ELEN 4352: Power System Analysis II

Distribution System Modeling and Analysis

Ch# 4 Series Impedance of Overhead
and Underground Lines
David Rosario Ramos A00226450
Gregorio Calderon Y00400840
Israel Pagan Y00395534
Jose Cruz Rivera
Reynaldo Reyes Y00368985
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Outline

• Series Impedance of Overhead Lines • Series Impedance of Underground Lines

- Transposed Three-Phase Lines - Concentric Neutral Cable
- Untransposed Distribution Lines - Tape-Shielded Cables
- Carson’s Equations • Problems
- Modified Carson’s Equations
- Primitive Impedance Matrix for Overhead
Lines
- Phase Impedance Matrix for Overhead
Lines
- Sequence Impedances

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Learning Objectives

• Understand the methods for computing and solving series impedance on

untransposed overhead and underground lines by applying the fallowing methods:
Modified Carson’s Equations, Primitive Impedance Matrix for Overhead Lines, Phase
Impedance Matrix for Overhead Lines, Sequence Impedance.
• Learn how to determine the most accurate values of the phase impedances, self and
mutual impedance by assuming an untransposed line and including the actual
phasing of the line.
• Understand way voltage drop is a primary concern on a distribution
line, and way the impedances used for the line must be as accurate as possible.

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Series Impedance of Overhead Lines

What is Impedance and its importance for overhead Lines?

• Impedance - is the measure of the opposition of flow of current that presents the
line when a voltage is applied, possesses magnitude and phase.
• The series impedance of a single-phase, two-phase (V-phase), or three-phase
distribution line consists of the resistance of the conductors and the self and mutual
inductive reactance resulting from the magnetic fields surrounding the conductors.
For resistance component for the conductors can be found on tables (Appendix A).
• Its important to determination of the series impedance for overhead and
underground lines before the analysis of a distribution feeder can begin.
• The impedance on distribution lines varies for each phase sense the multiple loads
tend to unbalance the phases the system is said to be unbalanced and distribution
line are said to be untransposed to calculate the series impedance.

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Series Impedance of Overhead Lines

• The inductive reactance (self and mutual)

component of the impedance is a function of
the total magnetic fields surrounding a
conductor.
• Conductors 1 through n with magnetic flux
lines created by currents flowing in each of the
conductors.
• The currents in all conductors are assumed to
be flowing out of the page.
• The inductance of conductor i consists of the
self inductance of conductor i and the mutual
inductance between conductor i and all of the
other n − 1 conductors. By definition:
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Series Impedance of Overhead Lines

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Transposed Three-Phase Lines

• High-voltage transmission lines are

usually assumed to be transposed
(each phase occupies the same
physical position on the structure
for one-third of the length of the
line).
• Also it is assumed that the phases
are equally loaded (balanced
loading). With these two
assumptions it is possible to
combine the “self” and “mutual”
terms into one “phase”
inductance.
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Untransposed Distribution Lines

• Because distribution systems consist of single-phase, two-

phase, and untransposed three-phase lines serving
unbalanced loads, it is necessary to retain the identity of
the self and mutual impedance terms of the conductors
and take into account the ground return path for the
unbalanced currents.
• The ac resistance of the conductors is taken directly from a
table of conductor data (Appendix A).
• Equations 4.3 and 4.4 are used to compute the self and
mutual inductive reactances of the conductors having
f=60Hz, and length assumed to be 1 mile. With those
assumptions the self and mutual impedance are now
represented by equation 4.9 and 4.10:
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Untransposed Distribution Lines

• John Carson developed a set of equations for

computing the self and mutual impedances of
lines, taking into account the return path of current
through ground.
• Carson’s approach, represent a line with the
conductors connected to a source at one end and
grounded at the remote end.
• The Figure illustrates a line consisting of two
conductors (i and j) carrying currents (Ii and Ij) with
the remote ends of the conductors tied to ground.
• A fictitious “dirt” conductor carrying current Id is
used to represent the return path for the currents.
(KVL) is used to write the equation for the voltage
between conductor I and ground.
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Untransposed Distribution Lines

