Cable Impedance

Calculations with Parallel Circuits Returns in Distribution Networks

Robert Broadwater

and Multi-Neutral

Fangxing

Li

ECPE Department Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24060 Abstractdistribution conductors considered. This paper addresses impedance

ECPE Department Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24060

calculations in

Al Sargent Entergy Corp.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

where the engineer wishes to assume that all of the return current flows through the neutral conductors. Figure 2 provides Figure 2 illustrates conductors numbered a schematic view of the conductors of Fig. 1. 13 current paths consisting of six phase 1-6, six concentric neutrals numbered 7-12,

networks. Two sets of paralleled, three-phase with concentric neutrals and also a separate neutral are An approximate method to calculate the impedance the impedance for is to calculate for one three-phase

this configuration

set of conductors, and then to divide this result by two. This paper compares this common practice with a more exact calculation that considers conductors. significant. impedances. the mutual coupling between two sets of three-phase Errors in the current practice are shown to be Comparisons are made for both phase and sequence Also, a common configuration of parallel conductors

and the separate neutral numbered 13. As indicated in Fig. 2, at each manhole like phase conductors are tied together, such as conductor 1 and 4 are tied together. Also, at each manhole all neutrals, Counting conductors 7-13, are tied together and grounded. the earth return, there are actually 14 current paths.

of different types is studied. It is shown that the approximate method may have up to 30/0 errors in the positive sequence impedance and power flows, Keywords: impedance matrix, distribution concentric neutral conductor, parallel circuits.

789

10

11

12

networks,

I. INTRODUCTION

Distribution becoming changing utilities

networks old.

in many location

cities of

in the United centers,

States are of

relatively

Due to increased load growth and also the load a number into re-design of these networks.

geographical

in large cities are looking

As part of evaluating there-design, power flow analysis is required. The results of the analysis depend upon the accuracy of the impedances used in the model. In distribution parallel, phases ~ impedance where networks a circuit as many as ten circuits consists Current in parallel practice (where may be run in making up the Figure Separate Two Circuits with of three-conductors

13

Concentric Grounded method matrix

Neutra Neutral applying

Cables

in

B, and C. of n circuits

is to approximate all conductors

Ducts with a Separate the Exact

are the In the next section Carsons equations the Modified is considered. methods common to the impedance calculation

same) by calculating the result by n. This paper will configuration conductors a circuit. with

the impedance consider

of a single circuit in parallel. two

and dividing Consider the

two circuits 1, where neutrals

This results in a 13x13 impedance in Fig. 1. The Kron and Neutral After the calculation using

for the system illustrated reduction the 3x3 matrices. corresponding

shown

in Fig.

sets of three-phase in two adjacent sets is referred to as placed in a duct be analyzed using a that will

Return Current the Exact

concentric

are placed

are then used to reduce this matrix approximation

to equivalent method,

round ducts. Each set of three-phase conductor In addition, below the circuits. in this paper. The impedance common practice. This is the configuration for these circuits will

there is a separate neutral

is then used to obtain the impedance

to Fig. 1. Section III presents the Approximate IV presents errors in the Approximate method.
1

method and Section

be calculated will

Results from this calculation

be referred to

as the Approximate method. More exact calculations of the impedance of the two circuits will then be performed. This method will be referred to as the Exact method. Error comparisons between the Approximate and Exact methods are made. Both calculations use the modified Carsons equations. In deriving equivalent phase and sequence impedance matrices for both the Exact and Approximate methods, two different matrix reduction approaches are used, which are the Kron and the Neutral Return Current (NRC) reduction methods [1]. The Kron method should be used where the engineer expects significant earth return currents exist, such as where physical deterioration of the neutral has occurred. The Neutral Return Current method should be used Figure

\
7 , 8 N 13 -

/ 1 . . .

