TUTORIAL AND INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON HVDC

SYSTEMS

RECENT ENHANCEMENTS IN AC
TRANSMISSION LINE ENGINEERING
BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE ON COMPACT AND HIGH SURGE
IMPEDANCE LOADING LINES
JOS HENRIQUE MACHADO FERNANDES ELETRONORTE
PRESIDENT OF THE BRAZILIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CIGR
CONVENER OF THE BRAZILIAN STUDY COMMITTEE B2
BUENOS AIRES - ARGENTINA JUNE, 5th, 2008

COMPACT AND HSIL

LINES BRAZILIAN
EXPERIENCE

BRAZIL IS A
LARGE COUNTRY
WITH A VERY LONG
INTERCONNECTED
ELECTRIC
SYSTEM

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

BRAZIL - DECISIVE ENERGETIC FACTORS

Great Hydroelectric Potential to be exploited;

Future Power plants located mainly in the North Region;

Future Power Plants located far away from the consumption

centers;

The Brazilian Regions have different Hydrological cycles;

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

BRAZIL - DECISIVE ENERGETIC FACTORS

The hydrological diversity leads to even greater electric

interconnections among the Brazilian Regions;

Electric interconnections provide energetic gain to the whole

Brazilian Electric System;

Electric interconnections with neighboring countries and the

use of natural gas will increase the energetic gains.
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

BRAZILIAN HYDROELECTRIC POTENTIAL

112 GW
43%
26 GW
10%
35 GW
14%
TOTAL POWER : 261 GW
OPERATING/IN CONSTRUCTION: 30%
ESTIMATED:

45 GW
17%

70%

43 GW
16%
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

BRAZIL - CONDITIONAL TRANSMISSION FACTORS

Long distance transmission systems will be necessary;

Transmission systems will transport even greater blocks of

energy;

Alternatives that reduce the transportation cost of energy must

be developed;
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

BRAZIL - CONDITIONAL TRANSMISSION FACTORS

The regions crossed by these transmission lines are not yet

properly served by electric energy ;

The alternatives that provide regional insertion of electricity

and the linking of new hydro plants at competitive costs will
bring advantages to the interconnections;

Environmental constraints act towards a greater efficiency of

the energy corridors (MW/m2).
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

MORE EFFICIENT TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS

STRATEGIES TO BE FOLLOWED

Develop AC lines with greater transportation capacity like

Compact and HSIL lines;

Use of equipment that allows a greater energy

transportation with a minimum number of parallel circuits,
like series compensation;

Use of Static VAR Compensators and FACTS in order to make

the AC technology more applicable and flexible;

Evaluate DC transmission systems, a common sense option for

long distance transmissions.
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

EXAMPLE CASE: 5000 MW TRANSPORTATION AT 500 kV

1.

Conventional Transmission Lines with SIL 1000 MW

~
2.

Compact Transmission Lines with SIL 1250 MW

~
3.

5 circuits 100% - 16,7 MW/m2

4 circuits 80% - 20,8 MW/m2

Compact Transmission Lines and Series Compensation

3 circuits - 60% - 27,8 MW/m2

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

COMPACT LINES BASIC CONCEPTS

Surge Impedance Loading SIL or Natural Power is the active

power flow circulating in a line for which the inductive power
consumption along the conductors are supplied by the
capacitive power generated by the line itself;

Transporting power above or under the SIL causes the line to

consume or generate reactive power and voltage variations
occur;

The SIL reflects the interaction of the transmission line

parameters, with the electrical system;

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

COMPACT LINES BASIC CONCEPTS

The SIL is calculated by the following formula:

SIL = V2/Z1
Where: V = System Voltage (phase to phase) - kV
Z1 = Positive sequence impedance or surge impedance
Z1 = ZP ZM

where:

ZP = Phase self impedance

ZM = Mutual impedance among phases

Compaction is a technique which handles the tower top

geometry in order to place the phases as close as possible;
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

COMPACT LINES BASIC CONCEPTS

Compaction increases the coupling among phases and consequently

the mutual impedance (ZM);

The increase in the mutual impedance results in a reduction in the

positive sequence impedance (Z1);

The reduction in the positive sequence impedance (Z1) provides an

increase in the SIL of the line;
2

V
SIL = ____________
Z1 = ZP ZM

Compaction can increase the SIL of the Line up to 20%

or 25%.
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

COMPACT LINES BASIC CONCEPTS

Maximum Compaction Limiting Factors:

Interphase Insulation Coordination;

Electric field gradients at the surfaces of subconductors

increasing the corona activity.
Other Possibilities to Increase the SIL:

Increase the numbers of sub-conductors per phase;

Increase bundle radius;

Introduce bundle expansion along the span.

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

HSIL BASIC CONCEPTS

HSIL theory shows that the optimization of electric

field in a conductor's surface leads to a reduction of
the series reactance and improves the natural
capacity (SIL) of a TL.

For optimization (equalization/maximization) of

electric fields, it proposes non conventional shapes
of bundles.

