1

Abstractanalysis of current unbalance in power systems with

short transmission lines is presented. Measurements in the Israel
Electric Transmission System as well as numerical simulations of
three-phase load flow have revealed lines with high level of
current unbalance. It is found that significant current unbalance
on short transmission lines may take place due to the following
reasons:
Inherent asymmetry of untransposed transmission lines,
Presence of line traps used for power line carriers (PLC),
Electromagnetic coupling between lines on double-circuit
towers,
Superposition of current symmetrical components in lines
under light loading.
It is shown that the current asymmetry may lead to
overcurrents in individual phases of transmission lines as well as
to growth of the magnetic field in proximity of the lines.
Index Termsasymmetry, current unbalance, sequence
currents, three phase load flow, magnetic field.
I. INTRODUCTION
The traditional approach ascribes appearance of voltage and
current unbalance in transmission systems to the following
reasons [1]-[3]
Long untransposed transmission lines
Banks of single-phase transformers
Large single-phase loads such as railway traction load
and arc furnaces connected to HV busbars.
Since most of the transmission lines in the Israel Electric
Corporation (IECo) are shorter than 50 km and its single-phase
loads are rather small in comparison with its three-phase
symmetrical loads, it was assumed that the voltage and current
unbalance in IECo transmission system could be neglected.
System studies of normal steady-states were done using
Positive Sequence (one-line) network model. Calculations of
the magnetic field in proximity of transmission lines were
performed on assumption that the line phase currents
constituted a symmetrical system.
Recent measurements performed in IECo have revealed
significant current unbalance on several transmission lines.
Since the unbalance might have negative impact on the
following components of the power system: generators, loads,
transformers and earthing grid [3]; the research on asymmetry
in IECo transmission system was conducted. As the first stage
of the research, the Unbalance Load Flow Program for load
A. Kalyuzhny and G Kushnir are with the Israel Electric Corporation, Haifa,
Israel (e-mail : aharon@iec.co.il or kosnir_g@iec.co.il )
flow in three phase asymmetrical system was developed. Each
element of a transmission system in the program is presented
by its three-phase model taking into consideration asymmetry
of its phase parameters. In addition to the "traditional" sources
of the inherent unbalance such as untransposed lines [4]-[5]
and banks of single-phase transformers [2], connection of PLC
line traps into line phases was also considered.
The load flow simulations proved that the existing
unbalance in the IECo generators and the loads is much
smaller than the acceptable unbalance limits. The zero
sequence currents do not pose any problems for the
transformer neutrals as well as for the earthing grid. On the
other hand, the analysis of the three phase load flows revealed
transmission lines with significant level of current asymmetry.
It was notices that the length of the majority of lines with high
unbalance does not exceed a few kilometers.
In order to understand the observed phenomena the
following study is done. The current unbalance is explored in
the system with short, untransposed 161 kV transmission lines.
The line length l varies from 4 km to 50 km (the existing range
of line lengths in IECo). The following typical IECo
transmission lines are considered:
Double-circuit 161 kV transmission line with vertical
arrangement of bundle conductors and with various
phasings.
Single-circuit transmission line with A arrangement of
phase conductors.
Line traps (LT) used for power line carriers (PLC) on 161 kV
transmission lines are connected into one phase (center-to-
ground coupling) [6]. The inductance of LT is 2 mH.
The results of the analysis are applicable to real world
transmission systems with short, untransposed lines.
II. CURRENT UNBALANCE IN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS WITH
SHORT LINES
A. Reasons of Current Unbalance
It has been found that significant current asymmetry on
short transmission lines may take place due to the following
reasons:
Inherent asymmetry of untransposed transmission lines,
Presence of line traps used for power line carriers (PLC),
Electromagnetic coupling between lines on double-circuit
towers,
Superposition of current symmetrical components in lines
under light loading.
Analysis of Current Unbalance in Transmission
Systems with Short Lines
A. Kalyuzhny, Member, IEEE, and G. Kushnir
2
All of the revealed cases of significant current unbalance in
IECo transmission lines can be ascribed to one of the above
reasons or to their combinations.
B. Current Unbalance due to Inherent Asymmetry of
Untransposed Transmission Lines
Untransposed lines are reckoned to be the main source of
current unbalance in the transmission systems [1], [4]-[5].
Asymmetrical phase spacing of a transmission line results in
the unbalance of line self and mutual impedances and partial
capacitances.
According to our calculations, the maximum inherent line
asymmetry takes place in parallel, double-circuit lines with
vertical arrangement of bundled conductors.
The current unbalance due to asymmetry of line parameters
and due to the line traps is studied in the system model that
includes a double-circuit line with line traps connecting two
system busbars (Fig.1). The system at each end is presented as
a Thevenin equivalent.
Fig. 1. System model for studying current unbalance due to inherent
asymmetry of line parameters and due to adding line traps.
The only element with phase asymmetry in the system
model is the double-circuit transmission line with vertical
arrangement of phase conductors and with the line traps (LT).
The study considers the following two types of current
unbalance existing in double circuit lines [4] [5]:
Through unbalance,
Circulating unbalance.
The through negative sequence and zero sequence currents
defining an inphase portion of the current unbalance can
be calculated as follows [4]:
% 100
1
2
0 2 0 1
0
% 100
1
2
2 2 2 1
2

