Calculated Short-Circuit Behaviour and Effects

of a Duplex Conductor Bus

Variation of the Subconductor Spacing

Amir M. Miri1) and Norbert Stein2).

1)
Institute of Electric Energy Systems and High-Voltage Technology, University of Karlsruhe,
Kaiserstrasse 12, D-76128 Karlsruhe,Germany, E-mail: miri@ieh.etec.uni-karlsruhe.de
2)
Forschungsgemeinschaft für Elektrische Anlagentechnik und Stromwirtschaft Mannheim
P.O. Box 810169, D-68201 Mannheim,Germany, E-mail: norbert.stein@fgh-ma.de

Abstract - The paper presents a study on the dynamic
behaviour and effects of a duplex conductor bus of a 400
kV substation due to short-circuit. The study is performed
using the Finite Element Method. Three bus parameters
are varied: sub-conductor spacing, short-circuit duration
and the number of spacers. The analysis is performed for
the stresses at the dead end, on the spacers and the portal
foundations. The study was done to prepare and
accompany the current FGH /VDE short-circuit test series
on full scale arrangements in the interest of CIGRE 23-03
and IEC TC 73.
Index Terms- Mechanical short-circuit effects, Finite
Element Method, Structural analysis.
I. INTRODUCTION
in older installations also below 400kV whose reserves
now need to be investigated and in other countries
where a bundle spacing as on overhead lines is the
normal technique. Close bundling is, of course, no
longer feasible with stranded conductors for higher
system voltages.
The paper presents the results of a numerical para-
meter study of different conductor/spacer configurations
from close to wide bundling. They are intended to
prepare and accompany the current series of short-
circuit test at the FGH test site.
A schematic view of the typical flexible conductor
configurations of open-air substations is given in Fig.1

Close bundling of flexible bus bars is not associated

with major short-circuit contraction effects. Substantial
peak forces due to the contraction of sub-conductors
will occur at the dead end and on the spacers in the case
of larger sub-conductor spacing. Their magnitude and
their eventual static equivalent effect (ESL = equivalent
static load) on support structures and foundations de-
pend, apart from a number of additional parameters of
Configuration and state, as well as of the electrical
short-circuit data, on the spacing between the sub-
conductors, their number and configuration, the
conductor type itself, and the number and the design of
Fig. 1. Flexible conductor configurations of open-air
the spacers (rigid, partially or multiply elastic). substations - Cases A - F