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

HSIL BASIC CONCEPTS

(Bundle Expansion-BEX)

BEX applies the same HSIL concept, but the

optimization process is not stressed up to the limit.

However, BEX is easier to study, test and implement.

BEX can increase the SIL of the Line up to 70%

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

How do Compact, BEX and HSIL increase the SIL?

SIL = V2/Z1
Traditional TL:
Compact TL:
BEX (FEX):
HSIL(LPNE:)

Z1 = Zp
Z1 = Zp
Z1 = Zp
Z1 = Zp

Zm
Zm
Zm
Zm

BEX:+15% up to +70% (new or existing TL)

HSIL:+100% up to +200% (only new TL)

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

TYPICAL VALUES OF SIL

VOLTAGE
(KV)

SIL TRADITIONAL TL
(MW)

SIL HSIL TL
(MW)

69

9 12

10 40

138

40 50

50 120

230

120 130

130 440

500

950 1000

1000 - 2000

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

COMPACT LINES STUDIED ALTERNATIVES

Self Supporting Conventional Delta IVI

(a) Self Supporting Compact IVI
(b) Self Supporting Compact III
(c) Self Supporting Compact VU
(d) Self Supporting Compact VVV
(e) Cross Rope Chainette III
(f) Cross Rope Y Tower
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

500 kV TOWERS

COMPACT RACKET TOWER

CONVENTIONAL TOWER
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

COMPARATIVE TABLE 525 kV

CHARACTERISTICS

COMPACT LINE

CONVENTIONAL LINE

GMD (Geometric Mean Distance) m

Reactance - /km
Capacitance nF/km
SIL (Surge Impedance Load) MW
Conductors Bundle MCM
Phases Distances m
External External
Central External
Structure Weight ton
Number of Parallel Circuits to Transmit
5450 MW
Economy in 800 km

6,8
0,266
16,144
1330
4 x 954 45/7

13,2
0,326
13,440
1090
4 x 636 26/7

9,0
6,0
9,0
4

21,0
10,5
9,0
5

US$ 300 millions

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

230 kV TOWERS

COMPACT RACKET TOWER

CONVENTIONAL TOWER
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

COMPARATIVE TABLE 230 kV

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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE

23

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

500 kV Compact Racket Tower

230 kV Compact Racket Tower

24

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

500 kV COMPACT TOWERS

500 kV - Compact Racket Tower

500 kV Compact Cross Rope Tower 25

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

500 kV COMPACT CROSS ROPE SUSPENSION TOWER

The 500 kV cross rope tower has been developed to have the same SIL
of the 500 kV racket tower: 1200 MW / 500 kV or 1330 MW / 525 kV;

The 500 kV compact cross rope tower developed in Brazil has the
smallest interphase distances of the world: 5,5 m;

The use of the 500 kV cross rope tower can provide a reduction up to
20% in the investments when compared to a conventional or
compact line with racket tower;
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COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

500 kV COMPACT CROSS ROPE SUSPENSION TOWER

There are around 2000 km of 500 kV lines with compact cross rope
suspension towers in operation in Brazil

The cross rope suspension tower is an excellent option to be used in

systems with voltage level higher than 500 kV;

27

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

500 kV COMPACT
CROSS ROPE
SUSPENSION TOWER
IN

OPERATION

IN BRAZIL

28

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

THE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE

THERE ARE AROUND 4 000 KM OF 500 KV AND 230 KV

LINES WITH COMPACT RACKET TOWERS IN OPERATION
IN BRAZIL

29

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

THE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE

- Compact towers do not have any operational and maintenance problems ;

- Live-line maintenance procedures are identical to those of the conventional
towers;
- Measured electric fields have the same magnitude of those found in
conventional structures;
- Live - line maintenance procedures were developed and tested in CEPEL
Laboratories.

30

BEX 500kV- P & D

experimental stretch: outer phases

31

BEX 500kV Implemented (740km)

two different phase hardware conceptions

32

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

230 kV Single - Mast Tower with Expanded Bundle

33

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

500 kV Single - Mast Tower with Expanded Bundle

34

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

500 kV
Single - Mast
Tower

with

Expanded Bundle

35

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

CONCLUSIONS

Compaction can increase the SIL of the Line up to 25%;

Compaction reduces the amount of the needed reactive

compensation providing a smaller number of circuits in the
future;

Compact Racket structures have roughly the same

of the conventional structures;

costs

36

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

Compact cross rope suspension tower can provide an economy

up to 20% when compared to a line with compact racket tower;

In spite of the reductions made in the tower top geometry,

the compact lines have the same performance of the
conventional lines;

Compaction and bundle expansion are nowadays real

alternatives at engineers disposal to develop more efficient
transmission systems.

37

COMPACT AND HSIL LINES BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

HSIL and BEX techniques can :

Give the system expansion planning a great flexibility in the

conception of alternatives.
Tune the TL capacity to the system needs (tailor-made
concept).
Improve the voltage profile and stability performance, by
reducing the series reactance. Furthermore they provide
better flow distribution in the network.
Provide cost attractive solutions for new TL as well as to
uprating the existing ones.
38

THANK YOU

39