• In Equations 4.16 and 4.17, the

“over bar” impedances are given
by Equations 4.9 and 4.10., these
two equations the effect of the
ground return path is being folded
referred to as the “primitive” self
and mutual impedances of the
line.
• Substituting Equations 4.9 and
4.10 into Equations 4.16 and 4.17,
the primitive self impedance is
given by Equation 4.18

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Carson’s Equations

• Since a distribution feeder is inherently unbalanced, the most

accurate analysisshould not make any assumptions regarding the
spacing between conductors, conductor sizes, and transposition.
• Carson’s 1926 paper he developed a technique whereby the self
and mutual impedances for an arbitrary number of overhead
and underground conductors can be determined.
• Carson assumes the earth is an infinite, uniform solid with a flat
uniform upper surface and a constant resistivity. Any end effects
introduced at the neutral grounding points are not large at
power frequencies, and are therefore neglected.
• Carson made use of conductor images; that is, every conductor
at a given distance above ground has an image conductor the
same distance below ground.
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Carson’s Equations

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Modified Carson's Equation

• Modify Equation Using This Equations

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• The Solution will be Posted on the Board

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Primitive Impedance Matrix For Overhead Lines

• Equations 4.41 4.42 are used to compute the elements of an ncond x ncond primitive
impedance matrix. An overhead four- wire grounded wye distribution line segment
will result in a 4x4 matrix. For an underground grounded wye line segment consisting
of three concentric neutral cables, the resulting matrix will be 6x6. The primitive
impedance matrix for a three phase line with m neutrals will be of the form

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In Partitioned form, Equation 4.45 becomes

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Phase Impedance Matrix for Overhead Lines

• For most applications the primitive impedance matrix needs to be reduced to a 3x3
phase frame matrix consisting of the self and mutual equivalent impedances for the
three phases. Figures 4.5 shows a four- wire grounded neutral line segment. One
standard method of reduction is the Kron reduction.

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• Using Kron reduction

• In partitioned form, Equation 4.47 becomes

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• For a distribution line that is not transposed, the diagonal terms of Equation 4.54 will
not be equal to each other, and the off- diagonal terms will not be equal to each
other. however, the matrix will be symmetrical.

• For two phase and single phase lines in grounded wye systems, the modified
Carson’s equations can be applied which will lead to initial 3x3 and 2x2 primitive
impedance matrices. Kron reduction will reduce the matrices to 2x2 and a single
element. These matrices can be expanded to 3x3 phase frame matrices by the
addition of rows and columns consisting of zero elements for the missing phases. For
example, a V- phase line consisting of phases a and c, the phase impedance matrix
would be

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• Phase impedance matrix

• For phase b, single phase line would be

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• The phase impedance matrix for a three wire delta line is determined by the
application of Carson’s equations without the Kron reduction step.

• The phase impedance matrix can be used to accurately determine the voltage drops
on the feeder line segments once the currents have been determined. Since no
approximations have been made regarding the spacing between conductors, the
effect of the mutual coupling between phases is accurately taken into account. The
application of the modified Carson’s equations and the phase frame matrix leads to
the most accurate model of a line segment.

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• Figure 4.6 shows the general three phase model of a line segment. Bear in mind that
for V- phase and single phase lines some of the impedance values will be zero.

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• The voltage equation in matrix form for the line segment is

• Where

• Equation 4.57 can be written in condensed form as

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Sequence Impedance

● Transformation for three phase networks to a matrix equivalent circuit.

● Used to obtain a impedance matrix.
● Introduce the Geometric Mean Distance (GMD) to calculate the self and mutual
impedance of the lines.

