Power Transmission Line Design

1. Introduction
In this project, we have developed a MATLAB-based code that automates the design of
transmission lines, integrating input from a user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI)
and implementing the corresponding circuit in Simulink. The primary objective of this tool
is to optimize the design of the transmission line based on several critical parameters,
ensuring efficient and reliable performance.
The inputs required for the system include the source voltage (Vin), load power,
frequency (Pload), transmission line length, and the desired voltage regulation and
efficiency. These inputs are fed into the MATLAB code, which then processes the data to
select an appropriate conductor from a database of Aluminum Conductor Steel
Reinforced (ACSR) conductors. The selection is made based on the current-carrying
capacity of each conductor and its suitability for the system’s specifications.
This project integrates multiple engineering concepts, such as electrical transmission line
theory, conductor selection based on load capacity, and optimization techniques for
voltage regulation and efficiency. The output of this system is a fully optimized
transmission line design, ready to be implemented in real-world applications. The use of
Simulink for circuit implementation allows for a visual representation of the design,
enabling easier analysis and validation of the system’s performance.
This report provides an overview of the system’s design, the steps taken to implement the
MATLAB code and Simulink model, and the results obtained from testing the system with
various input parameters.

2. Project Objectives
The main objectives of this project are:
1) To design power transmission lines for 132 kV, 220 kV, and 500 kV voltage ratings
using a user-friendly MATLAB GUI.
2) To calculate essential transmission line parameters and select suitable conductor
based on the design requirements.
3) To simulate the designed transmission lines in MATLAB Simulink and evaluate
voltage regulation and efficiency.
4) To provide a tool for engineers and designers to optimize power transmission line
design and improve decision-making.
3. Transmission line voltage levels in Egypt
3.1. 132 kV Transmission Lines
 Optimum Number of Bundles: 1 or 2 bundles
 Common Configuration: Single conductor or horizontal/vertical
2-bundle configuration.
Reason:
For lower voltage levels like 132 kV, a single conductor is often sufficient for most
applications.
In some cases, a 2-bundle configuration is used to reduce line reactance and increase
the current-carrying capacity, especially for longer distances or in areas with high load
demands.
The horizontal or vertical configurations can be used depending on the topography,
structural limitations, and mechanical requirements.

3.2. 220 kV Transmission Lines

 Optimum Number of Bundles: 1 or 2 bundles

 Common Configuration: Triangular configuration (for 3

bundles) or horizontal/vertical configuration (for 2
bundles).
Reason:
For 220 kV, the use of 2 bundles is common for improving the current-carrying
capacity and reducing the line inductance.
3 bundles in a triangular configuration are also used in some cases to further reduce
the reactance and corona losses, particularly in areas with high humidity, pollution, or
elevated altitude.
The triangular configuration provides mechanical balance and voltage distribution
benefits, especially for higher current-carrying capacities.

3.3. 500 kV Transmission Lines

 Optimum Number of Bundles: 4 bundles
  Common Configuration: Square configuration or vertical configurations for higher
capacity lines.
Reason:
For 500 kV lines, 4 bundles are typically used to significantly reduce inductance,
improve the current-carrying capacity, and minimize corona losses at higher voltages.
A square configuration (with the conductors placed symmetrically in a square or
diamond shape) is commonly used as it helps with mechanical stability, uniform
voltage distribution, and efficient power transmission.
The increased surface area of 4 bundles helps to manage the higher voltage and
reduce the electric field intensity, minimizing corona discharge.

Additional Considerations
 Electrical and Mechanical Factors: Bundle configuration is chosen to ensure
balanced electrical performance and mechanical stability, especially under high
wind or ice-loading conditions.
 Coronal Discharge: Higher voltages like 500 kV require multiple bundles to reduce
the risk of corona discharge, which can increase losses and interfere with
transmission efficiency so For the 500 kV lines, 4 bundles are the most common
due to the need for reducing corona losses and increasing the line’s overall
capacity.
 Current-Carrying Capacity: More bundles increase the current capacity of the
transmission line.

