8/15/2021

ELE 2303: Power Generation and Transmission

CLO3 : Describe the different methods used for
insulation and protection of the transmission lines

1
 Power Generation and Transmission
ELE 2303
CLO3
Describe the different methods used for insulation and protection of the transmission lines
• 3.1 Describe and sketch the characteristics of a ceramic insulator as used for suspension of a
medium voltage
• 3.2 Determine the maximum voltage that may be carried by wooden support poles
• 3.3 Explain the process of cleaning insulators on transmission lines
• 3.4 Describe the structure of transmission line towers, explaining the maximum spacing, and
acceptable slack
• 3.5 Explain the requirements of grounding wires and tower grounding
• 3.6 Sketch and Label the main components of a medium /high voltage circuit breaker
• 3.7 Describe and differentiate different types of circuit breakers; this includes air, vacuum, oil, SF6
circuit breaker, moulded-case circuit breaker and miniature circuit breakers
• 3.8 Describe the principal components of electrical installation systems

2
3.1 Describe and sketch the characteristics of a
ceramic insulator as used for suspension of a
medium voltage
• An insulator is one kind of material where the internal electric charge
of this does not run freely; insufficient electric current will run
through it in the power of an electric field.
• An insulator gives support to the overhead line conductors on the
poles to prevent the current flow toward earth.

3
• In the transmission lines, insulator plays an essential role in its
operation.
• The designing of an insulator can be done using different materials
like rubber, wood, plastic, mica, etc. The special materials used in the
electrical system are glass, ceramic, porcelain, PVC (Poly Vinyl
Chloride) and polymers.

4
Types of Insulators
• Insulators are used in transmission & distribution system where each
insulator consists of several insulating discs.
• These are classified into different types based on their ratings. Some
are discussed below:
 Pin Insulator
 Suspension Insulator
 Strain Insulator
 Shackle Insulator

5
Types of Insulators
Pin Insulator
• This kind of insulator is used in distribution systems.
• The voltage capacity of this insulator is 11kV.
• It is designed with a high mechanical strength material.
• These are connected in vertical as well as horizontal positions.
• The construction of this insulator is simple and needs less
maintenance as compared with other types.

6
Types of Insulators
Suspension Insulator
 This also called disc insulator and the
designing of these insulators can be
done using materials like ceramic,
porcelain or glass.
 The voltage capacity of suspension
insulator ranges from 11 kV to 765 kV.
 It is used in overhead transmission
lines by providing more flexibility.
 It uses various discs based on the level
of voltage.
7
Types of Insulators
Strain Insulator
 This is similar to suspension type
insulators because it is used in an
overhead transmission system but Rated
System
Number of
disc
Number of
disc
its specifications and working are Voltage insulator insulator
somewhat different. used in used in
strain type suspension
 The voltage capacity of the strain tension insulator
insulator is 33kV. insulator string
string
 Mostly in the transmission line, it is
placed in bend otherwise arm 33KV 3 3

place. 66KV 5 4
132KV 9 8
220KV 15 14 8
Types of Insulators
Shackle Insulator
 These insulators are small in size,
used in overhead distribution
systems.
 The connection of this insulator can
be done by using a metallic strip.
 The voltage capacity of this
insulator is 33 kV and works in the
positions of bend or circular turn.

9
Insulators Voltage Capacity and Use

10
Ceramic Insulator Characteristics

The most important electrical properties are:

 dielectric constant
 power factor
 dielectric strength
 Resistivity
 The effect of frequency and temperature.

11
Ceramic Insulator Characteristics

The mechanical and physical characteristics which are common to all

ceramics are:
 Brittleness
 Low tensile strengths
 High compressive strengths
 High temperature stability
 Chemical stability
 Low thermal conductivities
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=7473192
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4bZaLkwfis
12
3.2 Determine the maximum voltage that may
be carried by wooden support poles

• Electric pole made of wood are usually used

in 400 volt and 230-volt low tension lines.
• The cost of a pole made of wood is less than
that of other poles.
• In other poles, the cost of a foundation is
more which can be said to be equal to that
of the wood pole.
• These poles can serve for a long period of
time.
13
Voltage Distribution Over A Suspension Insulator
String and String Efficiency
• The figure shows a 3-disc string of
suspension insulator.
• As each disc lies in between two metal
links, it forms a capacitor.
• This capacitance is known as self
capacitance or mutual capacitance.
• Moreover, air capacitance is also present
between metal links and the earthed
tower. This is known as shunt capacitance.
• The figure illustrates the equivalent circuit
of a 3-disc suspension insulator (assuming
that shunt capacitance is some fraction of
self-capacitance i.e shunt capacitance = k
* self-capacitance).

