Transmission Line Performance - Calculation

Transmission Line Performance is determined by two parameters. Those parameters are Voltage Regulation and Transmission Efficiency. In this post we will be discuss and evaluate the performance of short transmission line.

As we know that the effect shunt capacitance of line is neglected for short transmission line. Therefore, for the sake of study and analysis of such line only series combination of line resistance and inductance are taken into account. 

The equivalent circuit of single phase short line is shown in figure below. Note that single phase of short transmission line is considered as three phase system under balanced condition can be thought of three single phase units each transmitting 1/3^rd of the total power. Therefore, phase voltage and current shall be considered if we analyze three phase system using three single phase systems.

In the figure above,

R = Line Resistance

X_L = Line Reactance

Vs = Sending end phase voltage

V_R = Receiving end phase voltage

I = Line Current.

In electrical engineering, it is a good practice to draw phasor for a circuit. Therefore, we will draw the phasor of above circuit for evaluation transmission line performance.  Let us consider line current I as reference and assume that it is lagging the receiving end voltage V_R by an angle �_R for drawing phasor.

In the above phasor,

OA is receiving end voltage and leading the current I by an angle of �_R.

IR is the voltage drop in the resistance of line.

IX_L is the voltage drop in the reactance of the line.

Therefore, sending end voltage must be the vector sum of receiving end voltage, voltage drop in resistance and reactance. Let�s calculate sending end voltage using phasor diagram.

In right angled triangle OCD,

OC²  = OD² +DC²

        = (OE)² + (DB + BC)²

        = (V_RCos�_R)² + (AE + BC)²

        = (V_RCos�_R)² + (V_RSin�_R + IX_L)²

But OC = Vs

Vs² = (V_RCos�_R)₂ + (V_RSin�_R + IX_L)²

Therefore,

Vs = v[(V_RCos�_R)₂ + (V_RSin�_R + IX_L)^2]  �������(1)

Calculation of Voltage Regulation

If receiving end voltage, line current and power factor at receiving end are known then

% Voltage Regulation = [(Vs - VR) / VR]x100 %  where the value of Vs can be calculated from equation (1).

Calculation of Transmission Efficiency

Power delivered at receiving end = V_RICos�_R

Line Loss = I²R

Therefore input power = Loss + Delivered Power

                                     = I²R + V_RICos�_R

% Transmission Efficiency ? = Power Delivered / Power sent

                                              =  [V_RICos�_R / (I²R + V_RICos�_R)]x100 %

Calculation of Sending end Power Factor

Sending end power factor is calculated from the phasor diagram shown above. As clear from phasor the angle between the sending end voltage Vs and line current I is �_s, therefore Cos�_s will be the power factor at sending end.

Sending end power factor = Cos�_s

                                                  = OD/OC

                                          = (OE + ED) / Vs

                                          = (V_RCos�_R + IR) / Vs