Dale Douglass, PDC

Dean Stoddart, Valley Group

Glenn Davidson, Power Engineers
Jerry Reding, JRL.Eng.LLC
- This standard is entirely analytical. It provides a
mathematical method by which the temperature
of a bare overhead conductor may be related to
the current through it for specified weather
conditions.
-It is used by most utilities in North America to
determine both steady-state and transient line
ratings but it does not recommend rating weather
assumptions nor does it suggest conductor
temperature limits.
IEEE Line Rating Method
Weather Temperature
Assumptions Limits
CIGRE TB299 IEEE 1283

Current-Temp
Calculation
IEEE 738

Line Ratings
[amps or MVA]
Static & Transient
1. Aluminum anneals at temperatures above 95oC
2. Clearances can be violated at temperatures above
the “templating” temperature of the line.
3. Connectors can deteriorate from high cyclic line
currents (particularly old splices of poor
workmanship).
-Heat Balance – Steady, Transient & Real-time
-Heat Loss Terms – Convection, radiation
-Heat Storage in Conductor
-Heat Input - Solar & I2R losses
-Input Data – Weather and Tmax
The Heat Flow Equations
At the Conductor Surface
QSOLAR + QRI 2 = QConvection + QRadiation

Between Conductor Layers

Radial Temperature Difference
Radial Temperature Difference
 Negligible for current density less than 1.25
amps/kcmil (e.g. 1200 amps on 954 Rail ACSR)
 Negligible when aluminum strands are tensioned.
 Increases with current density regardless of surface
temperature.
 Increases with number of aluminum layers.
 Can be as high as 20oC to 50oC with conductors having
round or TW slack aluminum strands, for currents on
the order of 2 amps/kcmil (e.g. 1900 amps on 954 Rail
ACSR)
Conductor Resistance
-Previous Version – General Discussion
-Linear Interpolator for ac Resistance
-Resistance at “High” value (75 °C)
-Resistance at “Low” value (25°C)
-Comments on Thermal Resistance Increase
-General Notes on AC Resistance Effects
-
-AC Resistance Effects Include;
-Frequency Dependent Skin Effect
-Magnetic Losses in Steel Core
-Thermal Increase With Temperature
-Revised – Retains Resistance Equation
-Expands on AC Resistance Effects
-Limitations on Resistance Equation
-Skin Effect – Includes DC Designs
-Magnetic Effects for Single and Three Layers
-DiscussesCorrection for Three Layer Magnetics
-Does NOT Provide a Correction Equation

-References Two Predictor Equations in Reference

-Include Discussion on Thermal Gradient
-Discusses Thermal Gradient and Resistance
-Qualitative Discussion – No Predictor Equation
-Notes Core of ACSR can be Significantly Hotter
-Some References Report 10-25°C
-Caution is Recommended
“Out where those chilly winds don’t blow”
Forced and Natural Convection
 “Forced” convection occurs when there is air moving
across a conductor
 Forced convection is a very powerful heat transfer
mechanism
 “Natural” convection occurs when the air is “still”
 Natural convection is a poor heat transfer mechanism
Reynolds Number
 Reynolds Number describes air flow over an object.
 NRE=DρV/υ
 ρ and υ are constants for a given conductor temperature
and ambient temperature so NRE is a linear function of D
and V for these parameters
 McAdams forced convection heat transfer curve is valid
for Reynolds Numbers down to about NRE=300 (for
0.75”dia, 100˚C, 35˚C)
Forced Convection Formulae
 The forced convection heat transfer curve is broken
into two sections and a curve is fit to each section. The
curves cross at a point.
 The normal range of NRE is between 200-2,500 which
is in the lower NRE curve
 738 calculates the heat transfer for both formulae and
correctly uses the higher of the two results.
 Transition from Forced to Natural
Convection
 The formula for low velocity Forced convection (low
Reynolds Number) will give results down to Ofps
wind. The results near 0 fps wind are invalid.
 The formula for Natural convection gives valid results
for Ofps wind.
 738 uses the Natural Convection formula until the
forced convection formula gives a higher value.
 QC Vs. Wind Velocity using Forced
Qc
Convection Formulae
25

20

Range where Forced

Convection Formula is
15
invalid.