Apart from UK 121.2 and AK 121.2.2. of the Ger-
man Electro technical Committee DKE and IEC TC73,
WG2 (Calculation of the effects of short-circuit
currents), it is CIGRE 23-03 ESCC Task Force (Effects
of short-circuit currents) of SC 23 (Substations) that is
strongly engaged with the state of the art and the deve-
lopment of the IEC standard 60865-1.
Close bundling of multiple conductors, with a
spacing between sub-conductors approximately
equivalent to conductor diameter, minimizes the direct
and indirect effects of contraction. Up to 400kV this
technique is absolutely viable for substations and has
become largely standard for more recent German
installations. Wide bundle distances are still quite usual
A: horizontal bus connected by insulator chains to steel structures,
B: vertical dropper between bus and apparatus,
C: horizontal connection between components,
D: jumper connecting two bus sections,
E: end-span droppers (classical or spring loaded),
F: first span to overhead line.
The present study is concerned with the case A plus
B – long-span horizontal bus connected by insulator
chains to portal structures where the bus conductors are
twin bundles. The dropper B is connected at midspan
and does not carry current.
The sub-conductor centre line distance is varied
from 60 to 400 mm in four individual values.
 ??. CALCULATION OF SHORT-CIRCUIT BEHAVIOUR the truss elements toward each other in the three
main axis directions.
The simplified methods of calculation in IEC/ VDE • For bundle conductors one also requires additional
are useful and necessary for typical design cases by contact elements. These contact elements consist of
hand or computer-aided [1] calculation and allow a massless spring element with a damping element
parameter-sensitive investigations in a very short time in parallel [3].
using personal computers. Only general input data are
required, and the results are the maximum values of III. INVESTIGATED ARRANGEMENT
tensile forces and displacements. The procedures are
adjusted to practical requirements and contain
simplifications with safety margins. In this study flexible busbars (with 2 × ACSR
Advanced methods, on the other hand, use Finite 537/53) are investigated in the FGH/VDE 400 kV test
Element or finite difference modelling, and powerful arrangement of 40 m span length and phase distance a =
software is available on workstations and personal 3m shown in Fig. 2. The droppers are of 1 × ACSR
computers. They can be applied to any structural con- 537/53. For a given short-circuit current of 40 kA r.m.s.
figuration with single and bundle conductors and (fully asymmetric) with twin conductor bun dles, the
forcing function [2]. The computation of the dynamic following parameters were varied:
response of the complete structure including the • the number of spacers n AH
nonlinear behaviour is possible, and accurate results can • the sub-conductor centre-line distance a T
be obtained, limited only by the degree of detail in the the short-circuit current duration T K.
•
modelling and the availability of reliable basic stru ctural
The usual practical solution for a close bundle
data. The calculation of eigenfrequencies, time histories
of forces, moments and deformations allows to study conductor in Germany is aT ≈ 2 x conductor diameter
the system behaviour, to detect and improve weak for the applied conductor type ACSR 537/53 a T = 65
points, and to ascertain the circuit strength even for mm was used.
complex cases. Also the range of validity of simplified For the so called wide bundling, 100, 200 and 400
methods can be investigated. mm values of a T were considered.
During more than 20 years, the users of the Fig. 2 shows the studied arrangement.
advanced methods have acquired an excellent know-
how in the modelling and computation of substation
structures. Test results have always been taken for
comparison and adaptation.
The possibilities and experience gained with these
detailed methods now allow to fill out and extend the
required framework set up by singular test result data by
inter- and extrapolation varying the original test para -
meters in a degree that could not be done in actual
testing.
The control basis for the development of simplified
calculation methods for new applications can thus be
laid.
The dynamic short-circuit behaviour of high-voltage
substations has been studied numerically at the Institut
für Elektroenergiesysteme und Hochspannungstechnik
of Karlsruhe University for more than 20 years. As part
of this program, calculation proceduress based on the
Finite Element Method were developed to simulate the
behaviour of the entire structures for rigid busbars and
busbars with flexible conductors in single and bundle
configuration, including droppers.
The present study applies the Finite Element Method Fig.2. The studied arrangement fully discretized
to outdoor substations of different configurations of
bundle conductors, with close and wide bundling. The structure is discretized in a full-detail FE model,
To discretize high-voltage substations, the following using the appropriate beam elements for the framework
elements are generally applied: of the portals and adjusting the model to achieve first
• Beam elements of different, appropriate cross- the proper stiffness and then eigenfrequency values.
section for stiff conductors, gantries, post insulators From prior tests the stiffness values are known to be
and spacers, SN = 1.086 kN/mm, SM = 1.223 kN/mm (Sres = 0.575
• Truss elements for the flexible conductors, strain kN/mm).
insulators and droppers. The relevant first eigenfrequencies excited at the
• For bundle conductors, dashpot elements are used to mid crossarm, i.e. next to the suspension points, are 9
damp the relative motion of the mar ginal nodes of Hz for the N-portal crossarm and 9.5 Hz for the
M-portal crossarm, while the complete portals have structure upon the short-circuit of 100 kA – 40 kArms –
basic frequencies of 3 Hz and 4.3 Hz, respectively, the 0.3 s on the 400 mm bundle phase conductors with 1
M-portal having the stiffer construction (see above).The spacer at mid span.
FEM software applied is ABAQUS [4].
In the case of single conductors, only repelling Force
forces act between conductor and return conductor [kN] 80.0
during the entire short-circuit period, accelerating both
conductors away from each other.
In the case of twin bundle phase conductors we have 60.0
two parallel current-carrying conductors and two
current-carrying return conductors. As a result, two
phenomena need to be distinguished during short- 40.0
circuit, which are not necessarily one after the other:
• The contraction phase, during which the sub-
conductors, which have a relatively small distance
compared with the distance of the phases, attract 20.0
each other very strongly although the current in each
of the sub-conductors is only half the full short-
circuit current, until they touch in so-called plastic 0
0.0 0.4 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
impulse. time [s]
• The second phase is the swing-out phase, where the
repelling forces acting between the phase
conductors, accelerate them away from each other. Force 0.2
While these two original phenomena happen during [103 kN]
the short-circuit, the accelerated phase conductors will
continue their motion after the short-circuit.
The maxima of constraints observed during these 0
three separate phases are termed:
1. Contraction maximum F Pi,
2. Swing-out maximum F t -0.2
3. Fall-of-span maximum F f.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic oscillograph of the tensile
force and the respective maxima.
-0.4
Fst Fpi Ft Ff
1 2 3
Tensile
force -0.6
0.0 0.4 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
time [s]