+
=

+
=
av
I
C
I
C
I
N
I
av
I
C
I
C
I
N
I
(1)
where 2 / ) (
1 2 1 1 1 C C av
I I I + =
In (1) I
2N
and I
0N
PU values of net-through negative
sequence current and zero sequenced current; I
1C1
, I
1C2
and
I
1C0
are phasors of positive sequence, negative sequence and
zero sequence currents in the first circuit, while I
2C1
, I
2C2
and
I
2C0
- symmetrical components of current phasors in the
second circuit; I
1av
average circuit positive sequence current.
The above type of current unbalance is limited by the
Thevenin impedances of the system Z
S
and Z
R
(see Fig. 1).
The through unbalance reaches its maximum values, when the
transmission line connects two infinite busbars. In this case the
through unbalance depends only on the impedance matrix of
the double-circuit line Z
120
:
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
00 02 01
20 22 21
10 12 11
120
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
Z (2)
The maximum values of through unbalance I
2Nmax
and
I
0Nmax
may be obtained as follows [4]:
% 100
% 100
02 20 22 00
21 02 01 22
max 0
02 20 22 00
01 20 21 00
max 2

=
Z Z Z Z
Z Z Z Z
I
Z Z Z Z
Z Z Z Z
I
N
N
(3)
Formulas (3) take into account only the inherent asymmetry
of line self and mutual impedances. According to our
calculations, the current unbalance in short, heavily loaded
lines can be calculated neglecting the inherent asymmetry of
the line partial capacitances.
The circulating negative sequence current I
2C
and the
circulating zero sequence current I
0C
characterizing an out-of
phase portion of the current unbalance can be calculated as
follows [4]:
% 100
2
% 100
2
1
0 2 0 1
0
1
2 2 2 1
2