14
• If there were only mutual capacitances, then the charging current
would have been the same through all the discs.
• In this case, the voltage would have been uniformly distributed across
the string, i.e. voltage across each disc would have been the same.
• But, due to the shunt capacitances, charging current is not the same
through all the discs.
• From the above equivalent circuit, applying Kirchoff's current law to
node A,
I2 = I1 + i1
V2ωC = V1ωC + V1ωkC
V2 = V1 + V1k
V2 = (1 + k)V1 ...... eq.(i)

15
• Applying Kirchoff's current law to node B,
I3 = I2 + i2
V3ωC = V2ωC + (V2 + V1)ωkC
V3 = V2 + (V1 + V2)k
V3 = kV1 + (1 + k) V2
V3 = kV1 + (1 + k)2 V1 ...... from eq.(i)
V3 = V1 [k + (1 + k)2]
V3 = V1 [k + 1 + 2k + k2]
V3 = V1 (1 + 3k + k2) ...... eq.(ii)
•
Now, voltage between the conductor and the earth tower is,
V = V1 + V2 + V3
V = V1 + (1 + k)V1 + V1 (1 + 3k + k2)
V = V1 (3 + 4k + k2) ...... eq.(iii)
16
• From the above equations (i), (ii) & (iii), it is clear that the voltage
across the top disc is minimum while voltage across the disc nearest
to the conductor is maximum, i.e. V3 = V1 (1 + 3k + k2).
• As we move towards the cross arm, voltage across the disc goes on
decreasing.
• Due to this non-uniform voltage distribution across the string, the
unit nearest to the conductor is under maximum electrical stress and
is likely to be punctured.

17
String Efficiency
• The ratio of voltage across the whole string to the product of number of discs and
the voltage across the disc nearest to the conductor is called as string efficiency
• String efficiency = Voltage across the string / (number of discs X voltage
across the disc nearest to the conductor).
• Greater the string efficiency, more uniform is the voltage distribution. String
efficiency becomes 100% if the voltage across each disc is exactly the same, but
this is an ideal case and impossible in practical scenario.
• However, for DC voltages, insulator capacitances are ineffective and voltage
across each unit would be the same. This is why string efficiency for DC system is
100%.
• Inequality in voltage distribution increases with the increase in the number of
discs in a string. Therefore, shorter strings are more efficient than longer string
insulators.

18
Problem Solving Question
• An overhead 3-phase transmission line, which has phase voltage 30
kV, is hanging from a three insulators suspension strain. The
capacitance between the links and the earth is 0.2 C, where C is the
capacitance of an insulator.
a. Voltage across each disc
b. String Efficiency

19
Solution:
a.
V2 = (1 + k)V1 =1.2V1
V3 = V1 (1 + 3k + k2) =1.64 V1
V = V1 + V2 + V3

30000=3.84 V1
V1 =7812.5 V V2 = (1 + k)V1 =1.2V1 =9375 V
V3 = V1 (1 + 3k + k2) =1.64 V1 =12812 V

b.
String efficiency=30000/(3 V3 )=0.7804=78.04%

20
Repeat the above problem when the capacitance between the links and the
earth is
1. 0.1 C
2. 0.0 C
3. 0.3 C
4. 0.4 C

where C is the capacitance of an insulator.

21
3.3 Explain the process of cleaning insulators
on transmission lines
• If the insulators are not cleaned, a flashover may occur causing
blackouts and damaged equipment.
• Hot Line Washing is basically a procedure where insulators on
electrical lines are cleaned with water while the electricity is
energized (on).
• White vinegar can also be used .