4. GUI Design and MATLAB Code Development

The GUI was developed in MATLAB to facilitate user interaction and input of key design
parameters. The following steps were implemented:
4.1. Input Parameters: The GUI collects user inputs, including:
4.1.1. Frequency
The frequency of the line (in HZ).
4.1.2. transmission line Voltage (VTL)
Represents the voltage level at the receiving end of the transmission line (in KV) and it
have the values (132,220,500 KV).
4.1.3. Load Power (PLoad) and power factor (PF)
Represents the total power (in MW) delivered to the load at the receiving end of the
transmission line and the power factor of the load and there is an input for power
factor state whether it is leading or lagging.
4.1.4. Transmission Line (TL) Length
Represents the distance between the sending and receiving ends of the line (in km).
4.1.5. Number of bundles
Represents number of bundles of transmission line circuit to design and perform
calculations on it and it have the values (2,3,4 bundles).
4.1.6. Distances between conductors and bundles
They are 4 values:
 S: distance between each conductor in the bundle
 DAB: distance between phase A and B bundles
 DBC: distance between phase B and C bundles
 DCA: distance between phase C and A bundles
4.1.7. Desired Voltage Regulation & Desired Efficiency
A design target that specifies how much the voltage at the receiving end can vary
compared to the sending end.
4.1.8. Current added limit
Represent the limit of current added to the current per conductor to be the maximum
CCC can be selected from the ACSR table.
4.2. Design steps
 4.2.1. Number of circuits: Based on circuit inductance used values in this table

4.2.2. Receiving end current

PLoad
I r= A
√ 3V TL × PF

4.2.3. Number of circuits

Pr × X cir .
n= 2
si n ( δ ) ×V TL

δ=30 °

After computing n, we use n+1 as the number of the circuits

As n+1 Circuits in Transmission Lines: Ensuring Reliability and Stability

1. Reliability
Reliability in transmission lines refers to the ability of the system to consistently deliver
power without interruptions. Installing N+1 circuits enhances reliability in several ways:
 Redundancy:
The additional circuit serves as a backup in case one of the primary circuits fails due
to faults, maintenance, or unforeseen issues like natural disasters. This ensures
uninterrupted power flow to the connected load.
 Fault Tolerance:
If a single circuit becomes inoperative, the remaining circuits can handle the load
without causing system-wide outages. This reduces downtime and maintains the
operational integrity of the grid.
 Maintenance Flexibility:
The N+1 configuration allows one circuit to be taken offline for scheduled
 maintenance without disrupting service. This proactive maintenance reduces the
risk of unplanned outages.

2. Applications and Practical Examples

The N+1 strategy is commonly applied in:
 High-voltage transmission systems where failure can have widespread impacts.
 Critical industries and urban centers where power outages must be minimized.
 Renewable energy grids to manage variability in generation and demand.
For example, in regions with frequent weather-related disruptions, the N+1 configuration
ensures that critical facilities like hospitals and data centers remain powered during
extreme conditions.
Why using power angle = 30

1. Maximum Power Margin:

VrV s
 The power transfer equation P= sin(δ ) reaches its maximum when δ=90∘\
X
delta = 90^\circ, but operating at or near this point is risky because any slight
disturbance can lead to instability.
 Operating at δ=30 provides a significant margin before reaching the critical angle
(90), ensuring the system can handle variations or disturbances without losing
synchronism.

2. Efficient Power Transfer:

 At δ=30, the system can transfer about 50% of the maximum power:
 This allows for stable and efficient operation without pushing the system close to
its limits.

3. Improved Stability:
  Operating at a smaller angle (e.g., δ=30) keeps the system in a more stable region
of the power-angle curve. A larger angle (closer to 90) would mean a smaller
restoring force during disturbances, increasing the risk of instability.

4. Reduced Losses:
 Power angle directly affects the reactive power flow and line losses. At δ=30, the
reactive power is lower compared to higher angles, minimizing losses and
maintaining system efficiency.

5. Transient Stability Considerations:

 In transient conditions, the power angle may increase momentarily. Operating at
δ=30 allows the system to absorb these disturbances without exceeding the δ=90
stability threshold.