=
av
C C
C
av
C C
C
I
I I
I
I
I I
I
(4)
The circulating unbalance depends only on the asymmetry
of line self and mutual impedances and partial capacitances.
The procedure for calculation of the circulating unbalance [4]
~
~
V
S
Zo
V
R
IA1 IB1 IC1 IA2 IB2 IC2
I2C1
I2C2
I2C0
ZS
ZR
LT
LT
LT
LT
First
circuit
Second
circuit
I1C1
I1C2
I1C0
3
TABLE I
Current Unbalance due to Inherent Asymmetry of Untransposed Transmission Lines
Line's length is 4 km Line's length is 50 km Phase
arrangement
Current
unbalance
factors [%]
1
st
circuit [AZDeg] 2
nd
circuit [AZDeg] 1
st
circuit [AZDeg] 2
nd
circuit [AZDeg]
IA1=1660Z0
IB1=1655Z-120.1
IC1=1637Z118.6
I1C1=1650Z-0.5
I
1C2
=14.1Z116.9
I
1C0
=16.0Z7.1
I
A2
=1660Z0
I
B2
=1655Z-120.1
IC2=1637Z118.6
I2C1=1650Z-0.5
I2C2=14.1Z116.9
I2C0=16.0Z7.1
I
A1
=1673Z0
I
B1
=1724Z-122.6
IC1=1597Z111.0
I1C1=1661Z-3.8
I1C2=105.5Z113.2
I1C0=58.9.1Z12.9
I
A2
=1673Z0
I
B2
=1724Z-122.6
IC2=1597Z111.0
I2C1=1661Z-3.8
I2C2=105.5Z113.2
I2C0=58.9.1Z12.9
I2Nmax = 14.57
I0Nmax =4.49
I
2C
= 0
I0C =0
I2N=0.85% I0N=0.97% I2N=6.35% I0N=3.55%
IA1=1656Z0
IB1=1643Z-120.5
IC1=1649Z119.3
I1C1=1649Z-0.4
I1C2=3.9Z64.7
I1C0=8.7Z55.2
IA2=1650Z-0.4
IB2=1644Z-120.5
IC2=1659Z119.2
I
2C1
=1651 Z-0.5
I
2C2
=3.1Z-151.8
I2C0=7.5Z72.1
IA1=1661Z0
IB1=1631Z-121.7
IC1=1658Z117.4
I
1C1
=1650Z-1.4
I
1C2
=13.5Z93.8
I1C0=30.8.1Z66.2
IA2=1653Z-0.7
IB2=1632Z-121.7
IC2=1676Z117.1
I
2C1
=1653Z-1.8
I
2C2
=10.2Z158.8
I2C0=29.8.1Z70.8
I2Nmax = 1.56
I0Nmax =2.42
I2C = 0.13
I
0C
=0.08
I2N=0.07% I0N=0.49% I2N=0.61% I0N=1.83%
IA1=1650Z0
I
B1
=1763Z-127.8
I
C1
=1570Z109.5
I1C1=1656Z-6.1
I1C2=147.8Z94.9
I1C0=32.5Z62.1
IA2=1664Z-6.6
IB2=1546Z-116.7
IC2=1747Z121.4
I2C1=1648Z-0.7
I2C2=144.8Z-94.0
I2C0=31.4Z-59.9
IA1=1625Z0
IB1=1771Z-125.2
IC1=1621Z105.7
I1C1=1664Z-6.5
I1C2=171.1Z119.2
I1C0=66.7Z34.5
IA2=1640Z0
IB2=1579Z-114.3
IC2=1773Z117.2
I2C1=1657Z-1.5
I2C2=160.4Z-121.7
I2C0=58.8.1Z-20.9
I
2Nmax
= 11.88
I0Nmax =4.07
I2C = 8.84
I0C =1.68
I
2N
=0.69% I
0N
=0.94% I
2N
=5.07% I
0N
=3.35%
IA1=1663Z0
IB1=1733Z-127.7
IC1=1558Z111.9
I1C1=1648Z-5.3
I
1C2
=127Z83.2
I
1C0
=25.8Z73.9
I
A2
=1687Z-18.2
IB2=1571Z-129.8
IC2=1731Z110.1
I2C1=1659Z-12.7
I2C2=127.3Z-97.2
I2C0=35.7Z-89.2
I
A1
=1673Z0
IB1=1737Z-126.6
IC1=1544Z112.1
I1C1=1650Z-4.8
I1C2=125.8Z83.9
I1C0=23.2Z30.5
I
A2
=1698Z-17.9
IB2=1574Z-128.3
IC2=1719Z110.4
I2C1=1659Z-12.0
I2C2=129.9Z-99.3
I2C0=50.9.1Z-74.2
I2Nmax = 0.62
I0Nmax =2.0
I
2C
= 7.71
I0C =1.84
I2N=0.03% I0N=0.40% I2N=0.25% I0N=1.52%
B2
C2
A2
A1
B1
C1
A2
C2
B2
A1
B1
C1
C2
B2
A2
A1
B1
C1
A2
B2
C2
A1
B1
C1
is based on the assumption that only positive sequence voltage
is applied to the line. According to our study, this assumption
may lead to errors in calculation of the circulating unbalance in
short lines, where small values of the negative sequence/zero
sequence voltages across the lines may lead to significant
symmetrical components of current phasors.
The circulating unbalance in a double-circuit line may be
defined as the current unbalance in each circuit of the line,
while the line length l tends to an infinitesimal value:
% 100 lim % 100 lim
% 100 lim % 100 lim
1
0 2
0
1
0 1
0
0
1
2 2
0
1
2 1
0
2
= =
= =


