Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

Performance Analysis of 765 kV system under

Steady State and Transient Conditions with varying
Reactive Compensation
D.Thukaram, Senoir Member, IEEE and Dharmesh Yelamanchi
Department of Electrical Engineering
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore-560012, INDIA
Email: dtram@ee.iisc.ernet.in and dharmeshee@gmail.com

Abstract—This paper describes the analysis of 765 kV Extra
High Voltage(EHV) transmission system which is a typical expan-
sion of Indian power grid system, under Steady State and Tran-
sient Conditions. The first step involves exhaustive power flow
analysis, based on constraint power transfer capabilities of lines
with series and shunt compensation. Later switching over voltage
studies are carried out. Acceptable bus voltage profiles and
satisfactory equipment loadings during all foreseeable operating
conditions for normal and contingency operation are the guiding
criteria. This paper presents steady state and switching transient
studies on two typical 765kV EHV transmission systems.
I. I NTRODUCTION
Increasing demand of electric power and addition of new
generation capacity to meet the demand, necessitate enhance-
ment of large transmission capacity between generation and
bulk consumption points. This can be achieved either by
development of new transmission corridor or by enhancing
the power transfer intensity of existing transmission assets.
In India the available generation and installed capacity has
been increased many folds in the last two decades. It is
estimated that India would need a total installed capacity of
212GW by 2012 (Eleventh National Power Survey) [1]. To
cater this bulk power from generating stations to the distant
load centers upgradation of transmission system is required.
Line loadability and overvoltages are two important aspects
that must be addressed when upgradation of transmission
system is contemplated. Shunt and series compensation can
cause considerable variations in loadability characteristics of
lines fed by high impedance sources. VAR sources such as
Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) increase line
the magnitude of switching overvoltages. Switching overvolt-
ages are therefore a focal point in carrying studies for these
systems. Switching transients are fast transients that occur in
the process of energizing transmission line, load capacitances
immediately after a power source is connected to the network.
Power transformers, surge arresters and circuit breakers are
equipments which are first affected by overvoltages. Digital
computer tool such as Electro Magnetic Transients Program
(EMTP) [3] which is universally accepted as industry standard
for computation of both switching and temporary over voltages
is used in this paper. At the planning stage of the 765 kV
systems, the insulation level of apparatus is to be decided
on the basis of peak value of transient over voltages, so
enormous numbers of cases are considered to arrive at the
maximum magnitude. Methods are proposed for reducing
the overvoltages,Of the several methods to mitigate transient
overvoltages, Pre-Insertion Resistors(PIR) are used.
II. S TEADY STATE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
Steady state performance analysis of the system includes
• Analysis of loadability characteristics
• Pre and post charging studies to determine steady-state
overvoltage
• Compensation requirements
Detailed power flow analysis is carried out to address the first
three aspects. Three major factors that can limit the power-
transfer capability or loading of a transmission line are:
• Thermal constraints

loadability. It is generally accepted that maximum allowable • Line voltage drop, and

series compensation of 40%, voltage drop of 5% between • Steady-state stability margin

terminals of sending end and receiving end (not including
source impedances) and angular separation of 400 to 440
between sources (at sending and receiving ends) are good
guidelines [2].
The reliable operation of any electrical power system is
determined to a great extent by the amplitude, duration and
frequency of the transient voltages appearing in different
places in the network. Also the insulation level of EHV and
Ultra High Voltage(UHV) ac systems is largely determined by
For short lines (0-50 miles) loadability is governed by thermal
limit and for medium lines(50-200 miles) voltage drop consid-
erations limit the power transfer whereas for long lines(>200
miles) stability plays a key role in limiting line loadability.
Thus for EHV and UHV transmission lines, practical limita-
tions to line loadability are imposed by line voltage drop and
steady-state stability margin considerations. Dunlop et al.[4]
give the details of a conceptual study of UHV transmission
line loadability. The steady state stability limitation is usually