Qc
10

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

Wind Speed – ft/sec

Ampacity Vs. Wind Velocity per 738
Amps
1200

Forced
1000
Convection
800

600 Natural
Amps
Convection

400

200

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

Wind Speed – ft/sec

Selecting Weather Conditions for
Line Rating Calculations
- The modified Section 4.2 includes reference to
CIGRE TB299 “Guide for Selection of Weather
Parameters for Bare Overhead Conductors”.
‐In 2004, CIGRE and IEEE TP&C worked as a
‘joint” task force to produce TB 299.
-Goal: “Identify and describe a logical process
whereby suitable conservative weather conditions
can be selected for use in conventional static
thermal line rating methods based on limited field
data collection…”
-TB 299 is a practical guide for developing conservative
thermal rating estimates for overhead lines. It assumes that
the Engineer will recognize the need for clearance buffers and
safety factors employed in the design and operation of OTL’s.
-The calculation of line rating methods by either CIGRE TB
207 or IEEE 738 will provide appropriate line rating
calculations. TB 299 is intended to provide guidance for the
selection of input parameters for the line rating calculations.
-In summary, TB 299 provides guidance for 4 distinct methods
of selecting weather parameters, as follows:
-For sag-limited lines, assume an effective (perpendicular) wind
speed of 0.6 m/s, ambient temperature close to the maximum
annual value along the line route and a solar radiation of 1000
W/m2. Absorptivity of at least 0.8 and emissivity of 0.1 below
absorptivity.
-For seasonal ratings, assume an ambient temperature close to
maximum value of the season (temperature which is exceeded
only 1-2 days/year).
- The base ratings are considered to represent a risk probability of
1-2% and a maximum temperature risk of 10 0C . They can be
applied anywhere.
-Rating studies must be conducted in actual transmission line
environment and in terrain conditions which represent the most
sheltered sections of the line.
-Because National Weather Service Stations are located at open spaces,
NWS data is not acceptable.
-Section 5 of TB 299 describes the required minimum level of
instrumentation, its installation, data collection and data analysis, but
-Depending of the types of instrumentation used and the number of
data collection sites, the ratings should be set at a risk level between
5% and 1% of combined rating statistics.
- Rating studies can be conducted also with devices which monitor line
tension, sag or temperature.
-For daytime conditions, if ambient temperature adjustment compared
to base rating ambient temperature assumption is less than 80C, assume
0.5 m/s wind. E.g., if max. design temperature is 400C and the actual
temperature is between 400C and 320C, assume 0.5 m/s.
-If ambient temperature adjustment compared to base rating ambient is
more than 80C, assume 0.4 m/s wind.
-Provides technically justified ampacity increases for lines designed for
low max. conductor temperatures ( below 60-700C), but generally do
not show justified benefits for lines designed for maximum
temperatures of 90-1000C or higher.
-Nighttime ambient adjustment combined with no solar radiation
assumption can be risky unless wind is assumed to be zero.
-Real-time monitoring can be based on tension, sag, clearance or
conductor temperature.
-Field verification of design clearance requirements is a
prerequisite.
- Monitors must meet the accuracy requirements specified in TB
299 and must be applied in statistically sufficient quantity.
-The operator must have the capability of adjusting line current to
the level of base or study-based ratings.
-Ratings can then be based on higher probability levels than the
base ratings, because the operators have advanced warnings of
clearance limitations and can use remedial actions to reduce the line
current to a level indicated by real time ratings.
Summary of IEEE 738 Tutorial
 IEEE 738 provides a numerical calculation method for
line ratings and conductor temperature
 It considers internal and external heat transfer and
works for steady and non-steady line current and
weather conditions.
 Convection model is based on experimental data.
 AC resistance depends on alum area & temperature.
 CIGRE TB 299 & IEEE 1283 are companion documents
to 738 which discuss selection of weather conditions &
maximum operating temperature.