av
C
l
av
C
l
C
av
C
l
av
C
l
C
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
(5)
The current unbalance in a double-circuit line depends on
its phasing [4] - [5].
Consider the current unbalance due to inherent asymmetry
of typical double-circuit 161 kV transmission line with vertical
arrangement of its phase conductors. Each phase includes 3
bundled conductors. The study is done for the system model in
Fig.1 on the assumption that the line traps for PLC are not
installed (optical ground wire alternative is used). The voltages
of the Thevenin equivalents V
S
and V
R
equal 165 kV, while the
load angle o is controlled to maintain I
1av
equal 1650 A
(transmission of 460 MVA over each circuit). The impedances
of the system equivalents are calculated on condition that the
short circuit currents at the line terminals, when the line is
disconnected, are 20 kA(I
3
=I
1
=20kA).
The results of the calculations are summarized in Table I.
The following phase arrangements are considered:
1. phasing abc-abc exhibiting high through maximum
unbalance and zero circulating unbalance
2. phasing abc-cba showing low through unbalance and
almost zero circulating unbalance
3. phasing abc-acb demonstrating high through maximum
unbalance and high circulating unbalance
4. phasing abc-bca exhibiting low through unbalance and
high circulating unbalance.
According to Table I, the through current unbalance in
transmission systems with short lines is limited by the system
impedances. This result explains the above-mentioned low
levels of unbalance in the generators and in the loads of the
IECo system. On the other hand, using double-circuit lines
with vertical phase arrangements like abc-acb or abc-bca, leads
to high circulating current unbalance even in very short lines.
This unbalance manifests itself as high negative sequence and
zero sequence currents circulating between circuits of the
double-circuit line as well as significant differences between
magnitudes of the line phase currents. The negative sequence
current may reach 10% of I
1av
, while the difference between
the phase currents might be about 12%.
4
Z
1
Z
A
/3
Z
2
Z
0
AV
1
I
1
I
A
I
2
I
0
Z
1
Z
A
/3
Z
2
Z
0
AV
1
I
1
I
A
I
2
I
0
C. Current Unbalance due to Connection of Line Traps
Connection of two LTs into one phase of a transmission
line (see Fig. 1) is equivalent to adding the impedance Z
A
into
that phase. Voltage drop on the impedance Z
A
causes current
and voltage unbalances in the transmission.
The unbalance due to adding LTs into a short, double-
circuit line can be analytically evaluated using the method of
symmetrical components. If some additional impedance Z
A
is
connected into phase a of a completely symmetrical
transmission, the sequence currents and voltages can be
calculated using the following equivalent scheme based on
connection of the sequence networks [7].
Fig. 2. Sequence network connection for adding ZA into phase A.
In Fig. 2. AV
1
= V
S
Zo -V
R
-positive sequence voltage
difference across the transmission; Z
1
- equivalent positive
sequence impedance of the transmission; Z
2
- equivalent
negative sequence impedance of the transmission; Z
0
-
equivalent zero sequence impedance of the transmission.
The negative and zero sequence currents I
2
and I
0
can be
presented in terms of the positive sequence current I
1
:
1
2
2
I
Z
Z
I
eq
= ,
1
0
0
I
Z
Z
I
eq
= (6)
where Z
eq
- equivalent impedance resulting from connection
in parallel of the impedances Z
A
/3, Z
2
and Z
0
:
0 2 0 2
0 2
3 ) ( Z Z Z Z Z
Z Z Z
Z
A
A
eq
+ +
= (7)
Consider the following schemes of LTs connection into
double-circuit lines:
1. LTs are connected into both circuits of a double-
circuit line
2. LTs are connected only into one circuit of a double-
circuit line.
If LTs are connected into both circuits of the double-circuit
line (see Fig. 1) the equivalent system impedances shown in
Fig.2 can be expresses as
R S
L
R S
L
LT A
Z Z
l Z
Z
Z Z
l Z
Z
Z Z
0 0
0
0
2 2
1
2
2
2
+ + =
+ + =
=
(8)
In (8) Z
LT
=j0.628 Ohm impedance of line trap; Z
2S
and
Z
0S
equivalent negative sequence impedance and zero
sequence impedance of the system equivalent at the line
sending end; Z
2R
and Z
0R
equivalent negative sequence
impedance and zero sequence impedance of the system
equivalent at the line receiving end; Z
L1
and Z
L0
specific
positive sequence and zero-sequence impedance of each circuit
of the double circuit line, when the circuits are operated in
parallel:
12 11 1
Z Z Z
L
= ,
M L
Z Z Z Z 3 2
12 11 0
+ + = (9)
In (9) Z
11
average circuit self impedance per km; Z
12

average circuit mutual impedance per km; Z
M
average
mutual impedance between circuits per km.
Analytical expressions for the current unbalance due to
adding LTs into both circuits of a double- circuit line can be
derived by substitution of (8) into (6) and (7). Taking into
account that for real world systems Z
LT
/3<< Z
2
Z
0
/( Z
2
+ Z
0
),
the negative sequence pu current I
2pu
and the zero sequence pu
current I
0pu
can be presented as follows:
% 100
2 /
3 /
% 100
% 100
2 /
3 /
% 100
0 0 0 1
0
0
1 2 2 1
2
2

+ +
= =

+ +
= =
l Z Z Z
Z
I
I
I
l Z Z Z
Z
I
I
I
L R S
LT
pu
L R S
LT
pu
(10)
According to (10), the current unbalance is proportional to
the impedance of LT Z
LT
and limited by the total impedance of
the transmission. Even for transmissions with very short lines
the unbalance is limited by the Thevenin impedances of the
system Z
S
and Z
R
. Since LTs are generally added into the same
phase in both circuits of a double-circuit line, the unbalance is
of the through type.
Consider a double-circuit line, where LTs are installed only
in the first circuit, but are not added into the second one. For
that scheme of connection, the equivalent system impedances
shown in Fig.2 can be expresses as
R S c L
R S c L
c L
R S L
R S L
L
LT A
Z Z l Z
Z Z l Z
l Z Z
Z Z l Z
Z Z l Z
l Z Z
Z Z
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0
2 2 1
2 2 1
1 2
) (
) (
2
+ +
+
+ =
+ +
+
+ =
=
(11)
In (11) Z
L0c
- specific zero sequence impedance of each circuit
of the double-circuit line, when zero sequence current
circulates between the circuits:
M c L
Z Z Z Z 3 2
12 11 0
+ = (12)
For transmission systems with short lines, where
Z
L1
l<< (Z
2S
+ Z
2R
) and Z
L0c
l<< (Z
0S
+ Z
0R
), the expressions of
the equivalent system impedances are as follows:
c L
L
LT A
Z Z
l Z Z
Z Z
0 0
1 2
2
2
2
=
=
=
(13)
The analytical expressions for the current unbalance due to
adding LTs into one circuits of a double- circuit line can be
derived by substitution of (13) into (6) and (7). The negative
sequence pu current I
2pu
and the zero sequence pu current I
0pu
5
in that circuit can be presented as follows:
% 100
3 /
3 /
% 100
3 /
3 /
0 20
20
0
1 20
20
2