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

defined in terms of the desired margin between the maximum load generation scheduling. The L-indices for a given load
power transfer capability(Pmax ) of the system and the oper- condition are computed for all load buses. The point at which
ating level(Pop )as Lj closed to a predetermined maximum limit (=1) indicates
Pmax − Pop the maximum possible connected load to a bus termed as
% stability margin = ∗ 100 maximum loadability and its value close to zero indicates
Pmax
near no load condition. The stability of the complete system
This margin is chosen so as to provide stable operation is given by global indicator, L= maximum of Lj for all j
following a variety of credible contingencies which may cause (Load buses). An L-index value away from 1 and close to
steady-state and/or transient voltage increases in a given line zero indicates an improved system security. The stability
loading. Such changes in loading may be caused by line margin is obtained as the distance of L from a unit value
switching operations, generation dispatch, and by transient i.e.(1-L).
disturbances such as temporary faults or loss of generation.
L-Index [5] is used in order to estimate voltage stability margin
of a particular load bus in the system. The process involves TABLE I
an evaluation of voltage stability condition of a system by PARAMETERS AND THERE AFFECT ON SWITCHING TRANSIENT PEAK
OVERVOLTAGES DURING LINE ENERGIZATION [1]
computing the L-Index for load buses. System considered for
S.No Factor/parameter Influence
analysis is shown in Fig.1, represents the 765kV single circuit 1 Line Length Strong
transmission line. 2 Degree of shunt compensation Strong
3 Line Termination Strong
4 Trapped charges Strong
400kV 5 Line parameters Strong
15kV
220kV 6 Value of closing resistors Strong
~ 765kV 7 Insertion times of closing resistors Strong
430km
8 Pole closing instants Strong
9 Nature of source-inductive or complex Strong
~
765kV
10 Total short circuit level Strong
400kV
11 Frequency dependence of line parameter Medium
15kV
12 Trapped charges when PIR is used Medium
Receiving End
Sending End 13 Saturation of reactor Medium
14 Total pole closing span Medium
Fig. 1. Single line diagram of 765kV Transmission system between Unnao 15 Corona of lines weak
and Anpara

III. T RANSIENT PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

A. L-Index Transient overvoltages are usually a significant factor at
Consider a system where, n = total number of busses, with transmission voltages above 400 kV [7]. In EHV and UHV
1,2...g are generator busses (g), g+1,g+2... n the remaining systems there are a number of switching operations, such
busses are load busses. A load flow result is obtained for a as overvoltages produced during the switching of reactors,
given system operating condition. Using the load flow results, capacitors and transformers. These can readily be limited
the L-index is computed as by surge diverters [8] and are therefore not considered here.
Of the other switching operations, line closing and reclosing
g
 V̄i generally produce the larger overvoltages and consequently
Lj = |1 − F̄ij | (1)
V̄j we concentrate on line energization in this paper. At higher
i=1
transmission voltages, overvoltages caused by switching may
where j = g + 1, ..., n and all the terms within the sigma on become significant, because arrester operating voltages are
the RHS of Eq.(1) are complex quantities. The values F̄ij are relatively close to normal system voltage and lines are usually
obtained from the Ybus matrix as follows long so that the energy stored on the lines may be large.
    
I¯G ȲGG ȲGL V̄G Overvoltages will put the transformers into saturation, causing
= (2)
I¯L ȲLG ȲLL V̄L core heating and copious harmonic current generation. Circuit
breaker called upon to operate during periods of high voltage
Where I¯G , I¯L and V̄G , V̄L represent the currents and voltages will have reduced interrupting capability. At some voltage,
at the generator nodes and load nodes respectively. By Rear- even the ability to interrupt line-charging current will be lost.
ranging Eq. (2) we get Thus transient voltage magnitudes must be restricted to a
    
V̄L Z̄LL F̄LG I¯L safe value less than or equal to the withstand capacity of the
= (3)
I¯G K̄GL ȲGG V̄G apparatus. In practical systems a number of factors affect the
 −1   overvoltages due to energization or reclosing. The influence
Where F̄LG = ȲLL ȲLG ; F̄LG is the network sensitivity of various factors on Switching Over Voltages(SOV) are
matrix, gives the relation between load buses voltage and shown in Table.I.
source bus voltages, and it is used as the basis for the best