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Equations

(Phase Voltage) = (As) x (Sequence Voltage)

(Phase Line Currents)=(As) x (Sequence Line Currents)

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● For symmetrical loads the self and mutual impedance are defined by :

When the off diagonal terms of sequence impedance matrix are not equal to
zero , the procedure is to set the three diagonal terms equal to the average of the those
terms and the off diagonal terms equal the average of those terms.

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Geometric Mean Distance (GMD)

GMD Between Phases: GMD Between Phases and neutral:

Equation to build the Impedance matrix: Zero , Positive and Negative

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Example 4.1
An overhead three-phase distribution line is constructed as shown in Figure 4.7.
Determine the phase impedance matrix and the positive and zero sequence
impedances of the line. The phase conductors are 336,400 26/7 ACSR (Linnet),
and the neutral conductor is 4/0 6/1 ACSR

Found on
Appendix A :

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Solution
● 1) Determine the distance between cables:

2) Apply Carson's equation for self and mutual impedance:

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Solution
3)Build the primitive matrix:

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Solution
4) Separate The matrix component to apply Kron reduction:

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Solution
5) Kron reduction:

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Solution
6)Phase Impedance is transformed to sequence impedance:

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Solution
7) For this example we see that there is mutual coupling between sequence , this is a
result for non symmetrical space between phases. In high-voltage transmission lines, it is
usually assumed that the lines are transposed and that the phase currents represent a
balanced three-phase set. The diagonal terms are equal to the average of those and the
off diagonal terms will be equal to the average of those terms.

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Solution
8)Using this modified phase impedance matrix in the symmetrical component
transformation equation results in the modified sequence impedance matrix

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4.2.1 Concentric Neutral Cable

The cable consists of a central phase conductor covered by a thin layer of nonmetallic
semiconducting screen, to which is bonded the insulating material. The insulation is
then covered by a semiconducting insulation screen. The solid strands of concentric
neutral are spiraled around the semiconducting screen with a uniform spacing
between strands.
The equivalent geometric mean radius of the concentric neutral is computed using the
equation for the geometric mean radius of bundled conductors used in high voltage
transmission lines.

where R = radius of a circle passing through the center of the concentric neutral
strands

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4.2.1 Concentric Neutral Cable

The equivalent resistance of the concentric neutral is

The geometric mean radio of the phase conductor and a neutral strand are
obtained from a standard table of conductor data (Appendix A).

Partial Table in pages 303-305

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4.2.1 Concentric Neutral Cable

The various spacing between a concentric neutral and the phase conductors
and other concentric neutrals are as follows:
Concentric neutral to its own phase conductor
Dij = R (Equation 4.82 above)
Concentric neutral to an adjacent concentric neutral
Dij = center-to-center distance of the phase conductors
Concentric neutral to an adjacent phase conductor

where Dnm = center-to-center distance between phase conductors.

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4.2.1 Concentric Neutral Cable

• Figure 4.10

• Figure 4.11

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4.2.2 Tape-Shielded Cables

The cable consists of a central phase conductor covered by a thin layer of nonmetallic
semiconducting screen to which is bonded the insulating material. The insulation
is covered by a semiconducting insulation screen. The shield is bare copper tape helically
applied around the insulation screen. An insulating jacket encircles the tape shield.

Figure 4.12
Tape-shielded cable.

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4.2.2 Tape-Shielded Cables

The modified Carson’s equations will be applied to calculate the self impedances of the
phase conductor and the tape shield, as well as the mutual impedance between the
phase conductor and the tape shield.
Self Impedance of Conductor i:

Mutual Impedance Between Conductor i and j:

The resistance of the tape shield is given by:

The GMR of the tape shield is the radius of a circle passing through the
middle of the shield and is given by:

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Series Impedance of Underground Lines

• Three-phase underground with

additional neutral.

• Concentric neutral cable.