+
=

+
=
l Z
Z
Z l Z
l Z
I
l Z
Z
Z l Z
l Z
I
c L
LT
LT L
L
pu
L
LT
LT L
L
pu
(14)

where
Loc L
Loc L
L
Z Z
Z Z
Z
+
=
1
1
20
Connection of LTs into one circuit of a double-circuit short
line results in the current unbalance circulating in the loop
constituted by the line circuits. If the system Thevenin
impedance is much bigger than the line impedance, the current
unbalance does not penetrate the networks outside that loop.
This is why the current unbalance does not depend on the
Thevenin impedances of the system Z
S
and Z
R
. According to
(14), the current unbalance is directly proportional to the
impedance of LT Z
LT
and inversely proportional to the line
length l. For the lines, which length l tends to an infinitesimal
value, the expressions of negative and zero sequence currents
flowing in the circuit with LTs are
% 100
% 100
0 1
1
0
0 1
0
2

+
=

+
=
c L L
L
pu
c L L
c L
pu
Z Z
Z
I
Z Z
Z
I
(15)
For that limiting case the current unbalance is similar to the
current unbalance for two-phase operation of a transmission
line [7]. It is obvious that the unbalance due to LT connection
into one circuit of a double-circuit short line falls into the type
of current circulating unbalance.
The study of current unbalance due to adding LTs into a
short double-circuit line is done for the system model shown in
Fig.1. The length l of the line in the model varies from 0 to 10
km. The phase arrangement cab-bac (see Fig.3a) is considered.
Simulations are carried out for LT connection to phase b in
both circuits as well as for LT adding only into phase b of the
second circuit. The current unbalance in the second circuit
versus line length l is shown in Fig.3.
According to Fig. 3, connection of LTs into both circuits of
double-circuit lines does not cause significant increase of
current unbalance. On the other hand, adding LTs into one
circuit of short double-circuit lines may result in high
circulating current unbalance.
Consider the current unbalance due to adding LTs into
phase b of the second circuit of 4 km double-circuit line, while
the load angle o is controlled to maintain average circuit
positive sequence current I
1av
equal 1650 A. Phasors of the
line phase currents and their symmetrical components are
given in Table II.
The additional reactance of LTs connected into the second
circuit leads to redistribution of positive sequence currents
between the circuits: I
1C1
grows to 1836 A, while I
2C1
falls to
1471 A (see Table II). The negative sequence and zero
sequence currents in the circuit with LTs reach 14% of its
positive sequence current. The above redistribution of the
positive sequence currents as well as the significant circulating
current unbalance manifests itself as drastic difference between
magnitudes of the phase currents in phase b: I
B2
is less than
50% of I
B1
.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Fig. 3. Current unbalance due to adding LTs into short double-circuit lines.
(a) Line phasing. (b) Negative sequence current versus line length. (c) Zero
sequence current versus line length.
TABLE II
CURRENT UNBALANCE DUE TO ADDING LINE TRAPS INTO SHORT LINE
1
st
circuit AZDeg] 2
nd
circuit [AZDeg]
IA1=1681Z0
IB1=2189Z-121.5
IC1=1639Z120.1
I1C1=1836Z-0.5
I1C2=178Z109.8
I1C0=177Z-122.2
IA2=1634Z-3.99
IB2=1079Z-123.8
IC2=1699Z116.6
I2C1=1471Z-3.7
I2C2=201Z-68.8
I2C0=192Z62.1
I2N=0.72% I0N=0.62%
The measurements preformed on IECo short, double-circuit
line with LTs installed only in one circuit of that line revealed
the similar drastic difference between phase currents.
B2
A2
C2
C1
A1
B1
1
st
circuit 2
nd
circuit
B2
A2
C2
C1
A1
B1
1
st
circuit 2
nd
circuit
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
20
40
60
Negative-sequence current due to LTs
Line length [km]
N
e
g
a
t
i
v
e
-
S
e
q
u
e
n
c
e

C
u
r
r
e
n
t

[
%
]