2 Side View of Conductors

Shown

in Figure

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II. EXACT

CALCULATION Equations (1) and (2) are used to calculate primitive matrix, impedance matrix. also symmetric, the elements Inverting of the 13x 13 symmetric the this matrix

The Exact method is performed Step 1: Use the Modified element multiplies to current j. [1,2] Step 2: neutral return currentj elements of the 13x13 impedance

using the following Equations matrix, where the(i,j)

steps: impedance

Carsons toobtain

to calculate

gives an admittance

that relates the phase

&rrrents to the phase voltage drops as follows:

the voltage drop in line i due currents to an equivalent to an a 4x4 result in

Reduce

all neutral Also current.

return

current.

reduce These

all like phase currents reductions

equivalent phase impedance matrix. Step3: Apply

both Kronand

Neutral

Return Current

reduction
)

methods tothe4x4 impedance matrix obtained 3x3 equivalent phase impedance matrices. Step4: Transform the 3x3 phase impedance matrices. in Step 3 to sequence impedance

in Step 2 to obtain matrices obtained

(3)

A. Primitive

Impedance Matrix
of the self-impedance Applying and mutualthe Modified

First consider the calculation impedance between Carsons Equations

2;;

any two conductors. we have [ 1]

B. Admittance
=( fi+O.0953

Matrix
(3) will

Reduction:

From 13x13 to 4x4

to a 4x4 matrix conductors. equation.

+JO.12134

Inti

[1+7934021(Qme)()

Equation This will

now be reduced

Zi

=0.0953

+J0,12134

where

r,= conductor

resistance

[1
!I

be performed

by adding appropriate

rows and by making

ln~+7.93402

(Qlmde)

(2)

use of voltage drops that are equal in paralleled From Fig. 2 we have
la=l, +[4 +15

(4) (5) (6) (7)

GA4Ri = the GMR for conductor

i i and j. for in
lb =[2

Dv = spacing between conductors

(1) and (2). There matrix. follows: are 156 values Referring of DU

Note that the earth return path has already been accounted

IC =13+16 13

to be determined

for the 13x13 ways as also,

ln = ~~7 k

to Fig. 3, Dii is calculated

inoneoffour

AVa . A~ . AV4 AVb . AV2 = AV5 AVC . AV3 = AV6 vn=Av7=Av8=L AV13

(8) (9) (lo) (11)

Making

use of (4 - (11) in (3), we have

Y aa ba

ab bb cb

ac

an ]

[Ava
A Vb
AVC

bc cc n.

Ybn Y cn

Figure

Configuration Neutrals, a phase where

of

Two

Phase

Conductors

with

(12)

Y Ca

Concentric (1) (2) (3) For

c= 6 to its corresponding concentric where to an adjacent phase conductor, to an adjacent concentric

nb ln [Yna

nn]lAvn

conductor

neutral, DU = R For a phase conductor

Dq =

Y aa =q,

+Y,4+Y4\+r44

L
For a phase conductor neutral, Do
Yab = Yba = Y12 + 35 +Y42 45 YGC= YCO= ~3 + 36 + Y43 + Y46

.=
(4) For a concentric neutral to an adjacent concentric neutral,

DY=L
Ybb = Y22 + Y25 + Y52 + Y55

where

R = radius of a circle going through

the center of the

concentric neutral strands L. = center-to-center distance between phase conductors c = number of concentric neutral strands.

Ybc= Ycb= Y23 +

Y26 + Y53 + Y56

Ycc = Y33 + Y36 + Y63 +

Yfjfj

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13 Y= an ma k~7(yl,k+y4,k )

It should be noted that the above reductions only apply to wye connected systems. Both reductions result in a 3x3 equivalent phase impedance matrix which is symmetric, given by

Yb = Yflb =

:7

(~2,k +y5,k )

z; = z,
Ycn = Ync = & ~3,k+y6,k)

[1
z, z,

Zm (16)

z.

z,

Zm Zm z,

Ynn =

$ g(Yk,,)
for all three phases,

Applying gives

the symmetrical

components

transformation

to (16)

Note that configuration

Ya6 = YaC= Yba = YbC= YCa= Ych because the in Fig. I is symmetric

Zooo Z;=oz+
[1o The notation 0

o
z.