0 Fig. 4. a, b. Exemplary oscillographs of constraints at:

a) dead end; b) foundation.

time The comparison of Fig. 4. a against Fig. 4. b shows

s.c. current
Fig. 3. Main conductor tensile forces, schematic
oscillograph:
0 - Static load, Fst: 1 - Contraction maximum , Fp;
2 - Swing-out maximum, Ft; 3 - Fall-of-span maximum
The reactions of the support structure on the tensile
forces acting upon it are to be quantified and validated
in terms of so called "Equivalent Static Loads" ESL.
IV. CALCULATION RESULTS
The results of the calculations performed on the
structure of Fig. 2 are given in the following. Figures
4.a and b give an example of the reactions of the support
the relative reduction of 50 and 100 Hz phenomena
during the short-circuit. – on the way from the dead-end
fixing point at cross arm to the bottom end of the tower
(i.e. foundation).
Fig.5 exemplarily shows the calculated displace-
ments of a bundle conductor at the spacer location for
the same arrangement and short-circuit data as above
except tK=0.1 s. Fig.6. gives the same for a point at 1/4
span, i.e. in the middle between spacer position and the
suspension point. The first sequence of figures - Fig. 7a,
b and c - gives a collection of the calculation results for
the respective tension forces at the dead end in terms of
the recorded maxima F pi, Ft and Ff for the variants taken
into account in the calculation. One must consider that
the value of t K = 0.1 s is of a rather theoretical nature.
 60mm
1 spacer 3 spacers
100mm
200mm
400mm
117,2 117,6 116,7

110 110

100 100
84,6 88 86,4
90 83,1 83 90 83,5
80 80

Force / kN
70 70
58,8 58 58,1
60 55 55,2 54,7 60

50 50
40 39,6 39,8
40 40
30,3 29,7 29,6
30 26,3 26,3 26,4 30

20 20

10 10

0 0
0,1s 0,3s 0,5s 0,1s 0,3s 0,5s
short-circuit duration short-circuit duration

1 spacer 3 spacers

60mm
Fig. 5. Bundle conductor displacement at midspan 110
100mm
200mm
(position of spacer) 110
100 400mm
100
90
90
80
80
70
70 62,9
Force / kN 55,9
60
60 50,6
50 50
42,9 41 40 3839,9 4140,841 41 40 3842,8 40,8
40
40 40
32 28 31
30,2 31,8 27
30 27 30

20 20

10 10

0 0
0,1s 0,3s 0,5s 0,1s 0,3s 0,5s
short-circuit duration short-circuit duration

60mm 1 spacer 3 spacers

100mm
200mm 106,5
110
110 400mm
100
100 89
90
Fig. 6. Bundle conductor displacement at 1/4 span (in a 90
80
79,1 78 80
79
71 70
location without spacer) 70
70
Force / kN

60,5 60 57,5
60,6 58
56,9 56,3 60 55 54,7
60 56 54 54
47,2 46,8 50
50
The contraction effect rises with the sub-conductor 40 35 40 34,8
40

30
distance and the number of spacers to become the rele- 30
20 20

vant short-circuit tension forceat the suspension points 10 10

for three spacers at aT = 400 mm. The positive effect of
close bundling and a small number of spacers is
obvious.
The dependency of the second and third maxima on
the number of spacers must be attributed to the reduc-
tion of sag (i.e. effective conductor length available for
the contraction) by the contraction with in creasing sub-
conductor distance a T and number of spacers n AH during
the short-circuit. Also the existence of the droppers may
lead to a reduction of the kinetic possibilities of the span
during the swingout and the fall-of-span phases.
In comparison to the above the same sequence is
used for the reactions at the foot of the towers, at the
transition to the foundation in Fig. 8a, b and c. The
static ratio between the exciting tension force and the
considered reaction force at the tower foot is 1 : 6,2 .
Of course the respective values of Fig. 8.a –contrac-
tion - for equal conditions must remain independent of
the short-circuit duration. (Mind the different scales for
0 0
0,1s 0,3s
short-circuit duration
0,5s 0,1s 0,3s 0,5s
short-circuit duration
Fig. 7.a, b, c. Calculation results: a) Contraction maxima,
Fpi; b) Swing-out maxima, Ft; c) Fall-of-span maxima, Ff
1 and 3 spacers)
The number of spacers and the sub-conductor
distance have a severe increasing effect on the reactions.
The fall of span is generally the more important against
swing-out. Up to 100 mm sub-conductor aT, the reaction
to contraction can be neglected against all other
maxima.
Yet, if the calculation and, in particular, the chosen
damping is right, the contraction plays the dominant
part among the other maxima at a T = 200 mm and
above.
 1 spacer 3 spacers