LTs in the 2
nd
circuit
LTs in both circuits
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
20
40
60
Negative-sequence current due to LTs
Line length [km]
N
e
g
a
t
i
v
e
-
S
e
q
u
e
n
c
e

C
u
r
r
e
n
t

[
%
]

LTs in the 2
nd
circuit
LTs in both circuits
LTs in the 2
nd
circuit
LTs in both circuits
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
20
40
60
Zero-Sequence current due to LTs
Line length [km]
Z
e
r
o
-
S
e
q
u
e
n
c
e

C
u
r
r
e
n
t

[
%
]

6
D. Current Unbalance due to Electromagnetic Coupling
between Lines on Double-Circuit Towers
Consider current unbalance due to the electromagnetic
coupling between lines installed on double-circuit towers in
the system model shown in Fig.4.
Fig. 4. System model for studying current unbalance due to electromagnetic
coupling between two lines on double-circuit towers.

The system model includes two untransposed short lines
installed on common double-circuit towers. Each line connects
two system busbars. The system at the each end is presented as
a Thevenin equivalent with the same parameters as in the
model shown in Fig. 1. In order to exclude the influence of
circulating unbalance on the phenomenon under consideration,
it is assumed that the system busbars of the first line have no
galvanic connection with the system busbars of the second line
(see Fig. 4). The lines are installed on the above-mentioned
typical double-circuit towers with vertical arrangement of
bundled phase conductors and with abc-abc phasing. The
length of the lines installed on the double-circuit towers is 5
km. It is assumed that the load angle o
max
is selected to
maintain the active power P
1
transmitted over the 1
st
line
equals 460 MW. Let us assume that the active power P
2
transmitted over the 2
nd
line lies in the range: -P
1
s P
2
s P
1
.
The variation of P
2
is modeled by an appropriate change of the
load angle o (see Fig. 4).
Operation of the 2
nd
line under light loading, while the 1
st
line is heavy loaded, may result in the significant current
unbalance on the second line (see Fig.5).
10 5 0 5 10
0
10
20
30
Symmetrical components in 2nd line
Active power flow-second line [MW]
I
1
,

I
2

a
n
d

I
0

[
A
]
a ( )
10 5 0 5 10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Phase currents in the second line
Active power flow-second line [MW]
R
M
S

v
a
l
u
e
s

o
f

t
h
e

p
h
a
s
e

c
u
r
r
e
n
t
s

[
A
]
b ( )
I
2C1
I
2C2
I
2C0
I
A2
I
B2
I
C2
10 5 0 5 10
0
10
20
30
Symmetrical components in 2nd line
Active power flow-second line [MW]
I
1
,

I
2

a
n
d

I
0

[
A
]
a ( )
10 5 0 5 10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Phase currents in the second line
Active power flow-second line [MW]
R
M
S

