ELECTRICAL POWER

TRANSMISSION
LOUIEBERT E. VIRAY
Long distance transmission of electrical
power is one of the major challenges of the
electrical age. 
1. Efficiency - transport electric power over distance
with minimal losses
2. Safety - transport power through urban and rural
areas minimizing harm to people and animals.  
3. Cost - use the minimal raw materials and
building/operating costs possible
4. Robustness - create a system which is not
vulnerable to surges from lightning, solar flares,
earthquakes, ice storms, wind storms and have the
system be able to ‘protect' itself when outages occur,
isolating problem areas.
There are four ways to transport electrical
power:
1. High Voltage Alternating
Current
 
2. High Voltage Direct Current 

3. Superconducting Technology 

4. Wireless Power Transmission

High Voltage AC Power
◦Alternating Current proved to be the most
effective for distance transmission because of
several great properties: 
1. AC power can be easily converted from low
to high voltages and back again. Higher voltages
are best for 'pushing' power thought a conductor
because higher voltages lose less energy along
the trip than lower voltages (efficiency is key!). 

2. AC Power is good for power grids as it

distributes itself throughout a grid and can
‘protect' by routing power around an outage
area. 
◦ AC Power is the most common method of power
transmission in the world. Lines are suspended
high above the ground as they produce an
electromagnetic field around the wire. The
higher the voltage, the larger the
electromagnetic field generated around the wire.
◦ Low-frequency magnetic fields induce circulating
currents within the human body. The strength of
these currents depends on the intensity of the
outside magnetic field. If sufficiently large, these
currents could cause stimulation of nerves and
muscles or affect other biological processes.
◦ Both electric and magnetic fields induce
voltages and currents in the body but even
directly beneath a high voltage transmission
line, the induced currents are very small
compared to thresholds for producing shock and
other electrical effects.
The power is stepped up to 345kV, brought down to 69kV and
eventually ends up at a house at 220 volts. Transformers change the
voltage while capacitors and inductors keep the wave form in sync.
Effects of inductance and the changing loads can put the AC
waveform out of sync, which ends up in loss of efficient transmission.
High Voltage DC Power (HVDC):

◦ These lines are not in a 'grid' configuration which can evenly distribute power in a net, but
HVDC systems consist a single long distance line connecting major grids with 'valves' at
each end. 
◦  HVDC is especially useful to connect islands like Great Britain and Japan as it can go under
water.
◦DC terminals will always be more
expensive than AC terminals simply
because they have to have the
components to transform DC voltage
as well as convert the DC to AC. But
the DC voltage conversion and circuit
breakers have been dropping in
price. The break-even price continues
to drop.
◦Right now on modern grids,
transmission losses are 7% to 15%
with aboveground transmission. With
DC transmission, they are a lot lower,
and they remain low even if you run
the cables underwater or
underground.
Superconductor

◦If we use superconductive

conductors in super cold
temperatures we can deliver
power through underground
cables with almost no loss at all. 
Unfortunately this technology is
not yet cost effective.  Short
experimental lines have been put
in at Albany, NewYork and other
locations in Japan and Germany. 
Wireless Power Transmission
◦It is possible to send power
wirelessly through the air.  Nikola
Tesla and the General Electric
Research Lab experimented with
this, however it is impractical for a
number of reasons.  It is extremely
inefficient going through the
medium of air, and it is deadly for
animals like birds passing through
the high powered beams.  It is
unlikely this technology will ever be
useful, especially since we are
leaping ahead with HVDC, achieving
impressive levels of efficiency.
SECURITY
CYRILL ROI D. BAUSO
◦Security is the ability of the
electric systems to withstand
sudden disturbances such as
electric short circuits or
unanticipated loss of system
elements.
◦Security of a power system
refers to the degree of risk in
its ability to survive
imminent disturbances
without interruption of
customer service.
Purpose of Security
◦Protect the public