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

Magnitude of SOV can be controlled by using any one or 1.5 0.9

combination of the following methods: 1.4

0.8

• Circuit breaker with Pre-Insertion Resistor(PIR)

0.7

1.3
• Metal Oxide Arrester(MOA)
0.6
V with compensation

voltage in pu
V without compensation

L−Index
0.5
• Point on wave controlled switching
1.2 L−Index without compensation
L−Index with compensation 0.4

Because of higher power consumption, space adequacy and 1.1

0.3

along with the significant addition of transients due to opening 1 0.2

and closing of PIR’s and greater mechanical complexity, their 0.9

0.1
0.05

usage is being reduced [9]. On the other hand PIR’s are 200 400 600 800
LOAD in MW
1000 1200 1400

cheaper when compared to others like metal oxide arresters.

Nevertheless, the resistor equipped circuit breakers are more Fig. 2. Variation of voltage and L-Index at receiving end of Unnao-Anpara
system as the load(unity power factor) is increasing for case(1) and case(2).
expensive. These complex breakers show mechanical malfunc-
tions as the most common cause of circuit breaker failures[10].
Controlled switching is being used which reduces magnitudes 1.45
L−Index wihtout compensation
0.8
L−Index with compensation
of switching overvoltages considerably. 1.4 V with compensation
V without compensation 0.7

1.3
IV. S IMULATED STUDIES AND RESULTS 0.6

1.2 0.5

voltage in pu
In this paper two transmission lines, one is connected

L−Index
1.1 0.4
between Unnao and Anpara of UPSEB and other one is
connected between Agra and Fatehpur(PGCIL) are considered
0.3
1

for steady state and transient analysis 0.9

0.2

0.1

A. Steady state analysis

0.8 0.05
200 300 400 500 600 700 800
LOAD in MW

Steady state analysis is carried out on both the sytems with

shunt reactors of 80 MVAR at receiving end and sending end Fig. 3. Variation of voltage and L-Index at receiving end of Unnao-Anpara
system as the load(0.894 lagging power factor) is increasing for case(1) and
of the transmission line for the following cases: case(2).
1) Without series compensation
2) With 40% series compensation
1.4 1
At light load condition the voltage at receiving end is ex- 0.9
ceeding 1.05 pu which is not acceptable. By using shunt 1.3
0.8

compensation,reduced excitation generators this problem can 1.2 v with compensation 0.7

be limited upto some extent. But loads less than some level v without compensation
0.6

L−Index
voltage

L−Index without compensation

may not supplied because reactive power requirements are

1.1 L−Index with compensation
0.5

ungetable.The variation of voltage at receiving end as the 1 0.4

load(at unity power factor) increased is shown in Fig.2. For 0.9

0.3

both the cases of transmission system between Unnao and 0.2

Anpara. As the load is increasing, voltage is decreasing and 0.8

400 500 600 700 800
LOAD in MW
900 1000 1100
0.1
1200

L-index is increasing. Here for case-1 maximum loadability

of line is 1200MW with stability margin of 10%, for case- Fig. 4. Variation of voltage and L-Index at receiving end of Agra-Fatehpur
2 maximum loadability of line is 1250MW with stability system as the load(unity power factor) is increasing for case(1) and case(2).
margin of 20%. The variation of voltage at receiving end as
the load(at 0.894 lagging power factor) increased is shown
in Fig.3. For both the cases of transmission system between
1.3 0.95
0.9

Unnao and Anpara. Here for case-1 maximum loadability 1.2 0.8

of line is 800MW with stability margin of 15%, for case-2 1.1

0.7

maximum loadability of line is 850MW with stability margin

voltage in pu

L−Index with compensation 0.6

L−Index

L−Index without compensation

1
of 13%. With compensation the voltage profile for different v with compensation
v without compensation
0.5

loads is better than the voltage profile without compensation.