(17)

used in (16) and (17) will

be used in Section IV

when results are presented and compared.

C. Impedance Matrix
Rewriting

Reduction:

From 4x4 to 3x3

(12) in impedance

form we have III. APPROXIMATE METHOD

(13)

In calculating the impedance for the configuration shown in Fig. 1, the Approximate method assumes that there is no coupling between the two sets of conductors in the separate ducts. Hence, this practice only considers one set of conductors and the independent neutral return, i.e., conductors 1,2,3, 7, 8, 9, and 13 in

Also, Having

Zab = Zoc = Zba = Zbc = Zca = cb

the 4x4 symmetric

impedance matrix Neutral method the neutral the neutral matrix.

matrix

shown

in (13), to obtain are

Fig. 1. The steps used in the Approximate Step 1: Use the Modified elements to currentj. element multiplies [1,2] Carsons matrix,

method calculation Equations

are: the

we can now use two different an equivalent the Kron reduction. current return reduction The Kron itself flows and the

reduction Return

methods Current

3x3 phase impedance reduction between through

The two methods

to calculate

(NRC) and earth,

of the 7x7 impedance

where the (i,j)

impedance

assumes that the return conductors conductors

current j to obtain the voltage drop in line i due

divides current

whereas the Neutral

Return Current

method assumes that all of the present [1]. matrix element

Step 2: Reduce the neutral return currents of conductors 7, 8, 9, and 13 to an equivalent neutral return current. These reductions result in a 4x4 impedance matrix. Step 3: Apply both Kron and Neutral Return Current reduction methods to the 4x4 impedance matrix obtained in Step 2 to obtain 3x3 equivalent phase impedance matrices. Step 4: Transform The matrix the 3x3 phase impedance matrices. by 2 to get the final of Step 4 is divided matrices obtained in Step 3 to sequence impedance Step 5: result.

Applying these assumptions results in the following transformation for Kron reduction

(14) where Z;= (ij) element in equivalent element 3x3 impedance matrix.

Similarly,

the matrix

transformation

for the Neutral

Return Current method is given by This appears to be a good engineering approximation because the two circuits are in parallel. However, the next section shows that this approximation may result in significant impedance errors, compared with the Exact method presented in Section II.

z~ = Zq + Znn - Zin - Zjn

(15)

Table Exact Method RO

350 MCM AA 0.5829

1 Sequence (f2/1000ft) R+
0.1752

Impedance

Results

with

Kron

Reduction
??o

Approximate x+
0.0982

Method

(Q/1000ft) x+
0.0983

Error R+
0.00

Xo
0.1762

RO
0.5409

Xo
0.2222

R+
0.1752

RO
-7.21

Xo
26.11

x+
0.10

500 MCM 750 MCM 1000 MCM

AA AA AA

0.4415 0.2941 0.2344

0.1288 0.0863 0.0722

0.1235 0.0865 0.0697

0.0943 0.0896 0.0854

0.4187 0.2857 0.2293

0.1608 0.1022 0.0830

0.1235 0.0865 0.0697

0.0942 0.0896 0.0854

-5.16 -2.86 -2.18

24.84 18.42 14.96

0.00 0.00 0.00

-0,11 0.00 0.00

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Table 2

Sequence

Impedance (fYIOOOft) R+ 0.1752 0.1235 0.0865 0.0696

Results with Neutral Approximate x+ 0.0982 0.0943 0.0896 0.0853 RO 0.5615 0.4287 0.2884 0.2308 xl)

Return Method

Current (Q/1000ft)

(NRC) Reduction
0/0Error Rt) -5.52 -4.07 -2.44 -1.87 X(l 28.52 24.56 16.43 12.77 R+ -0.06 0.08 0.00 0.14 x+