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4.2.1 Concentric Neutral Cable Variable

• 𝑑𝑐 = phase conductor diameter (inches)
• 𝑑𝑜𝑑 = nominal diameter over the concentric neutrals of the cable (inches)
• 𝑑𝑠 = diameter of a concentric neutral strand (inches)
• 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝑐 = geometric mean radius of the phase conductor (ft.)
• 𝐺𝑀𝑅𝑆 = geometric mean radius of a neutral strand (ft.)
• 𝑟𝑐 = resistance of the phase conductor (Ω/mile)
• 𝑟𝑠 = resistance of a solid neutral strand (Ω/mile)
• k = number of concentric neutral strands

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Equations
• The equivalent geometric mean radius of the concentric neutral is computed using
the equation for the geometric mean radius.

• Radius of a circle passing through the center of the concentric neutral strands.

• The equivalent resistance of the concentric neutral.

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• Modified Carson’s equations

• Kron reduction method

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Sequence impedance matrix for the concentric neutral three-phase line

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Example 4.2

• Three concentric neutral cables are buried in a trench with spacings as shown in
Figure 4.11. The cables are 15 kV, 250,000 CM stranded all-aluminum with 13 strands
of #14 annealed, coated copper wires (1/3 neutral). The outside diameter of the
cable over the neutral strands is 1.29 inches (Appendix B).
• Determine the phase impedance matrix and the sequence impedance matrix.

• Figure 4.11

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Applying the Modified Carson’s equations

• The numbering of conductors and neutrals is important. For example, a three-phase

underground circuit with must be numbered as:

• 1 = phase conductor #1
• 2 = phase conductor #2
• 3 = phase conductor #3
• 4 = neutral of conductor #1
• 5 = neutral of conductor #2
• 6 = neutral of conductor #3

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Data for the Example 4.2

• The data for the phase conductor and neutral strands from a conductor data table
(Appendix A) are
• 250,000 AA phase conductor:
• GMR = 0.0171 ft.
• Diameter = 0.567 inches
• Resistance = 0.4100 Ω/mile

• #14 copper neutral strands:

• GMRs = 0.00208 ft.
• Diameter (ds) = 0.0641 inches
• Resistance = 14.8722 Ω/mile

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4.2.2 Tape-Shielded Cables

• Parameters of the tape shielded cable

• 𝑑𝑐 = diameter of phase conductor (inches)

• 𝑑𝑠 = outside diameter of the tape shield
(inches)
• 𝑑𝑜𝑑 = outside diameter over jacket (inches)
• T = thickness of copper tape shield in mils

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Equations
• The resistance of the tape shield

• The GMR of the tape shield

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Example 4.3

• A single-phase circuit consists of a 1/0 AA, 220-mil insulation tape shielded cable and
a 1/0 Cu neutral conductor, as shown in Figure 4.13. The single-phase line is
connected to phase b.
• Determine the phase impedance matrix. Assume p = 2.3715 x 10−8 Ω-meter.

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Data for the Example 4.3

• Cable Data: 1/0 AA

• Outside diameter of the tape shield = ds = 0.88 inches
• Resistance = 0.97 Ω/mile
• GMRp = 0.0111 ft.
• Tape shield thickness = T = 5 mils

• Neutral Data: 1/0 Copper, 7 strand

• Resistance = 0.607 Ω/mile
• GMRn = 0.01113 ft.
• Distance between cable and neutral = Dnm = 3 inches

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Summary

• This chapter has been devoted to presenting methods for computing the phase
impedances and sequence impedances of overhead lines and underground cables.
Carson’s equations have been modified in order to simplify the computation of the
phase impedances. When using the modified Carson’s equations there is no need to
make any assumptions, such as transposition of the lines. By assuming an
untransposed line and including the actual phasing of the line, the most accurate
values of the phase impedances, self and mutual, are determined. Since voltage drop
is a primary concern on a distribution line, the impedances used for the line must be
as accurate as possible.

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