0.4
0.9

0.3
Line loadability increasing with compensation and varying 0.8
0.2

with power factor of the load. 0.1

250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
Same Analysis is carried out for transmission line between LOAD in MW

Agra and Fatehpur and the simulated results are shown in Fig.4
and Fig.5. With unity power factor load variation, for case-1
maximum loadability of line is 1150MW with stability margin
of 1.5%, for case-2 maximum loadability of line is 1200MW
Fig. 5. Variation of voltage and L-Index at receiving end of Agra-Fatehpur
system as the load(0.894 lagging power factor) is increasing for case(1) and
case(2).

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

with stability margin of 2.4%. With load(at 0.894 lagging 2.4

SS:6000MVA, 30deg

power factor) variation, for case-1 maximum loadability of line 2.3

50mvar
63mvar
80mvar
is 750MW with stability margin of 7%, for case-2 maximum 2.2
100mvar
120mvar

loadability of line is 750MW with stability margin of 35%. 2.1

150mvar

voltage in pu
B. Transient performance analysis 2

1.9

The interconnecting systems are large networks, for tran- 1.8

sient analysis the systems with an equivalent source, trans- 1.7

mission line and a load are considered. Thus, sample systems 1.6
50 100 150 200 250 300
for both represented as shown in Fig.6. pir in ohms

Considered base values for transient analysis in p.u are:

Fig. 8. Effect of shunt reactor on optimum value of PIR for Unnao-Anpara
Base (MVA) : 100 MVA √ √ line
Phase voltage : (765 ∗ 2)/ 3 kV (1 p.u.)

source 6000MVA,closing angle 30deg

B 1.8
50MVAR
~ 1.75
63MVAR
80MVAR
100MVAR
1.7 120MVAR
1 A 2 3 150MVAR
G P
R 1.65

voltage in pu
1.6

G: Generator
1.55

B: Main Circuit Breaker R: Reactor

1.5
A: Auxillary Circuit Breaker P: Pre−insertion resistor
1.45

1.4
Fig. 6. Euivalent system for switching transients 100 150 200 250
pir in ohms
300 350 400

Fig. 9. Effect of shunt reactor on optimum value of PIR for Agra-Fatehpur

Extensive EMTP simulation studies are to be carried out for line
planning of transmission systems. Studies are carried out by
considering the range of various parameters such as,
• Source strength:2000-10000 MVA in step of 1000 MVA 2.8
reactor 150MVAR, closing angle 30deg

0 0
• Switching angle: 0-90 in step of 30
10000MVA
4000MVA
2.6
5000MVA

• PIR:0-400 ohms in steps of 50 ohms 2.4

6000MVA
7000MVA
8000MVA
• Reactor : 0 MVAr, 50 MVAr, 63 MVAr, 80 MVAr, 100 2.2
voltage in pu

MVAr, 120 MVAr and 150 MVAr 2

1.8

150MVAR, 30deg.
1.6
2.3
10000mva
5000mva 1.4
2.2
6000mva
7000mva
2.1 8000mva 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
pir in ohms
2
voltage in pu

1.9
Fig. 10. Effect of source strength on optimum value of PIR for Agra-Fatehpur
1.8 line
1.7

1.6

1.5 5000mva, 0mvar, 0ohms,30deg

50 100 150 200 250 300 350
pir in ohms 3

Fig. 7. Effect of source strength on optimum value of PIR for Unnao-Anpara

line 1
voltage in pu

Without PIR and shunt reactor the peak over voltage ob- −1

served at receiving end of the Agra-Fatehpur line is 2.765pu. −2

For the same system with PIR the peak over voltage obseved
at receiving end is 1.858. Transients can heavily be damped −3
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04
time in sec
0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08

by PIR. The optimum PIR is not only a function of the line

shunt compensation but also the short circuit power of the Fig. 11. voltage waveforms without PIR and without reactor operated at
feeding network and the line length. Controlled switching 765kV, va=-2.54pu, vb=2.662pu, vc=2.226pu for UNNAO-ANPARA system
of transmission lines can be used to mitigate the switching

