TRAVELLING WAVES

TRANSIENT IN ELECTRIC POWER TRANSMISSION LINES

Definition

An electrical transient is the outward manifestation of a sudden change

in circuit conditions, as when a switch opens or closes or a fault occurs
on the system.

The transient period is usually short.

Transient overvoltages caused by lightning strikes to transmission lines

and by switching operations are of fundamental importance in selecting
equipment insulation and surge-protection devices.

Definition

At voltages up to about 230 kV, the insulation level of the lines and
equipment is dictated by the need to protect against lightning. On
systems where voltages are above 230 kV but less than 700 kV
switching operations as well as lightning are potentially damaging to
insulation. At voltages above 700 kV switching surges are the main
determinant of the level of insulation.

Distributed Line Parameters

Transmission lines possess a certain inductance, capacitance,

resistance and conductance that are uniformly distributed along the
entire length of the line.

Travelling Waves on 1-ph Lossless

Lines

When a line with distributed parameters is subjected to a disturbance

such as a lightning strike or a switching operation, voltage and current
waves arise and travel along the line at a velocity near the speed of
light.

A lossless line is a good representation for lines of high frequency

where L and C become very large compared to R and G.

Wave Equation
i x, t
v x x, t v x, t Lx
t
v x x, t v x, t
i x, t
L
x
t
v x x, t v x, t
i x, t
lim
lim L
x 0
x 0
x
t
v x, t
i x, t
1
L
x
t

Wave Equation
v x, t
i x x, t i x, t Cx
t
i x x, t i x, t
v x, t
C
x
t
i x x, t i x, t
v x, t
lim
lim C
x 0
x 0
x
t
i x, t
v x, t
2
C
x
t

Wave Equation
i
xt
2v
x 2
2v
x 2
1 2v
LC x 2

2v
C 2
t
i
L
xt
2v
LC
t 2
2v

t 2

(3)

Wave Equation

1 i d i
2
2
LC x
dt
2

(4)

Solution to Wave Equation using

Laplace

The Laplace Transform of the Wave Eq. (3) is:

1 d 2V x, s
2

s
V x, s zero intitial condition
2
LC dx
d 2V x, s
2
6

s
LCV x, s 0
2
dx

Solution to Wave Equation using

Laplace

Eq. (6) is a linear, second-order homogeneous differential equation. By

inspection, its solution is:

V x, s A s e

s LC x

B s e

s LC x

Solution to Wave Equation using

Laplace

By taking the inverse Laplace of Eq. (7) the general solution to the
wave eq. (3) is:

v x, t a t LC x b t LC x

Solution to Wave Equation using

Laplace

Similarly, the general solution to the wave eq. (4) is

i x, t g t LC x h t LC x

where the functions a, b, g, and h can be evaluated from the boundary

conditions.

Forward (incident) and Backward

(reflected) Waves
Forward (incident wave):

a t LC x

and g t LC x

and h t LC x

Backward (reflected wave):

b t LC x

Velocity of Propagation

If an observer is travelling with the wave and staying at the same point
on the wave, he sees no change in voltage at that point. To the
observer,

t LC x constant

Velocity of Propagation

From which it follows that:

dx
1

0
dt
LC
dx
1

velocity of propagation, m/s 10

dt
LC

Velocity of Propagation

It can now be shown that a t LC x

represents a voltage wave
1
travelling in the positive x direction with a velocity
of
.
Graphically, this wave is shown below.
LC

Characteristic Impedance, ZC

The characteristic impedance, ZC is the ratio of the amplitudes of

voltage and current of a single wave propagating along the line, i.e., a
wave travelling in one direction in the absence of reflections in other
direction.

The Laplace transform of eq. (9) is:

I x, s G s e

LC xs

H se

LC xs

11

Characteristic Impedance, ZC

Eq. (11) can be differentiated to obtain:

dI x, s
LC sG s e
dx

LC xs

LC sH s e

LC xs

The Laplace transform of eq. (2) is:

dI x, s
CsV x, s
dx
dI x, s
Cs A s e
dx

zero initial condition

LC xs

B s e

LC xs

13

12

Characteristic Impedance, ZC

Equating (12) and (13):

LC s G s e

LC xs

H se

LC xs

- LC sG s CsA s
A s
LC

G s
C

LC
L

C2
C

B s
LC
LC
L

H s
C
C2
C

Cs A s e

LC xs

B s e

LC xs

Characteristic Impedance, ZC

The ratio of A(s) to G(s) is called the characteristic impedance of the

lossless line.

