Alternative Transients Program - Comparison of

transmission line models

Orlando P. Hevia Gorostiaga 1483
Argentina 3000 Santa Fe
Argentina
email: heviaop@ssdfe.com.ar

1. Introduction.

The ATP allows to model transmission lines on different ways. The limitations of a simple
model may produce useless simulations. Although a complex model may produce a better
model representation, the accuracy of the result will depend on the event that it is wanted to
simulate. In the following section a description of the available models is given, after that
several simulation examples are presented to compare the models. These examples are: 1)
Open-ended line connection 2) Three phase short circuit 3) Single phase to ground short
circuit 4) Open-ended line disconnection.

Comparison of the steady state solution, aerial and ground mode values, and the response of
circuits with trapped charges will be given.

2. Available models.

The available models in the ATP are:

1) PI circuit
2) Constant distributed parameter model (or K. C. Lee model)
3) Frequency dependent models based on the modal decomposition
a)SEMLYEN SETUP
b)JMARTI SETUP
4) TAKU NODA SETUP model.

2.1 PI Circuits

The PI circuit is a discrete approximation to the constant distributed parameter model. Line
models based on PI circuits were used as a first solution for transient studies either using the
ATP program or Transient Network Analyzers.
The PI circuit is not generally the best model for transient studies. The solution of the
simulations using the distributed parameter model is faster and commonly gives more
accurate results.
The cascade connection of PI circuits can be useful for untransposed lines since it is not
necessary to consider approximations of the phase to mode transformation matrix.

By default, lines with frequency dependent parameter elements can not be represented by PI
circuits. Moreover, spurious oscillations generated by lumped parameter elements must be
accepted. However, resistances connected in parallel with the R-L branches can compensate
the spurious oscillations. The correct number of PI circuits depends on each particular system
to be simulated.

The main advantages of the PI circuit are:

a) The model does not condition the calculation time step.
b) The steady state solution is exact.

2.2 Constant distributed parameter models

The constant distributed parameter model calculates the different time propagation of the
decoupled mode components. In each extreme of the line, the values are converted from
mode domain to phase domain using a transformation matrix. For transposed lines, this
matrix is constant, however, for untransposed lines, the transformation matrix varies with the
frequency. The variation with the frequency is more significant for cables than for lines. This
makes necessary to take cautions upon adopting the frequency value where the parameters
will be calculated.

In addition, if the time step is not a sub-multiple of the line propagation time, the results of
the simulation will be incorrect. Moreover, since the values are calculated by linear
interpolation, the results may differ for different time step calculation if the signal contains
high peak values.

The main limitation of the constant distributed parameter models is the assumption of
considering the parameters constant with respect to the frequency variation. Larger error is
produced for the ground mode, i.e. for those transient signals in which the zero sequence
component of voltage and current are present.

For short lines or cables, the constant distributed parameter model requires that the time step
must be less than the propagation time. Therefore, it requires greater calculation time.

Despite its limitations, this model improves substantially the results with respect to the
models based on PI circuits.
2.3 Semlyen's model

This model (SEMLYEN SETUP) approximates the characteristic admittance and the
propagation constant of each mode through two exponential. Even though it was not the first
model that takes into account the variation of the parameters with the frequency, it is the
oldest model that is available in the ATP.
The simplicity of the equations causes that the approximation becomes insufficient even for
line parameters without discontinuities. Therefore, the use of this model is becoming rare and
its availability in ATP may be discontinued, as it happened with the WEIGHTING and
HAUER SETUP.

2.4 José Martí's model

This model (JMARTI SETUP) approximates the characteristic admittance and the
propagation constant by rational functions.

Even though it has limitations, among all the variable parameter models it is the most
frequently used. One of the limitations is that it uses a constant transformation matrix to
convert from mode domain to phase domain. For overhead lines this is not as important as it
is for cables.

The model presents an unstable behavior for very low frequencies; for example cases
including trapped charge. Furthermore, in some cases, the voltage can be increased without
limits.

One of the parameters required by this model is the mode conductance. The model is
sensitive respect to this parameter for trapped charge studies. Even though it is possible to
obtain accurate results, it requires data manipulation. For example, the fitting must start from
a very low frequency value to adjust the model (i.e. 0.0001 Hz).

The J. Martí's model employed in the program developed by the University of British
Columbia (UBC) has been modified to eliminate some of the above limitations, however it
requires several tests before obtaining an adequate model.

2.5 Taku Noda's Model.

The TAKU NODA SETUP model differs from the previous models because the calculation is
made directly in phase domain. Therefore, eliminates the approximation errors produced by
the use of the transformation matrix.

The characteristic admittance and the deformation coefficients are fitted through rational
functions.
For a given line, to obtain an adequate model using Taku Noda's model is generally more
difficult, however it has the advantage that allows to define a time step independent of the
propagation time, but this demands to employ this time step for the simulation. If another
time step is necessary for the simulations, the model must be recalculated.