Exact Method RO 350 MCM 500 MCM 750 MCM 1000 MCM AA AA AA AA 0.5943 0.4469 0.2956 0.2352 Xo 0.1420 0.1075 0.0767 0.0658

R+ 0.1751 0.1236 0.0865 0.0697

x+ 0.0982 0.0943 0.0896 0.0853

0.1825 0.1339 0.0893 0.0742

0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00

Table 3 Conductor Type GMR of Phase Conductor (inch) 350 MCM 750 MCM 1000 MCM 4/0 Cu AA AA AA 1 2 3 4 Independent Neutral 0.262 0.312 0.385 0.445 0.200

Conductor

Configuration Number Neutral ) Strands 14 12 12 12 .of Resistance of Concentric Neutral (Q/mile 0.9821 0.7339 0.4646 0.3696 -) GlvfR of Concentric Neutral (inch)

Resistance of Phase Conductor (Cl/mile 0.342 0.242 0.159 0.122 0.311

Concentric

0.590
0.665 0.770 0.845 --

500 MCM AA

IV.

COMPARING

APPROXIMATE METHOD

AND

EXACT

The errors in the zero sequence quantities significant. The zero sequence reactance ranging fiom approximately 15/0 for the almost 29/0 for the smallest conductor.

shown in tables 1-2 are has the largest errors, largest conductor to

Considering the impedance of the conductor system shown in Fig. 1, results from the Approximate method presented in Section III are to be compared with the results from the Exact method be used presented in Section II. in the comparisons. Tables concentric 1-2 present the comparisons for four representative neutral conductors with an independent neutral. Results approach is used are presented in Table Return Current approach. The notation of ( 16) and (17) will

Figure 4 plots the percent error in ~

and Fig. 5 plots the percent

error in X. for both the Kron and Neutral Return Current methods, where the conductor type is shown in Table 3. In both cases larger conductors result in smaller errors. But even for the largest conductor, 1000 MCM AA, the errors are significant. approximated low, whereas X. is always app~oximated RO is always high.

where the Kron reduction

1. Table 2 shows results for the Neutral

Error in Zero Sequence Reactsnce

Table 3 presents parameters for the conductors of tables 1-2. The last conductor in Table 3 is the independent neutral return used for each of the calculations [3]. The value shown in the Conductor Type column of Table 3 is used to identifi the conductors. From, tables 1 and 2 it may be noted that there is essentially no error in the positive been anticipated sequence quantities. This result could have from the theory of balanced three-phase circuits. Error in Zero

Sequence

Resistance 1 2 Conductor + Typs NRC 3 4

Kron --*--

Figure 5 Percentage Error of XO Approximate Calculation (NRC) Reduction Both Kron and Neutral Return Current Figure 6 plots ~

for

in ohms for the Exact method for both the Kron

Conductor

Type

Kron --e%-- NRC

and Neutral Return Current reduction methods. Because the curves are so close together the plots appear to lie on top of one another in Fig. 6. Likewise, Fig. 7 plots X. in ohms for the Exact method for both the Kron and Neutral Return Current methods. This plot Calculation Reduction for presents a range of values for XO which fall between assumptions and the Neutral Return Current assumptions. the Kron

Figure 4 Percentage Error of RO Approximate Both Kron and Neutral Return Current (NRC)

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901

1600+j900

kVA

Figure

8 Voltage

Drop

Study

for Parallel

Circuits

with

Different

Cable Types

NOW let us consider voltage drops predicted by impedances of Table 4 with the Exact and Approximate methods with Kron reduction. Figure 6 Results for ~ Yeutral Return Current by Exact Method (NRC) Reductions for Both Kron and The system to be considered is shown in Fig. 8. The feeder is 3,000 1600kW+900kVAR the feeder. I
Zero Sequence Reactance

feet long and a customer load of for each phase is connected at the end point of

The bus voltage at the source end is 120V.