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

5000MVA, 0mvar,125ohms, 30deg

2.5
5000mva, 150mvar,125ohms,30deg
2
2

1.5 1.5

1 1

0.5
voltage in pu

0.5

voltage in pu
0
0
−0.5

−1 −0.5

−1.5 −1

−2
−1.5
−2.5
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08
time in sec −2
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08
time in sec

Fig. 12. voltage waveforms with PIR and without reactor operated at 765kV,
va=-2.137pu, vb=-1.928pu, vc=2.153pu for UNNAO-ANPARA system Fig. 14. voltage waveforms with PIR and with reactor operated at 765kV,
va=-1.88pu, vb=1.735pu, vc=1.861pu for UNNAO-ANPARA system

overvoltages during energization. If switching takes place at SS 6000MVA, 0 MVAR, 0 PIR, 90DEG

the voltage maximum i.e. at 900 , the voltage at first oscillate

3

along the whole line length to almost twice the value of the 2

system voltage. Over voltage can be limited by controlled 1

voltage in pu
switching of circuit breaker as shown in Fig.19, in which line 0

closing is done at 00 . Maximum transient over voltage will

be more at 900 than at 00 for same line length and source
−1

strength. −2

Transient analysis is carried out for both the sytems for −3

0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08
following cases: time in sec

• Without shunt reactor and without PIR

Fig. 15. voltage waveforms without PIR and without reactor operated at
• With shunt reactor and without PIR 765kV, va=2.754pu, vb=2.262pu, vc=2.765pu for AGRA-FATEHPUR system
• Without shunt reactor and with PIR
• With shunt reactor and with PIR

And the results of Unnao-Anpara system operating with source 2

SS 6000MVA, 0 MVAR, 250OHMS, 90DEG

strength of 5000 MVA, closing angle 900 for different cases 1.5

are shown in Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 and are listed 1

with maximum over voltages in Table.III. The results of Agra- 0.5

voltage in pu

Fatehpur system operating with source strength of 6000 MVA, 0

closing angle 900 for different cases as shown in Fig. 15 to −0.5

Fig. 19 and are listed with maximum overvoltages in Table.II. −1

Refering to Fig.7, Fig.8, Fig.9, Fig.10., one can conclude that −1.5

the optimum pir value for a fixed length increases with source −2
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08

strength and shunt reactor values and peak switching over

time in sec

voltages reduced with increase in source strength and shunt Fig. 16. voltage waveforms with PIR and without reactor operated at 765kV,
reactor values. va=1.708pu, vb=1.62pu, vc=1.858pu for AGRA-FATEHPUR system

5000MVA, 150MVAR, 0 ohms,30deg

2.5
source 6000MVA,reactor 150MVAR,closing angle 90 deg,without pir
3
2

1.5
2
1

0.5
voltage in pu

1
voltage in pu

0
0
−0.5

−1
−1
−1.5

−2 −2

−2.5
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08
time in sec −3
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08
time in sec

Fig. 13. voltage waveforms without PIR and with reactor operated at 765kV,
va=-2.139pu, vb=2.498pu, vc=-2.086pu for UNNAO-ANPARA system Fig. 17. voltage waveforms without PIR and with reactor operated at 765kV,
va=2.507pu, vb=2.275pu, vc=2.523pu for AGRA-FATEHPUR system

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

SS 6000MVA, R 150MVAR,PIR 250OHM,90DEG

2
certain load suggested to trip. Transient analysis study for
1.5 line energization case is done for 765 kV systems by varying
1 the factors such as source strength, shunt compensation,
closing angle etc. and methods are proposed for limiting
voltage in pu

0.5

0
them. To mitigate the switching over voltages both the
−0.5
systems required 8000 MVA of source strength,with the
source strength between 4000 MVA and 8000 MVA by
−1
taking certian precaution the line can be charged but the
source strength with less than 4000 MVA the line can not be
−1.5
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08
time in sec

charged. Analyses are carried for various system parameters

Fig. 18. voltage waveforms with PIR and with reactor operated at 765kV, and results obtained are compared.The effect of shunt reactive
va=1.498pu, vb=1.546pu, vc=1.542pu for AGRA-FATEHPUR system compensation and sourse strength on optimum PIR is studied.