22
3.3 Explain the process of cleaning insulators
on transmission lines
• Oxalic acid can also be used for cleaning insulators due to its
availability, cheapness, safeness and excellent cleaning.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaMSlF7goO4

23
3.4 Describe the structure of transmission line
towers, explaining the maximum spacing, and
acceptable slack
Structure of transmission line towers
Explained in LO2 slides 16-22

Spacing and Slack

• Usually conductors will swing synchronously (in phase) with the wind, but with long spans and
small size of conductors, there is always possibility of the conductors swinging non-
synchronously, and the size of the conductor and the maximum sag at the centre of the span are
factors, which should be taken into account in determining the phase distance apart at which they
should strung.
• As a rule of thumb, minimum horizontal spacing between conductors should not be less than 1%
of the span length in order to minimize the risk of phases coming into contact with each other
during swing.

24
Spacing and Slack
• considerations, power conductors along the route of the transmission line should
maintain requisite clearances to ground in open country, national highways,
rivers, railways, tracks, telecommunication lines, other existing power lines.

• The ground clearance for different voltages, which generally applicable are:
5.66 kV 6.5 m at +650 C conductor temperature
6.132 kV 7.0 m at +650 C conductor temperature
7.220 kV 7.5 m at +800 C conductor temperature

• The minimum clearances of conductor over rivers, which are not navigable, shall
be kept 3.05 m over maximum flood level.

25
Spacing and Slack
•
The minimum clearances between the conductors of a power line and
telecommunication cable shall be:
132 kV 2.44 m
220 kV 2.74 m
400 kV 4.88 m

• The minimum spacing between power lines shall be:

132 kV 2.75 m
220 kV 4.55 m
400 kV 6.00 m

26
Spacing and Slack

• In hot weather, power lines can overheat.

• The lines are often heavily loaded because of increased
power consumption, and the conductors, which are generally made of
copper or aluminum, expand when heated.
• That expansion increases the slack (not held tightly in position)
between transmission line structures, causing them to sag further.

27
 SUB OUTCOME 3.5
3.5 Explain the requirements of grounding
wires and tower grounding

28
GROUND WIRES AND THEIR REQUIREMENTS
• Ground wires or earth wires are bare conductors supported at the top
of transmission towers.

• They serve to shield the line and intercept lightning stroke before it
hits the power lines.

29
 GROUND WIRES AND THEIR REQUIREMENTS
• Ground wire is a conductor run parallel to the main conductors of the
line. It is supported on the same towers, is placed higher than the
main conductors and is adequately grounded at every tower.

https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2012/04/what-is-purpose-of-ground-wires-in- 30
over.html#:~:text=Ground%20wires%20or%20earth%20wires,are%20often%20made%20of%20steel.
GROUND WIRES AND THEIR REQUIREMENTS
• For horizontal arrangement of conductors, there are two ground
wires to provide effective shielding to power conductors from direct
lightning strokes whereas in vertical configuration of conductors there
is only one ground wire.

31
GROUND WIRES AND THEIR REQUIREMENTS
1. The ground wire used should be mechanically strong and should be so located that they
provide sufficient shielding.

2. There should be sufficient clearance between the power conductors and the tower
structure.

3. There should be an adequate clearance between the line conductors and the ground
wires, particularly at the mid-span, so as to avoid flashover to the power conductor up to the
protective voltage level used for the line design.

4. The tower footing resistance should be as low as permissible.

5. The ground wire is made up of galvanized steel or ACSR conductors.

6. The protective angle is in the region of 20o to 45o.

• (" Angle between the vertical line passing through the ground wire and the line passing
through the outermost power conductor is called the protective angle“)

32
TOWER EARTHING

https://www.electrical4u.com/earthing-of-electrical-transmission-tower/
33
TOWER EARTHING
• The tower earthing system is provided by an electrically
interconnected system of conductors and rods, connectors,
foundation and the local soil.

• Individual tower earthing design must consider the electrical

performance of the line and the individual tower.

• Different tower earthing designs can occur from tower to tower due
to the variation in parameters and conditions along the length of the
line.