◦Improve system stability

◦Minimize damage to
equipment

◦Protect against overloads

Components (Equipment)
Protective relays - monitor the
current and/or voltage of the power
system to detect problems with the
power system.
Functions of protective relay:
Dependability: The probability of
not having a failure to operate
under given conditions for a given
time interval.
Security: The probability of not
having an unwanted operation
under given conditions for a given
time interval.
Components (Equipment)
Current Transformer (CT)
- A device which transforms the
current on the power system
from large primary values to
safe secondary values. The
secondary current will be
proportional to the primary
current.
- used for protection,
measurement and control in
high-voltage electrical
substations and the electrical
grid.
Components (Equipment)
Potential Transformer (PT)
- A device which transforms the
voltage on the power system from
primary values to safe secondary
values, in a ratio proportional to the
primary value.
- A voltage step-down
transformer which reduces
the voltage of a high voltage circuit
to a lower level for the purpose of
measurement. These are connected
across or parallel to the line which
is to be monitored
Components (Equipment)
Circuit Breaker -  is an
automatically operated
electrical switch designed to
protect an
electrical circuit from
damage caused by excess
current from an overload or
short circuit. Its
basic function is to interrupt
current flow after a fault is
detected.
 SAFETY
MANAGEMENT
WILMARK R. CAHILIG
 Safety Management
◦ For any construction project to be successful, a
plan must be followed from beginning to
completion. To ensure optimum productivity, most
contractors develop a “critical path” long before
starting the project. This is also a time for planning
safety.
◦ Any condition which can bring in contact with
electricity is potentially dangerous. When the types
of voltages carried by overhead power lines come
into play, the danger is simply that much greater.
Considering the kinds of variables that exist on
most construction work sites every-changing site
conditions, constant movement of materials and
equipment, means of access, and human factors.
The only reliable safeguard is distance.
 Preventive Measures
◦ These are several options in preventing accidents in working
areas:
1. Have the power company de-energize the power lines
2. Have the power company move the power line beyond the safe
working clearance distance.
3. Use barrier protection.
4. Use warning lines with flags.
5. Use an observer.
 De-energizing the Line
◦ De-energizing and visibly grounding (usually by throwing a
grounded chain across all conductors) the line should be the
first option considered for protecting workers. By eliminating
the source of the electrocution hazard, the danger is
eliminated. There is one important point to keep in mind
with this option. Only power company personnel can
de-energize a power line. The contractor must ask the
local utility to de-energize it. The utility may need several
need several weeks to comply with your company’s request,
so the work should be appropriately planned.
Moving the Line
◦ Moving the line beyond the safe working clearance distance will reduce the hazard
for the work crews near the line. However, like de-energizing the line, only power
company personnel can move a power line. Only the utility that owns the line
can move it. Again, the utility may need several weeks to comply with the request.
Work should be planned appropriately.
 Barrier Protection
◦ Another option that you can use is barrier protection. A barrier
prevents physical contact between the high-reaching equipment
and the power line. It can be made of any material that is non-
conductive and not attached to the high-reaching equipment. The
most common type of barrier is the insulating sleeve which is
attached directly to the power line.
◦ If insulating sleeves are used, they can only be installed by power
company personnel. Also, the sleeves must be appropriate for the
type of work being performed.
Insulating Sleeves
Warning Lines with Flags
◦ Using warning lines with flags is a way to visibly show were a power line’s “buffer
zone” is located. This option requires the installation of flagged warning lines to the
side and below the power line. The warning line must be made of non-conductive
materials. When an equipment operator moves near the power line, a warning line
will be available to mark the line clearance distance. The warning lines should not
be attached to the utility line or pole. Placement of the warning lines can be
achieved with the use of wooden poles. Remember, this system doesn’t allow you
to work any closer than the line clearance distance.
Using an Observer
◦ The designated observer is assigned to monitor the distance between the high-
reaching equipment and the power line. If the equipment nears the power line’s
clearance distance, the observer warns the equipment operator. For this to work,
the observer must be able to accurately judge the distance between an energized
power line and the high-reaching equipment. This is very difficult because of limited
visual perception.
Protective Technologies
◦Protective technologies available for high-reaching
equipment are limited in use and application. Most
are designed for cranes, though some may be
used on other high-reaching equipment.
◦ Available technologies include:
1. Proximity indicators
2. Boom-cage guards
3. Insulating links
Protective Technologies
◦ Proximity Indicators
◦ Designed to warn the crane operator when any part of the boom is moved too close to an
overhead line. It is possible to get false reading with these devices, so the contractor must
be familiar with the limitations of the equipment. Additionally, even when this device is
being used, the operator must maintain the proper clearance distance from the power lines.
When using insulated links, the operator still cannot work closer to the power line than the
line clearance distance.
Protective Technologies
◦ Boom-cage guards
◦ Designed to provide an insulating standoff that shields the boom from the power line. If a
power line contact occurs, it will prevent the boom from becoming energized, thus
protecting all works involved. The drawback of this technology is that it only protects
portions of the boom covered by the cage-guard. It is still possible for contacts to occur on
the other parts of the boom, the load line and the load. When using a boom-cage guard, the
operator cannot work closer to the power line than the line clearance distance.
 Protective Technologies
◦ Insulating Links
◦ Used between the crane hook and the load. They are insulated
linkages that connect the load line to the crane’s lifting hook. If
a power line contact occurs, the linkage is designed to prevent
electricity from passing to the load. The entire structure of the
crane, however, is not protected and will remain energized.
Therefore, it is possible for the rigger to be protected, but any
worker near the crane body to be electrocuted from current
passing through the ground. The operator can also be
electrocuted when stepping down from the equipment. It’s
important that links are regularly inspected and properly
maintained to avoid premature failure. An insulated link doesn’t
allow an operator to work closer to the line.

Rigger protected from potential crane-

power line contact (Arrow indicates
insulator link)