short-circuit current short-circuit current 1 spacer 3 spacers

0,1s 0,3s 0,5s 0,1s 0,3s 0,5s
0 short-circuit duration
0 short-circuit duration
0,1s 0,3s 0,5s
0,1s 0,3s 0,5s
0 0
-100 -100 0 0 0 0 0 0
-89 -87
-124 -100 -100
-200 -200 -93,7 -94,3 -94,2
-175 -158
-223 -244 -233 -200 -200
-300 -244 -221 -240 -300 -237
-267 -262
-261 -273 -300
-237 -237 -238
-300
-272 -339 -353
-400 -400
-378 -338 -338 -336
-400 -400
F orc e / kN

-413,8

Force / kN
-500 -500
-509 -500 -500
-600 -600
-600 -600
-616,2 -612 -608 -605
-700 60mm -700 -621,8 -626,2
-663 -700 -700
100mm 60mm
-800 -800 -745 -800 -800
200mm 100mm
400mm 200mm -900
-900 -900 -900
400mm
-1000 -1000 -1000 -985 -993
-1000 -997

60mm 1 spacer 3 spacers

100mm
200mm
Fig. 9. Maximum spacer compression
short-circuit duration short-circuit duration
400mm
0,1s 0,3s 0,5s 0,1s 0,3s 0,5s
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
-100
-93,7 -94,3 -94,2 -200 V. CONCLUSION
-237 -237 -238
-200
-400
This FE study is dedicated to predict the short-
F orce / kN

-300

-400
-338 -338 -336
-600
-612 -608 -605
circuit behaviour of long spans of high-voltage flexible
-800
buses. With the support structures, the conductors of the
-500
bundle 2 × ACSR 537/53, the span of 40 m and also the
-1000
-600 -985 -997 -993 short-circuit current values 100 kA, 40 kArms given,
-616,2 -621,8 -626,2
-700 -1200 three parameters were varied:
• sub-conductor spacing aT
• short-circuit duration T K
1 spacer 3 spacers
• number of spacers n AH.
short-cicuit duration
The calculations were done in preparation of the
short-circuit duration
0,1s 0,3s 0,5s 0,1s 0,3s 0,5s current test series conducted by FGH/VDE with bundle
0 0

-51 -47-44
conductor buses with a wider sub-conductor distance
-100 -100 -74
-141
-81
-128-99 -128
-131 -132-132 -133-132
than the one defined by so-called close bundling. The
-200 -200
-192 -132 -135 -184,9 -160
-240
said tests, in a first stage, consider duplex conductors in
-300 -300
-274 -286 horizontal arrangement at up to a T ˜ 400 ... 500 mm.
Force / kN

-400 -400
-427,6
They will also consider the influence of inter-phase
-500 -500
-511,6 spacers in a later stage.
-600 -600

-700 -700
60mm REFERENCES
-800 100mm -800
200mm
-900
400mm
-900
[1] PC Programme IEC 60865, University of Erlangen,
-1000 -1000
1999
[2] Miri, A.M., Schwab, A.J., Kopatz, M.: „Kurzschluss-
ströme und Leiterbewegungen in Hochspan-
Fig. 8. Reaction at transition tower/foundation: a) due to nungsschaltanlagen in Seilbauweise,“ Elektrizitäts-
contraction; b) due to conductor swing-out; c) due to fall of
wirtschaft 87 (1988), pp. 429-436“
span.
[3] Stein, N., Meyer, W.; Miri, A.M.: „High Voltage
With one spacer and a T = 200 mm, the ESL factor Substation Stranded Conductor Buses with and without
for contraction is slightly less than 1, while for 400 mm Droppers–Tests and Calculation of Short-circuit Con-
it is 1.2. For a larger number of spacers the factors are straints and Behaviour,” Proceedings 8th International
even higher. Symposium on Short-circuit Currents in Power Systems,
Finally, the maximum spacer compression was Brussels 1998, pp. 115 – 121”
considered. Fig.9 gives the results of that calcu- [4] Hibbit, Karlsson & Sorenson Inc.: ABAQUS Theory
lation. Spacer compression has lately come into Manual, Version 5.4, 1994
renewed interest through the publications of Lilien
and Papailiou [5]. [5] Lilien, J.L., Hansenne, Papailiou, Kempf: „Spacer Com-
pression for a Triple Conductor Bundle,“ IEEE PE-805-
DW RD, April 4, 97