34
TOWER EARTHING
• Each tower of an electrical transmission line should be earthed.
• The footing resistance of each tower should be measured.
• The footing resistance of tower should be taken in dry season.
• In any circumstances footing resistance of the tower will not be more
than 10 ohms.
• Pipe earthing should be used for the electrical transmission line
tower.
• In case of river crossing and railway crossing towers, we provide
earthing at diagonally opposite two legs of a tower.

35
 SUB OUTCOME 3.6
3.6 Sketch and Label the main components of a
medium /high voltage circuit breaker

36
What is Circuit Breaker (CB) ?
• A CB (Circuit breaker) is a device which:
• Control (make or break) a circuit manually or by remote control
under normal and fault conditions.
• Break a circuit automatically under fault conditions like overcurrent
and short circuit etc.

37
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF CIRCUIT BREAKER
• A circuit breaker essentially consists of fixed and moving contacts,
called electrodes. These contacts are placed in the closed chamber
containing a fluid containing medium (either liquid or gas) which
quenches the arc formed between the contacts.
• Under normal operating conditions, these contacts remain closed and
will not open automatically until and unless the system becomes
faulty.
• When a fault occurs on any part of the system, the trip coils of the
breaker get energized. The moving contacts are pulled apart by some
mechanism, thus opening the circuit.

• https://studyelectrical.com/2018/12/circuit-breaker-operating-
principle-and.html
38
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF CIRCUIT BREAKER

39
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF CIRCUIT BREAKER
• When the contacts of a circuit breaker are separated under fault conditions, an
arc is struck between them. The current is thus able to continue until the
discharge ceases.
• The main problem in a circuit breaker is to extinguish the arc within the
shortest possible time. So that heat generated by it may not reach a dangerous
value.

• During the arcing period, the current flowing between the contacts depends
upon the arc resistance. The greater the arc resistance, the smaller the current
that flows between the contacts
40
Factors for Arc Phenomenon
• The arc resistance depends upon the following factors:
• The degree of ionization – the arc resistance increases with the
decrease in the number of ionized particles between the contacts.
• Length of the arc – the arc resistance increases with the length of the
arc i.e. separation of contacts.
• Cross-section of arc – the arc resistance increase with the decrease in
the area of cross-section of the arc.

https://www.slideshare.net/merajulmridul/arc-phenomena

41
Methods of Arc Extinction in Circuit Breaker

Methods of Arc Extinction in Circuit Breaker

There are two methods of extinguishing the arc in circuit breakers
1.High resistance method
2.Low resistance or current zero method.

42
43
COMPONENTS OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER
1. Actuator lever: Used to ON and OFF the breaker. Sometimes, a current trip off
while the lever is at the ON position. Such is termed as trip-free.
2. Actuator mechanism: Opens and closes the contact.
3. Contacts: Allow current flow when closed and break the current when open.
4. Terminals: This is where breakers connect to the entire circuit.
5. Bimetallic strip: This separates the contacts when there is a high- voltage or
short circuit.
6. Calibration screw: It is what the manufacturers used to set the trip current after
assembly.
7. Solenoid: Separate contacts when there is over current.
8. Arc extinguisher, or divider: This separates an arc each time a breaker interrupts
light.

https://cupdf.com/document/what-is-a-circuit-breakerppt.html
44
45
 MEDIUM VOLTAGE & HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT
BREAKERS
• Voltage level from 1KV-69KV is categorized under medium & 69KV-230KV is categorized
as High Voltage. Circuit Breakers operating in these voltage ranges are known as Medium
& High Voltage CBs respectively.
• VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER
• Vacuum Circuit Breaker or VCB is used for Medium Voltage applications. In VCB the
contacts operation & arc quenching takes place inside bottles where Vacuum is present.
• SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER
• SF6 circuit breakers are also used mainly in medium voltage applications. In this breaker
SF6 gas is used for arc quenching due to its ability of quenching the arc very efficiently.
SF6 Breakers being highly efficient in arc quenching are still not preferred much as SF6
being a poisonous gas, is dangerous to environment & humans.
• OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
• Oil Circuit Breakers were also used on high voltages & Oil was used as the arc quenching
medium.