v
a
l
u
e
s

o
f

t
h
e

p
h
a
s
e

c
u
r
r
e
n
t
s

[
A
]
b ( )
I
2C1
I
2C2
I
2C0
I
A2
I
B2
I
C2

Fig. 5. Current unbalance on the second line. (a) Sequence components
versus P2. (b) Phase currents versus P2.
The currents in each line can be determined as
superposition of the currents due to load flow over the line and
the induced currents due to the electromagnetic coupling with
the other line. The unequal spacing between the line phases
brings about the asymmetry of mutual impedances and
capacitances between the lines. That asymmetry results in
appearance of the negative sequence and the zero sequence
currents in each line due to electromagnetic coupling with the
other line. For example, when the phase currents in the 1
st
line
are about 1650 A, the negative sequence and zero sequence
currents in the 2
nd
line I
2C2
and I
2C0
induced by the phase
currents in the first line are about 12-14 A. The positive
sequence current in the 2
nd
line I
2C1
can be also determined as
vector sum of the positive sequence current due to the load
flow in the line and of the induced current due to
electromagnetic coupling with the 1
st
line. When the power P
2
over the 2
nd
line is close to zero, the positive sequence current
I
2C1
is smaller than the currents I
2C2
and I
2C0
(see Fig. 5a). The
current unbalance manifests itself as drastic difference between
~
V
S
Zo
max
I
A1
I
B1
I
C1
I
A2
I
B2
I
C2 I
1C1
I
1C2
I
1C0
I
2C1
I
2C2
I
2C0
1
st
line
~
V
S
Zo
~
V
R
~
V
R
2
nd
line
~
V
S
Zo
max
I
A1
I
B1
I
C1
I
A2
I
B2
I
C2 I
1C1
I
1C2
I
1C0
I
2C1
I
2C2
I
2C0
1
st
line
~
V
S
Zo
~
V
S
Zo
~
V
R
~
V
R
~
V
R
2
nd
line
7
magnitudes of the phase currents in the 2
nd
line. For example,
when P
2
=-2.5 MW, the currents in phases a and b are about
10 A, while the current in phase c is 30 A (see Fig. 5b). The
considered phenomenon can be observed only if one of the
two lines is under light loading, while the other one is heavily
loaded. If the both lines are heavily loaded, the current
unbalance in each line does not exceed 2%.
E. Superposition of Current Symmetrical Components in
Lines under Light Loading
Some cases of the high current unbalance that have been
observed on short transmission lines, can be explained as the
superposition of sequence currents in lines under light loading.
The flow of positive sequence currents in the transmission
system is determined by the power flow from generators to
loads. The negative sequence currents generally flow from
untransposed transmission lines (generators of the current
unbalance) to generators and to large loads having relatively
small negative sequence impedances. The zero sequence
currents flow from the untransposed lines to Y/A transformers
with grounded neutrals. The different routes of sequence
currents flow in transmission systems may result in the cases,
when the negative and zero sequence currents in a line under
light loading may have significant values with respect to the
line positive sequence current. Superposition of the sequence
currents on the line manifests itself as significant unbalance of
the line phase currents.
The phenomenon can be modeled in the scheme shown in
Fig. 6. The system model includes two short, single-circuit
untransposed lines connecting two system busbars with the
load at intermediate point of the transmission. The system at
each end busbars is presented as a Thevenin equivalent. The
Thevenin impedances are calculated on condition that the short
circuit currents at the system terminals, when the lines are
disconnected, are 40 kA (I
3
=I
1
=40 kA). The load is presented
as constant impedance. Its positive sequence impedance is
calculated on condition that, if the voltage across the load is
165 kV, S
LOAD
= 100MW+j33 Mvar.
In order to model high current unbalance in the 2
nd
line we
must deliver S
LOAD
over the 1
st
line, while the power flow
through the 2
nd
line is almost zero: S
1
S
LOAD
, S
2
0 (see
Fig. 6). The required load flow can be achieved by selection of
the Thevenin voltages: V
S
= 165 kV, V
R
=163.9 kV, while the
load angle o is kept in the range: 0.025 rad sos 0.034 rad.
The phase currents in the 2
nd
line versus the active power
flow over the line P
2
are given in Fig. 7.
In order to explain the current unbalance shown in Fig. 7,
consider the superposition of sequence currents in the 2
nd
line,
when the load angle o=0.0305 rad. The transmission of S
LOAD
over the 1
st
line generates negative sequence current I
1L2
=
15.1A and zero sequence current I
1L0
= 5.3 A. That unbalance
is small with respect to the positive sequence current I
1L1
=
376 A. The load consumes the following sequence currents:
I
1
= 363 A, I
2
= 0.6 A and I
0
= 0 A (the load's transformers have
ungrounded neutral. The sequence currents seen by the 2
nd
line
are: I
2L1
= 13 A, I
2L2
= 14.5 A and I
2L0
= 5.3 A. Superposition
of those sequence currents results in the severe current
unbalance shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 6. System model for studying current unbalance due superposition of
sequence currents in the 2
nd
line.
Fig. 7. The current unbalance due to superposition of sequence currents in
the 2
nd
line.
F. Problems due to Current Unbalance
The aim of the above study was to understand the
phenomena of high current unbalance that have been observed
in short transmission lines. The next step of the research is the
analysis of problems caused by the phenomena.
We have already shown that the significant current
unbalance due to the electromagnetic coupling between lines
as well as due to the superposition of sequence currents may
take place only in the lines under light loading. It seems that
the significant unbalance of small phase currents (see Fig. 5b
and Fig. 7) does not have any negative impact either on the
power system components or on the environment in the line
proximity.
On the other hand, the high current unbalance that takes
place due to inherent asymmetry of the line's parameters or due
to presence of LTs may occur also in heavily loaded lines.
IC1
IB1
~
V
S
Zo
IA1
I1L1 I1L2 I1L0
1
st
line
~
V
R
IA2
IB2
IC2
I2L1 I2L2 I2L0
2
nd
line
SLOAD
l1=20 km
l2=5 km
IA
IB
IC
Z
S
Z
R
S1SLOAD
S20
10 5 0 5 10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Phase currents in the 2nd line
Active power flow-second line [MW]
R
M
S

v
a
l
u
e

o
f

p
h
a
s
e

c
u
r
r
e
n
t
s

[
A
]
I
A2
I
B2
I
C2
10 5 0 5 10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Phase currents in the 2nd line
Active power flow-second line [MW]
R
M
S

