IEEE Std 605-2008

IEEE Guide for Bus Design in Air Insulated Substations

11.4.3 Strain bus conductor sag under thermal load

Ambient temperature significantly impacts the sag and tension of the strain conductors. In general, conductors should
have minimum sag. However, the associated tension needs to be balanced with economics considering the imposed
temperature effect. Spring bolts can be used to maintain controlled tension within a span to limit changes in conductor
sag. These spring bolts are typically available in the tension range of 0 to 25 kN ( approximately 6000 lbs) with
deflection rates of 25 kN/m to 50 kN/m (approximately 1500 lbs per inch to 3000 lbs per inch), depending on the
length of the bolt and size of the tension spring.
The actual shape of the curve taken up by a conductor at a given tension can be described by a hyperbolic equation.
When the sag-to-span ratio is smaller than 1/8, the parabola is accurate enough for most purposes. On this basis, the
parabolic equation for anchor points at the same level is:

Ds =

m gL
8H

(68)

where

Ds

g
L
H

is the conductor sag, (m) [ft]

is the mass by unit length of the conductor, (kg/m) [lbm/ft]
is the gravitational constant (9.82 m/s2), [32.2 ft/s2]
is the conductor span length (m) [ft]
is the tension in the conductor under a given temperature, (N) [lbf]

The final tension due to temperature change may be calculated from Equation (69) below by trial and error until both
sides match; the final sag can then be calculated by Equation (68) using Tf and m f . For nonlevel anchors and special
cases, such as concentrated loads, more sophisticated techniques are required.

Ec Ac (T f Ti ) + H f H i =

2
2 2
2
g L Ec Ac m f mi

H2 H2
24
i
f

(69)

where

Hi
Hf
Ac
Ec

mi

initial tension, (N) [lb]

final tension, (N) [lb]
is the cross section area of conductor, (m2) [in2]
is the equivalent Youngs modulus of all the layers of the conductor including the core (N/m2)
[lbf/in2]
is the equivalent coefficient of thermal expansion for the conductor (1/ C) [1/ F], Table 17
initial temperature, (C) [F]
final temperature, (C) [F]
initial mass by unit length of the conductor, (kg/m) [lbm/ft]

mf

final mass by unit length, (kg/m) [lbm/ft], (may include ice loading or else is equal to mi )

Ti
Tf

82
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IEEE Std 605-2008

IEEE Guide for Bus Design in Air Insulated Substations

Table I.4Physical data Sagebrush conductor

Data
Do

Ac

Description
Outside diameter
Cross-sectionnal area

Value
43.8 mm
1140 mm2

mi

Initial linear mass (winter)

3.712 kg/m

mf

Final linear mass (summer)

3.173 kg/m

Ec

Young's modulus

68.9 GPa

Coefficient of thermal expansion (1/C)

2.31 10-5

I.2.2 Sag requirements

Bus conductor sag is required for the calculations of the short circuit forces. As recommended in this guide, the short
circuit forces must be calculated for sag calculated at both the summer and winter temperature. The maximum
calculated forces will be used in the structure design calculations.
Several factors affect the sag as follows.
The clearance requirements should be determined based on the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) (Accredited
Standards Committee C-2) for both vehicles and foot clearances. The NESC code gives the required clearances a safety
factor that is recommended. For this example, the clearance will meet both the traffic and foot clearances. From the
NESC, the required clearances for 230 900 kV BIL is as follows:
a) Traffic clearances = 6.9 m (22.64 ft) with 10% safety factor; the required clearance is equal to 7.59 m
(24.9 ft).
b) Foot clearances = 6.4 m (21 ft) with 10% safety factor; the required clearance is equal to 7.04 m (23.1 ft).