46
 LABEL THE COMPONENTS OF DIFFERENT TYPE
CIRCUIT BREAKERS –VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER

47
LABEL THE COMPONENTS OF DIFFERENT TYPE
CIRCUIT BREAKERS-OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER

48
LABEL THE COMPONENTS OF DIFFERENT TYPE
CIRCUIT BREAKERS-SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER

49
 SUB OUTCOME 3.7
3.7 Describe and differentiate different types of circuit
breakers; this includes air, vacuum, oil, SF6 circuit
breaker, moulded-case circuit breaker and miniature
circuit breakers

50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
https://electricalnaukri.com/sf6-circuit-breaker-construction-
working-principle-application/
60
61
62
LOW VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER-
MINIATURE CIRCUIT BREAKER (MCB)
• MCB stands for Miniature Circuit Breaker.
• It automatically switches OFF electrical circuit during any abnormal condition in
the electrical network such as overload & short circuit conditions.
• However, fuse may sense these conditions but it has to be replaced though MCB
can be reset.
• The MCB is an electromechanical device which guards the electric wires
&electrical load from overcurrent so as to avoid any kind of fire or electrical
hazards.
• Handling MCB is quite safer and it quickly restores the supply. When it comes to
house applications, MCB is the most preferred choice for overload and short
circuit protection.
• MCB can be reset very fast & don’t have any maintenance cost.

63
LOW VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER-
MCCB (MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKER)
• MCCB stands for Molded Case Circuit Breaker.
• It is another type of electrical protection device which is used when load current
exceeds the limit of a miniature circuit breaker.
• The MCCB provides protection against overload, short circuit faults and is also
used for switching the circuits. It can be used for higher current rating and fault
level even in domestic applications.
• The wide current ratings and high breaking capacity in MCCB find their use in
industrial applications.
• MCCB can be used for protection of capacitor bank, generator protection and
main electric feeder distribution.

64
65
Circuit Breaker Size Calculation for Single Phase
Supply
• To determine the appropriate size of circuit breaker for single phase
supply, it depends on multiple factors like type of load, cable material
and environment temperature etc.
• The general rule of thumb is that circuit breaker size should be 125%
of the capacity of cable and wire or the circuit which has to be
protected by the CB.

66
EXAMPLE QUESTIONS
Suppose, a 12 gauge wire is used for 20 amperes lighting circuit having 120V
single phase supply. What is the best size of circuit breaker for that 20 A
circuit?
Solution:
Circuit Current: 20A
Circuit Breaker Size: ?
CB size should be 125% of the circuit current.
= 125% x 20A
= 1.25 x 20A
Circuit Breaker Size = 25A

67
Exercise Questions
2. What is the appropriate size of circuit breaker for 2000W, single
phase 120V Supply?

3. What is the suitable size of circuit breaker for 230V, 1840kW load
single phase circuit?

68
Circuit Breaker Size Calculation for Three Phase
Supply
• To find the breaker size for three phase supply voltage, we must know
the exact kind of load as there are many factors affecting the load
current.
• In other words, same rule won’t apply to the different types of loads
i.e. light, motor, inductive or capacitive load as motor takes initially
very high current during the starting process as well as power factor
involvement.
• For residential use, we may follow the same formula as above for
single phase with taking the √3 (1.732) due to three phase power
formula.

69
EXAMPLE and EXERCISE QUESTIONS
• Example 1: Which size circuit breaker is needed for 6.5kW, three phase 480V load?
Power in Three Phase: P = V x I x √3
Current: P / V x √3
I = 6.5kW / (480V x 1.732) … (√3 = 1.732)
I = 6.5kW / 831.36
I = 7.82A
The recommended size of circuit breaker is
1.25 x 7.82A = 9.77A
The next closest standard of circuit breaker is 10A.

• Exercise Question: Find the appropriate size of CB for 3-Phase 415V, 17kW load?

70
 SUB OUTCOME 3.8
Describe the principal components of electrical
installation systems

71
PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL
INSTALLATION SYSTEMS

https://www.slideshare.net/catherinelindsay/components- 72
used-in-electrical-installations
73
74
75
76
77
78
79