L
ZC

also called surge impedance

Characteristic Impedance, ZC

Thus, we can rewrite (11) and (9) as:

1
I x, s
A s e
ZC

LC xs

B s e

LC xs

14

1
i x, t
a t LC x b t LC x
ZC

15

Boundary Conditions for 1-ph

Lossless Line
Boundary

condition at the receiving end, x = l.

V l, s Z R s I l, s
A s e

l
s

B s e

l
s

s
s
Z R s

A s e B s e
ZC

Boundary Conditions for 1-ph

Lossless Line

Boundary condition at the receiving end, x = l.

A s e

l
s

B s e

l
s

s
s
Z R s
Z R s

A s e
B s e
ZC
ZC
l

s
Z R s s Z R s
e
B s 1
1 A s e
ZC

ZC

Boundary Conditions for 1-ph

Lossless Line
Z R s

1
l
2 s
ZC

B s
A s e R s A s e 2s
Z R s

1
ZC

Z R s

Where: s Z C
R
Z R s

1
ZC

per unit receiving - end voltage reflection coefficient

l
transit time of the line

the time it takes a wave to travel the length of the line

Boundary Conditions for 1-ph

Lossless Line

Rewriting Eqs. (7) and (14)

x
s

s 2

V x, s A s e R s e

s 2

s
A s
e R s e
I x, s
ZC

Boundary Conditions for 1-ph

Lossless Line

Boundary condition at the sending end, x = 0:

V 0, s E g s Z g s I 0, s

A s 1 R s e

2 s

A s
Eg s Z g s
1 R s e 2 s
ZC

Z g s
Z g s
2 s
E g s A s
1 R s e
1

ZC

ZC

Boundary Conditions for 1-ph

Lossless Line

Boundary condition at the sending end, x = 0:

Z
s
g

E g s A s
1 1 R s e 2 s
ZC

Z g s

1
ZC

Z g s

1
ZC

Z g s
E g s A s
1 1 R s S s e 2 s
ZC

Boundary Conditions for 1-ph

Lossless Line

Boundary condition at the sending end, x = 0:

ZC
Z g s ZC

A s E g s

Where:

Z g s

S s

1
1 R s S s e 2 s

ZC

ZC

Z g s

per unit sending - end voltage reflection coefficient

Boundary Conditions for 1-ph

Lossless Line

Rewriting equations for V(x,s) and I(x,s):

V x, s E g s

I x, s

Eg s

Z s Z
C
g

s 2

e R s e

1 s s e 2 s
R
R

x
s 2
s
e R s e
1 R s R s e 2 s

ZC
Z g s ZC

Sample Problems:

Example 1. Let ZR = ZC and Zg = 0. The source voltage is a step, eg(t)

= Eu(t). (a) Determine v(x,t) and i(x,t). (b) Plot the voltage and current
versus time t at the center of the line and at the receiving end.

Sample Problems:
Solution to Ex. 1

0 1
S
1
0 1
E
Eg s
s

11
R
0
11

x
s

x
E Zc e 0
E s

V x, s
e
s 0 Zc 1 0
s

v x, t Eu t
v

Sample Problems:
0 1
1
0 1
E
Eg s
s

E
1

I x, s
s 0 Zc
E
i x, t
Zc

x
u t

11
0
11

0
E s
e

1 0 sZ c

Sample Problems:

At the center of the line, x = l/2:

v , t Eu t 2 Eu t

2
2

l
E
E

l
i , t
u t 2
u t
Zc
2
2 Zc

Sample Problems:

At the receiving-end of the line, x = l:

l
v l , t Eu t

E
l
i l , t
u t
Zc

Eu t
E
u t

Zc

Sample Problems:

Example 2. The receiving end is open. The source voltage at the

sending end is a step, eg(t) = Eu(t), with Zg(s) = ZC. Determine v(x,t)
and i(x,t). Plot the voltage and current versus time t at the center of the
line.