The required clearances will be verified for both foot and traffic clearances. The sag and tension calculation can be
calculated using the simplified equations in 11.4.3.
Using Equation (68) with given wire physical data and assuming initial tension Hi = 11 120 N at winter temperature of
10 oC, we obtain:

Ds =

m gL 3.712 9.81 48.8

=
= 0.975 m
8H
8 11 120

This is the minimum sag at the ambient winter temperature when no current is flowing in the conductor. The maximum
sag will be obtained at the summer ambient temperature when current is flowing in the conductor and its temperature
has risen to 105 oC as discussed above.
To calculate the maximum sag, we first evaluate the tension at the summer operating temperature using Equation (69)
to find the final tension Hf, which results in the following expression:
Ec Ac (T f Ti ) + H f H i =

2
2
2 2
g L Ec Ac m f mi

H2 H2
24
i
f

215


IEEE Std 605-2008

IEEE Guide for Bus Design in Air Insulated Substations

6.89 10 1.14 10 2.3110 [105 + 10] + ( H f 11 120) =

10

2
2
10
3
3.1732 3.712 2
9.81 48.8 6.89 10 1.14 10

2
2
24
11 120
H f

By trial and error we find Hf = 5136 N, which balances both sides of the above equation.
Using Equation (68) with Hf, we obtain the maximum sag:
Ds =

m gL2 3.173 9.81 48.8 2

=
=1.80 m
8H
8 5136

Based on the above calculations, the calculated sag is as follows:

Minimum sag at winter temperature = 0.975 m

Maximum sag at summer temperature = 1.80 m

7.95 m

9.75 m

Figure I.3 is used to verify that the maximum sag meets the vehicle and foot clearances as described above. Using a
9.75 m (32 ft) structure, this sag results in a ground clearance of over 7.95 m, which is greater than the minimum
required clearance of 7.59 m.

Figure I.3Sag verification

I.2.3 Maximum surface voltage gradient corona

The calculation of corona is required to protect substation equipment and the associated hardware. Annex D provides
the information required to evaluate the resulting corona at the bus. The following factors affect the magnitude of
corona:
a)

Bus voltage; a higher voltage results in higher corona.

b) Bus height above ground; the higher the bus, the less the corona.
c)

Conductor diameter; larger conductor sizes result in less corona.

d) Number of conductor per phase; corona decreases with an increase in number of conductors per phase.

216


IEEE Std 605-2008

IEEE Guide for Bus Design in Air Insulated Substations

Table 17 Coefficient of thermal expansion for common materials

Material
Aluminum
Copper
Stainless steel
Steel

(1/ C)
23.1 106
16.8 106
17.8 106
11.7 106

(1/ F)
12.8 106
9.33 106
9.89 106
6.50 106

11.4.1 Rigid bus conductor thermal expansion effects without expansion fittings

Insulators, supporting the rigid bus conductors, restrain thermal expansion or contraction of the conductors, resulting in
compression or tension of the conductors and bending of the insulators (and the mounting frame). Assuming the
mounted frame supporting insulators is a rigid structure, the tension/compression force in the conductors and the
bending moment of the insulators can be conservatively estimated using the following equations. If the flexibility of
the mounting frame is considered in the design, then a complex analysis of the conductors, insulators, and mounting
structure needs to be used; the finite-element method is appropriate for such calculations. Note that these equations
only apply when no expansion fittings are present in the conductor assemblage between two insulators.
The tension or compression force generated in the conductor due to thermal expansion L is conservatively given by:

FTE =

E c Ac L
Li

= Ec Ac (T f Ti )

(66)

where

FTE
Ac
Ec

is the thermal force, (N) [lbf]

is the conductor cross section area, (m2) [in2]
is the conductor material Youngs modulus, (N/m2) [lbf/in2]

It is observed that the thermal force FTE is independent of the span length.
The bending moment experienced at the base of the insulator due to the tension or compression force generated from
thermal expansion L is conservatively given by:
M TE = FTE hi

(67)

where

MTE
hi

is the insulator bending moment as effect of conductor expansion/contraction, (N-m) [lbf-in]

is the height of the insulator, (m) [in]

11.4.2 Expansion fittings

To avoid or minimize the thermal expansion effects described in the previous subclause, provisions should be made for
expansion in any bus-conductor span. These provisions may be made with expansion fittings for long buses, or by
considering deflection of a bus conductor, bus-conductor bends, insulators, or mounting structures for short buses.

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