Illustrated Glossary: Transmission Lines
Transmission lines carry electric energy from one
point to another in an electric power system. They can carry alternating
current or direct current or a system can be a combination of both. Also,
electric current can be carried by either overhead or underground lines. The
main characteristics that distinguish transmission lines from distribution
lines are that they are operated at relatively high voltages, they transmit
large quantities of power and they transmit the power over large distances.
The types of transmission lines are:
Overhead
Transmission Lines
Subtransmission Lines
Underground Transmission Lines
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Overhead AC transmission lines share one characteristic;
they carry 3-phase current. The voltages vary according to the particular
grid system they belong to. Transmission voltages vary from 69 kv up to 765
kv. The following are examples of different overhead transmission line
structures in use today. The DC voltage transmission
tower has lines in pairs rather than in threes (for 3-phase current)
as in AC voltage lines. One line is the positive current line and the other
is the negative current line.
Figure 1. Some typical transmission line structures
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Figure 2. Transmission lines crossing the San Fernando Valley
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Figure 3. 345 kv transmission lines
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Figure 4. DC voltage transmission lines |
Figure 5. Transmission lines above - subtransmission below
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Figure 6. 230 kv wood transmission line towers
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Figure 7. Double set of transmission lines side by side
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Additional information:
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The Lineman's and Cableman's Handbook, Shoemaker, T.
M., Mack, J. E., Tenth Edition 2002, McGraw-Hill.
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Subtransmission lines carry voltages reduced from the
major transmission line system. Typically, 34.5 kv to 69 kv, this power is
sent to regional distribution substations. Sometimes the subtransmission
voltage is tapped along the way for use in industrial or large commercial
operations. Some utilities categorize these as transmission lines.
Figure 8. Subtransmission lines
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Figure 9. Subtransmission lines above and distribution lines below
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Figure 10. 46 kv subtransmission
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Figure 11. Subtransmission lines with distribution
primaries and secondaries
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Figure 12. Subtransmission lines with distribution underbuild
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Underground transmission lines are
more common in populated areas. They may be buried with no protection, or placed in conduit, trenches, or tunnels.
Figure 13. Transmission lines are installed in a tunnel,
which enables many circuits in a limited area.
Figure 14. Transmission line laid in a trench
Figure 15. Covering the transmission line
Figure 16. Underground transmission line tunnel
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Figure 17. Heat is generated when electricity flows through cables, limiting the power transmission capacity in tunnels. To increase the capacity, a
tunnel cooling system can be installed. The system above circulates cold water through the tunnels.
Figure 18. Cable snaking through underground transmission tunnel
Figure 19. Cable installation of underground transmission line
Figure 20. Cross section of underground transmission line
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Additional information:
- The Lineman's and Cableman's Handbook, Shoemaker, T.
M., Mack, J. E., Tenth Edition 2002, McGraw-Hill.
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