v
a
l
u
e

o
f

p
h
a
s
e

c
u
r
r
e
n
t
s

[
A
]
I
A2
I
B2
I
C2
8
Generally, as it has been shown above, the through unbalance
in the systems with short lines is small and does not pose any
problems outside the lines. It is the circulating unbalance
inside the short lines that may cause the following problems:
1. Increase of power losses in the double-circuit lines [4]-[5].
2. Overcurrents in individual phases of the lines.
3. Increase of the magnetic field in the line's proximity.
Consider the impact of the circulating unbalance due to
adding LTs into one circuit of the double-circuit line (see
Table II) on the overcurrents and on the magnetic field.
The phase currents in the line, calculated in one-line
symmetrical model equal 1650 A. The real current in phase b
of the 1
st
circuit I
B1
equals 2189 A, i.e. circulating unbalance
increases the phase current by 33%. The flow of overcurrents
in the line's lower phase (see Fig. 3a) may reduce the minimum
phase-to-ground line clearance. Therefore, the probability of
short circuits on the line increases.
The explicit asymmetry between the line phase currents
shown in Table II also affects the magnetic flux density in
proximity of the line (see Fig. 8) In Fig. 8 B magnetic flux
density calculated at a height of 1 m versus distance x from
centre of the line's right- of- way on basis of the phase currents
given in Table II; B
S
the same magnetic flux density
calculated on assumption that all the line currents equal 1650
A and constitute a completely symmetrical system. The current
unbalance, as it follows from the figure, significantly increases
the magnetic field in the line proximity. For example, at
x=20m, B = 64 mgauss, but if the magnetic field is calculated
regardless of the current unbalance, B
S
=43.5 mgauss, i.e. the
circulating unbalance raises he magnetic field by 47%.
Fig. 8. Effect of the current unbalance on the magnetic field.
The current unbalance in systems with short lines can have
a profound effect on loading of individual line phases as well
as on the magnetic field in line proximity. The necessity to
calculate the unbalance requires using the Unbalance Load
Flow Program for Load Flows.
To reduce the current unbalance we recommend selecting
optimal phase arrangements for double-circuit lines, even if
their length does not exceed a few kilometers. We also
recommend to design PLC in short lines with due account of
their impact on the circulation unbalance. The detailed study
of remedies for the unbalance reduction is beyond the scope of
the current paper.
III. CONCLUSIONS
The main reasons of the current unbalance phenomena in
power systems with short transmission lines are determined
and analyzed. Using specific phasings on double-circuit,
untransposed lines as well as adding LTs to one circuit of short
double-circuit lines may result in severe current circulating
unbalance. The analytical expressions to estimate the
unbalance are developed.
The unbalance may cause overcurrents in individual phases
of the lines and increase the magnetic field in the line's
proximity.
The unbalance can be reduced by proper design of the
transmission lines and location of PLC line traps.
IV. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors are grateful to D. Shein and B. Reshef from
IECo for their contribution to this study. The authors also
thank D. Amdur from IECo for his support of this research.
V. REFERENCES
[1] M. M. Adibi, D.P. Milanich and T.L. Volkmann. "Asymmetry issues in
power system restoration", IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 14, No. 3,
pp.1085-1091, August 1999.
[2] R. Gutman and L.B. Wagenaar " EHV transformer bank unbalance",
IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, Vol. 11, pp.1830-1835, October 1996.
[3] A.von. Jouanne and B Banerjee, "Assessment of voltage unbalance,"
IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 782-789, Oct. 2001.
[4] Anderson P. M. "Analysis of Faulted Power Systems", Iowa State
University Press, 1973, pp 71-151.
[5] Transmission Line Reference Book: 345 kV and Above, Second
Edition. Electric Power Research Institute, 1982, pp 131-140.
[6] Sanders M.P. and Ray R.E. "Power Line Carrier Channel & Application
Considerations for Transmission Line Relaying," Pulsar Technologies
Technical Brochure, April 2001
[7] Anderson P. M. "Analysis of Faulted Power Systems", Iowa State
University Press, 1973, pp. 62-65.
Aaron Kalyuzhny graduated from the Novosibirsk Technical University
(former USSR) in 1980. He received Ph.D degree in electrical engineering
from the Siberian Research Institute of Energy in 1990. He has been working
in the Israel Electric Corporation Ltd. since 1992. His professional interests
include unbalance steady states and transients in power systems as well as
different aspects of the reactive power compensation.
Gregory Kushnir received his M. Sc. degree in electrical engineering
from the Urals Technical University, Yekaterinburg, (former USSR), in 1969.
His employment experience includes the Urals Section of "Souztechenergo",
the Urals Technical University, the Urals Power System Dispatch Centre and
the Israel Electric Corporation Ltd. His research interests include the
development of mathematical models and programs for steady states and
transients in power systems as well as problems of load flow optimization.
B
BS
60 40 20 0 20 40 60
0
50
100
150
200
Magnetic flux density in line proximity
Distance from centre of the tower [m]
M
a
g
n
e
t
i
c

f
l
u
x

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

[
m
g
a
u
s
s
]