assumed G = 0

Where:
G Conductance in Siemens/meter

3.2 Lumped (Total) Parameters

Resistance, Inductive Reactance, Conductance and Susceptance, using the

equivalent circuit (long line)

2
Z = R + jX = Z c sinh Y = G + jB = tanh
Zc 2

Where:
Z Total series impedance of line in Ohms
Y Total series admittance of line in Siemens
R Total series resistance of line in Ohms
X Total series inductive reactance of line in Ohms
G Total series conductance of line in Siemens
B Total series susceptance of line in Siemens
Zc Characteristic impedance in Ohms
Propagation constant in meters-1
Line length in meters

The characteristic impedance and propagation constant are defined as:

z
Zc = = zy
y

Where:
z Distributed series impedance in Ohms/meter
y Distributed series admittance in Siemens/meter

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The distributed series impedance and distributed series admittance are defined as:
z = R + jX
y = G + jB

Where:
R Distributed series resistance in Ohms/meter
X Distributed series inductive reactance in Ohms/meter
G Distributed series conductance in Siemens/meter
B Distributed series susceptance in Siemens/meter

Surge Impedance Loading

The surge impedance loading is defined as the power delivered by a lossless line to a
load resistance equal to the surge (or characteristic) impedance Zc, and is given by:

2
VN
PSIL =
ZC

Where:
PSIL Total surge impedance loading in a three-phase line in VA
VN Line-line nominal voltage in Volts

3.3 Base Values

Impedance Base
(VBll ) 2
ZB =
S B3
Where:
ZB Impedance base in Ohms
3
SB Power base in VA
VBll Line-line voltage base in Volts

Admittance Base
1
YB =
ZB
Where:
YB Admittance base in Siemens
ZB Impedance base in Ohms

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3.4 Per Unit (PU) Parameters

Resistance, Inductive Reactance, Conductance, Susceptance

R X G B
RPU = X PU = GPU = BPU =
ZB ZB YB YB
Where:
RPU Per unit resistance
R Total series resistance in Ohms
XPU Per unit Inductive reactance
X Total series inductive reactance in Ohms
XPU Per unit conductance
G Total series conductance in Siemens
BPU Per unit susceptance
B Total series susceptance in Siemens
ZB Impedance base in Ohms
YB Admittance base in Siemens

3.5 MVA To Ampere and Ampere To MVA Limits Conversion

MVA to Ampere Limit Conversion

Lim MVA 10 6
Lim Amp =
3 VN
Where:
LimAmp Limit in Amperes
LimMVA Limit in MVAs
VN Nominal voltage in Volts

Ampere to MVA Limit Conversion

3 VN
Lim MVA = Lim Amp
10 6
Where:
LimAmp Limit in Amperes
LimMVA Limit in MVAs
VN Nominal voltage in Volts

4 References

[1] J. D. Glover and M. S. Sarma, Power Systems analysis and design,

Brooks/Cole, 3rd edition, 2002.
[2] A. R. Bergen and V. Vittal, Power System Analysis, Prentice Hall, 2nd edition,
2000.

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