6000MVA, 0deg, 0pir, 0MVAR

2.5
R EFERENCES
2

1.5 [1] www.expert-eyes.org/power/index.html - Power Survey

1 [2] Harold N. Scherer and G S Vassell, Transmission of Electric Power
0.5 at Ultra-High Voltages: Current Status and Future Prospects, proc of
voltage in pu

0 IEEE(1985) 1252-78.
−0.5 [3] Herman W. Dommel,Techniques for analyzing electromagnetic transients,
−1 IEEE comput. Appl. Power(1997) 18-21.
−1.5 [4] R. D. Dunlop, R Gutman, and P. P. Marchenko, Analytical development
−2
of loadability characteristics for EHV and UHV transmission lines, IEEE
−2.5
Trans. Power App. Syst. Vol. PAS-98, pp 606 - 617, Mar / Apr. 1979.
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04
time in sec
0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08
[5] D. Thukaram, K. Parthasarathy, H. P. Khincha, Narendranath Udupa and
A. Bansilal,Voltage Stability improvement: case studies of Indian power
networks, Electric power systems research, Vol.44, 1998, pp. 35-44.
Fig. 19. voltage waveforms with PIR and with reactor operated at 765kV
[6] D Thukaram, B S Sharma, UPSEB Lucknow, Overvoltage studies for
and closing angle is 00 , va=1.765pu, vb=-2.198pu, vc=-1.651pu for AGRA-
UPSEB 765kV ANPARA-UNNAO line operated at 400kV, technical report,
FATEHPUR system
Second Workshop & conference on EHV Technology Bangalore, Aug 7-
10, 1989.
[7] K. Ragaller, Surges in High voltage Networks, Plenum Press, 1980.
[8] Cigre working group,switching overvoltages in EHV and UHV systems
V. C ONCLUSION with special reference to closing and reclosing of transmission lines,
Electra 30(1973) 70-122.
Two 765kV transmission lines considered for studies. [9] C.D. Tsirekisl and N.D. Hatziargyriou2,Control of Shunt Capacitors
Preliminary basic studies for steady state and transient state and Shunt Reactors Energization transients, International Conference on
Power Systems Transients - IPST 2003 in New Orleans, USA.
are carried out. It was observed that the loadability level of [10] K Joseph, et al.,Controlling switching surges on 1100kV transmission
systems based on voltage stability, L-Index and are improved systems, IEEE Trans. Power App. System PAS - 89 vol. 8, 1970, pp
by using series and shunt compensation. For EHV and 1752- 1762.
[11] Alessandro Clerici, G. Ruckstuhl and A. Vian, et at.,Influence of shunt
UHV lines there is limitation for load for lower side and reactors on switching surges, IEEE Trans. Power App. Syst. PAS - 89,
upper side. At lighter load conditions the reactive power vol 8, 1970, pp 1727 - 1736.
compensation requirement is more.So the lines are below

TABLE II
C OMPARISSION OF PEAK SWITCHING OVER VOLTAGES OF
AGRA - FATEHPUR SYSTEM OPERATING WITH SOURCE STRENGTH OF 6000
MVA, CLOSING ANGLE 900 FOR DIFFERENT CASES

Case.No Peak Over Voltage(p.u)

1 2.765
2 2.523
3 1.858
4 1.546

TABLE III
C OMPARISSION OF PEAK SWITCHING OVER VOLTAGES OF UNNAO - ANPARA
SYSTEM OPERATING WITH SOURCE STRENGTH OF 5000 MVA, CLOSING
ANGLE 300 FOR DIFFERENT CASES

Case.No Peak Over Voltage(p.u)

1 2.662
2 2.498
3 2.153
4 1.88

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