Sample Problems:
Solution to Ex. 2:

1 1
0
11

1
Z
R c
indeterminate

1
Zc

ZR
1
Z
Lim R Lim c
Lim
Z R
Z R Z
Z R
R
1
Zc
E
Eg s
s

1
Zc
1
1
Zc

Sample Problems:

E
V x, s
s
E
v x, t u
2

Z c e 1 e

Zc Zc
1 0

x E
x

t u t 2
v 2
v

s
2

s
E
e e

2 s

Sample Problems:

E
1

I x, s
s Zc Zc

1 e
1 0

s
E

e e

2Z c s

E
x
E
x

i x, t
u t
u t 2
2Z c
v 2Z c
v

Sample Problems:

At the center of the line, x = l/2:

l
l

E
E
l

v , t u t 2 u t 2 2

2
2

E
E
3
u t u t
2
2 2
2
l
l

2
2
u t

u t
2

2Z c

E
3

u t
u t
2Z c
2 2Z c
2

E
l
i , t
2 2Z c

Bewley Lattice Diagram

A lattice diagram developed by L. V. Bewley conveniently organizes the

reflections that occur during transmission-line transient.

For the Bewley lattice diagram, the vertical scale represents time and is scaled
in units of
, the transient time of the line. The horizontal scale represents line
position x, and the diagonal lines represent traveling waves.

Each reflection is determined by multiplying the incident wave arriving at an

end by the reflection coefficient at that end.

The voltage v(x,t) at any point x and t on the diagram is determined by

algebraically adding all the terms directly above that point.

Lattice diagrams for current may also be drawn. However, the reflection
coefficient for current is always the negative of the reflection coefficient for
voltage

Bewley Lattice Diagram

Example

Example 3. Construct the Lattice diagrams for the voltage and current
in Ex. 2. Then, plot v and i versus time at the center of the line.

Solution
R 1

S 0

V1 E

V1
I1
Zc

Z c
Zc
E

E

Z g Zc
2
Zc Zc
E

2Z c

Solution
R 1

S 0

V1 E

V1
I1
Zc

Z c
Zc
E

E

Z g Zc
2
Zc Zc
E

2Z c

Junction of Two Lossless Lines

The figure below shows a forward travelling wave V A+ arriving at the

junction of two lossless lines A and B with characteristic impedances Z A
and ZB, respectively.

Junction of Two Lossless Lines

When VA+ arrives at the junction, both a reflection VA- on line A and a
refraction VB+ on line B will occur. Thus, writing a KVL and KCL equation
at the junction,

V V V

I I I

Junction of Two Lossless Lines

Recall that:

IA A ;
ZA

Then,

A
IA
;
ZA

VA VA VB

V
V
V

Z A Z A ZB

IB B
ZB

Junction of Two Lossless Lines

Solving for VA- and VB+ in terms of VA+ yields:

ZB
1
Z
V A A
V A AAV A
ZB
1
ZA

Z
2 B
ZA

VB
V A BAV A
ZB
1
ZA

where : AA

ZB
1
ZA

ZB
1
ZA

where : BA

Z
2 B
ZA

ZB
1
ZA

Junction of More Than Two Lossless

Lines

The preceding analysis can be extended to the junction of more than

two lossless lines as shown in the figure below.

Junction of More Than Two Lossless

Lines

Writing a KVL and KCL equation at the junction,

VA VA VB VC VD

I I I I I

Using V A , V A
IA
VC + , I A Z
ZA
A

VD+, and so on in terms of VA+.

V
I B B
ZB

, and so on, then, solve for V A-, VB+,

Example

8
Example 5. A single-phase lossless overhead line with Z A = 400 ,

10
m/s
A

l A 30 km

to a single-phase lossless cable with ZB = 100 ,

e g t Eu t
B 2 108 m/s connected
l B 20 km

and

and
. At the sending end of line A,
and Zg =0ZA.t At
receiving end of line B, Z R = 2ZB = 200 . Draw the
0the
.6 ms
lattice diagram for
and plot the voltage at the junction
versus time. The line and the cable are initially unenergized.

Solution

lA
A
0.1 ms
A

lB
B
0.1 ms
B

11
S
0
11

2 1 1
R

2 1 3

Solution

The reflection and refraction coefficients for waves arriving at the

junction from line A are:

AA

100
1
3
400

100
5
1
400

BA

100
2

2
400

100
5
1
400

Solution

The reflection and refraction coefficients for waves returning to the

junction from line B are:

BB

400
1
3
100

400
5
1
100

AB

400
2

8
100

400
5
1
100

Solution