The creation of a model requires two steps; first from the line data an auxiliary file is created
using ATP (allowed by all ATP versions), second this file is converted to the final file that
will model the line in the simulation. An adjustment program called ARMAFIT that adjusts
the values using rational functions is used to generate the final file. The users group of Japan
is who supplies this program.

This file is included in the program through the adequate instructions. Up to date, Salford
version does not include this model. Therefore another version called gnu djgpp was used.

3. Simulation results

To compare the performance of each one of the above line models, a 132 kV, 100 km
transmission line was tested. This type of line is typically used by the utilities in the state of
Santa Fe, Argentina.

For the PI circuit model case, 100 PI circuits in cascade represent the line. Where each
element represents 1 km of the line. For the trapped charge calculation the conductance to
ground was modeled by resistances to ground at the sending end of each PI circuit. The
CASCADE LINE option was employed for this model. Resistances to attenuate the spurious
oscillations were not added.

The same horizontal and vertical axes were used to plot all the simulation results in order to
compare the models easily.
3.1. Three phase connection of an open-ended line

The simulation of an open-ended line is useful to compare the voltage and current reflection
at the receiving end of the line. Furthermore, the attenuation of the high frequency
components and trend toward the steady state solution can be compared.
3.2 Single phase connection of an open-ended line

In this case, the coupling between the connected phase with the disconnected phases and the
ground mode attenuation can be compared.

For the case where the line is modeled using the constant distributed parameter model, it can
be observed that the phase voltages are in phase opposition. This effect is due to fact that the
line parameters were calculated at a particular frequency value. The selection of a smaller
frequency value will produce smaller de-phase, however at lower frequencies the attenuation
of the oscillations is reduced substantially producing invalidating the results. This limitation
of the constant distributed parameter model produced the development of the frequency
dependent line models.
3.3 Three phase short circuit

The simulation of a three phase short circuit permits to compare the steady state value of the
positive sequence component using different models.

From the simulation results can be conclude that the Semlyen's model produces an incorrect
representation of the steady state solution, leading to different values respect to the results
produced using the other models.
3.4 Single phase to ground short circuit

The simulation of a single phase to ground short circuit permits to compare the steady state
value of the zero sequence components using different models. In this case, the results
produced by the Semlyen's model differ considerably respect to the results produced by the
other models. In addition, Martí's model and Noda's model generate an attenuated direct
current component during a single-phase short circuit simulation.
3.5 Disconnection of an open-ended line

The disconnection of an open-ended line permits to compare the voltage variation when the
line has a trapped charge using different line models.

Resistances to ground were added in the line modeled using PI circuits to simulate the same
conductance. Semlyen's model has no conductance to ground therefore the voltages remain
constant. Martí's model and Noda's model produce incorrect results where data manipulation
may be required to improve the behavior of these models. The voltage attenuation produced
using the constant distributed parameter model and Noda's model is inherent to the model and
can not be control by the user.
References

[1] A. Semlyen and A. Dabuleanu, "Fast and accurate switching transient

calculations on transmission lines with ground return using recursive
convolutions", IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-
94(2), p. 561-571, 1975.

[2] J. R. Martí, "Accurate modelling of frequency-dependent transmission lines

in electromagnetic transients simulations", IEEE Transactions on Power
Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS 101(1), p. 147-155, 1982.

[3] T. Noda, N. Nagaoka and A. Ametani, "Phase Domain modelling of

Frequency-Dependent Transmission Lines by Means of an ARMA Model",
IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 11, No.1, January 1996, p 401 -
411, 1996.

[4] Hermann W. Dommel, "EMTP THEORY BOOK", Microtran Power System

Analysis Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 1992.

[5] Canadian/American EMTP User Group, "Alternative Transients Program

Rule Book", 1987-1995.

[6] Taku Noda, "Development of a transmission-line model considering the

skin and corona effects for power system transient analysis", Doctoral Thesis,
1996.

[7] Taku Noda, "User Instructions of Noda Setup in ATP", march 28, 1997

Appendix:

The data files are provided for each study case in order to facilitate the reader further research
on the comparison of the different line models available in ATP.

File name description

The last two letters of the file name indicate the model as follow:

pi : PI circuit model
di : constant distributed parameter model
sm : Semlyen's model
jm : J. Martí's model
ns : Noda's model
The first letters indicate the following:

par : parameter calculation

sim : three phase connection of an open-ended line
sim0 : single phase connection of an open-ended line
cc3 : three phase short circuit
cc1 : single phase to ground short circuit
trap : disconnection of an open-ended line

Example:

The file simns.dat corresponds to the three phase connection of an open-ended line using the
Noda's model (NODA SETUP).