6. Economic and Practical Factors:

 Designing a system to operate consistently at δ=30 balances performance,
reliability, and cost. It avoids over-engineering while providing a safe operating
buffer.

Summary:
Operating at an optimum power angle of 30 degrees ensures a balance between
stability, efficiency, and reliability. It provides sufficient power transfer capability while
maintaining a large safety margin to handle both steady-state and transient conditions.

4.2.3. Current per conductor

Ir
I cond . =
n× k

Where:
n: number of circuits computed +1
k: number of bundles
 4.2.4. Current carrying capacity choosing from tables
Based on input parameters and standard conductor characteristics. The code
compares the output CCC to a data base of conductors codes and chooses the
suitable conductor depending on the yielded VR & efficiency.

4.2.5. Another values from table

After choosing the suitable conductor code the program extracts the corresponding
RAC @ the nearest temperature to the ambient temperature in Egypt (500C), r’ (The
conductor radius multiplied by e-0.25), Total cross section area & Conductor diameter.
4.2.6. GMD, GMRL and GMRC
1. GMD (Geometric Mean Distance): GMD is the equivalent distance used to
represent the effect of spacing between conductors in a multi-phase transmission
system. It is calculated as the geometric mean of all distances between the
conductors in a given phase configuration.
Formula:
GMD= √ d 12 × d 13 × … ×d 1 n
n

Purpose of GMD:
 GMD is used to calculate the inductance of a transmission line.
 It accounts for the mutual inductive effects between conductors.
 Ensures accurate representation of inductive reactance, which impacts the
impedance and power flow.

2. GMRL & GMRC:

Bundle Configuration GMRL GMRC

√ r' d √ rd
 √3 r ' d 2 √3 r d 2

1.09 √ r ' d 3 1.09 √ r d 3

4 4

Why Use These Approaches?

 These calculations ensure precise modeling of transmission line parameters, which
is critical for system stability and efficiency.
 The GMD captures mutual inductance effects, GMRL considers individual conductor
characteristics, and GMRC accounts for bundled configurations.
 Together, they allow for a comprehensive analysis of transmission line
performance, enabling engineers to design and optimize the electrical network
effectively.
4.2.7. Transmission line parameters calculation

4.2.7.1. Bundle Resistance (R): This is the resistance of the transmission line, which
depends on the material properties and the physical dimensions of the conductors.
For bundled conductors, the resistance of the bundle is calculated considering the
number of sub-conductors in the bundle and their arrangement.
 Formula:

4.2.7.2. Line Inductance (L): The inductance per unit length of the transmission line
depends on the conductor's geometry and the distance between the conductors.
For bundled conductors, the mutual inductance between the conductors is also
considered.
Formula:
−7 D eq
L=2 ×10 ln
GMR L

4.2.7.3. Line Capacitance (C): The line capacitance per unit length depends on the
geometry of the transmission line, the permittivity of the insulating medium
(usually air), and the conductor configuration.
Formula:
2 πε
C=
Deq
ln
GMR C

4.2.7.4. Line Admittance (Y): The admittance per unit length of the transmission
line is the reciprocal of the characteristic impedance, which depends on the line's
capacitance and inductance.
Formula:
Y = jωC

4.2.8. ABCD model

The ABCD parameters (or transmission line parameters) are used to model the behavior
of a transmission line, representing the relationship between the sending-end voltage and
current (Vs and Is) and the receiving-end voltage and current (Vr and Ir).
The ABCD parameters vary depending on the length of the transmission line: short,
medium, or long. Below are the general equations for the ABCD model for different types
of transmission lines.
4.2.8.1. Short Transmission Line (L < 80 km)
For a short transmission line (typically less than 80 km in length), the line is considered to
have negligible series inductance and shunt capacitance. Therefore, the line is modeled as
a series impedance and has a simple relationship between sending-end and receiving-end
voltages and currents.
The ABCD parameters for a short transmission line are:

4.2.8.2. Medium Transmission Line (L between 80 km and 240 km)

For a medium-length transmission line, both the series impedance and the shunt
admittance are taken into account. The medium line has more pronounced reactive
effects, and the ABCD model incorporates these effects.

Where:
γ=((R+jωL)(G+jωC))0.5 , L is the line length

The ABCD parameters for a medium transmission line are:

4.2.8.3. Long Transmission Line (L >240 km)

For long transmission lines, the effects of both series impedance and shunt admittance
are significant, and the line can be modeled using the following ABCD parameters, where
the voltage and current relationship is similar to the medium line but more complex.
The ABCD parameters for a long transmission line are:

4.Bundles configuration: The code compares between the possible bundle configurations
based on the chosen number of bundles.

Some blocs require some other values:

Some factors affecting the bundles configuration design:

The number of bundles used for 132 kV, 220 kV, and 500 kV transmission lines depends
on various factors, such as line design, conductor material, and the need to minimize
inductance, corona losses, and line reactance. Below is a general guideline based on
typical industry practices:

 Output Display: The GUI displays computed results, including:

-Current carrying capacity
-Optimum bundles configuration
-Selected conductor code for the transmission line

4.2.9. Voltage regulation and efficiency calculation

5. Simulink Implementation

5.1 Simulink Implementation

To verify the design, the power transmission line was modeled and simulated in Simulink.
The key steps include:
1. Transmission Line Model: Using Simulink blocks, the transmission line was
modeled for 132 kV, 220 kV, and 500 kV voltage levels.
2. Input Source: A voltage source with user-specified parameters (Vin and frequency)
was applied.
3. Output Visualization: Voltage and current values were displayed to analyze the
system performance.

5.2 MATLAB GUI Code

The following is a brief overview of the MATLAB code structure:
 Step 1: GUI Layout Design Using MATLAB's App Designer, the layout was created
with input fields, labels, and buttons.

 Step 2: Calculations The callback function performs calculations for current

carrying capacity and conductor code selection.

5.3 Simulink Design

The Simulink implementation was performed to simulate the transmission line and
analyze its performance. The key elements of the Simulink model include:
1. Voltage Source: A three-phase voltage source block to generate the input voltage.
2. Transmission Line Parameters: Blocks representing the resistance, inductance, and
capacitance of the transmission line.
3. Load: A three-phase load to observe power delivery.
4. Measurement Blocks: Used to monitor voltage, current, and power at sending and
receiving ends.
The simulation results were analyzed for voltage regulation (percentage voltage drop) and
efficiency (power loss over transmission).

6. Results and Analysis

6.1 Results
The MATLAB GUI successfully performed the following tasks:
 Calculated the current carrying capacity of the transmission line based on user
inputs.
 Selected the optimal conductor code for design.
 The bundle configuration.
 Displayed accurate results for the user.
The Simulink simulation validated the performance of the transmission line. Key results
include:
 Voltage Regulation: The percentage voltage drop was minimal, ensuring stable
voltage delivery.
 Efficiency: High transmission efficiency was achieved with appropriate conductor
material and optimized design parameters.

6.2 Discussion
The GUI provided an intuitive interface for users to design transmission lines for different
voltage levels. The program's ability to calculate current capacity and select conductor
material improved the decision-making process. Simulink simulation verified the
effectiveness of the design and highlighted the importance of optimizing transmission
parameters to achieve minimal losses.

7. Conclusion
This project successfully developed a MATLAB-based GUI for designing power
transmission lines of 132 kV, 220 kV, and 500 kV ratings. The GUI allowed users to
input system parameters and obtain critical results such as current carrying capacity
and material selection. Implementation in Simulink validated the design and
demonstrated high voltage regulation and efficiency.
The developed tool serves as a useful resource for engineers and designers to optimize
power transmission lines effectively. Future work can include incorporating more
conductor materials, automating cost analysis, and integrating fault analysis
capabilities.

8. References
- MATLAB Documentation - GUI Development and Simulink Modeling.
- Power System Analysis and Design, J. Duncan Glover.
- IEEE Standards for Power Transmission Systems.
- Transmission Line Design Manual, US Department of Energy.