The results of the load flow are shown in Table 5. The voltage at the end point of the feeder is 109.6V with the actual impedance, while it is 105.6V with the approximate impedance. That is, the voltage drops are 10.4V and 14.4V, respectively. error in this case is 38 .6/0. Table 5 Power Exact Approx. Flow Results I (A) 725 753 for a Feeder in Figure AV (V) 10.4 14.4 8 The voltage drop

S (kVA) 1600+j900 1600+j900

v (v)
109.6 105.6

The above results show that the Exact method allows the feeder to carry method. method. Figure Neutral 7 Results Return for XO by Exact Current (NRC) method for Both Kron and Approximate Reductions heavier Another method loads than that predicted aspect to be by the Approximate here is that the That is, the capacity of the system is larger with the Exact considered a voltage limits. may predict that is out of limits,

where the voltage may actually

be within

V.

PARALLEL

CONDUCTORS TYPES

OF DIFFERENT

VI.

CONCLUSIONS

Different manhole. conductors

types

of

conductors

may

be placed

in

the

same CU 500

This paper has compared approximate impedance used by utilities in distribution networks with calculations. Both errors in impedances observations and voltage been shown to be significant the comparisons
q

calculations more exact drops have From

For instance, a set of three-phase 350 MCM is placed in one duct, while a set of three-phase

with the Approximate

method.

MCM AA conductors is placed in a second duct. Also, a 4/0 Cu conductor as an independent neutral return is placed in a third duct. In this configuration, neglecting the mutual coupling causes considerable error. Calculation results for the impedances are shown in Table 4.

the following

may be made: for balanced power are of the same errors errors become are

The Approximate type.

method is satisfactory

flow studies, where all conductors

q

invoIved

The Approximate in unbalanced The Approximate Impedance larger, but significant.

method method

would would

result in significant result in significant

Table 4 Sequence Impedance A roximate Methods with

Calculated from Exact and Kron and NRC Reductions

power flow studies.

in fault current studies.

q

errors become smaller as the conductors even with larger conductors,

the errors

0.3920 0.1303 0,0718 0.0961 0.4389 0.1874 0.1092 0.1057

A combination

of different

types of conductors

may cause

]NRC

10.395410.1085/ 0.071810.096110.45121 0.154710.109210.1057

In the above table, the Exact method is to calculate the full impedance matrix and then crunch it to 3x3 with Kron or NRC reduction. The Approximate method is to calculate the impedance for two conductors separately, and then calculate the overall impedance by considering them as parallel impedances.

errors in the positive sequence impedance with the Approximate method. Hence, errors may be produced even in balanced power flow studies.
q

Voltage

drop errors with the Approximate method may under

method predict

may be system

unacceptable.
q

The Approximate capacity.

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This work has shown that more accurate impedance power systems. flow calculations are needed in complex,

models and networked

VII. REFERENCE
[l] Power Distribution 6-PWR, 1992. [2]] Wave Propagation Planning, IEEE Publication Wires with 92 EHO 361Return, Vol. 5,

in Overhead

Ground

John R. Carson, Bell System Technical 1926.

Journal, New York, Engineering 1965.

[3]<Distribution Systems: Electric Utility Book, Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Reference

VIII.
Fangxing

BIOGRAPHIES
in 1994 and 1997 in Department of Tech.

Li (S 1998) received his BS and MS degrees in electrical

engineering from Southeast University, China, respectively. He is currently a PhD candidate Electrical Robert software applied engineering operations. Al Sargent is a Senior Engineer and Computer Broadwater engineering software Engineering at Virginia

(M 1971) is a Professor in power systems and at Virginia engineering works distribution Tech where he teaches courses in and large-scale software design, and in the area computer-aided system analysis,

development.

Dr. Broadwater for electrical

for Entergy Corp.

He received his

MS in Electrical Engineering Mr. Sargent is a Registered Arkansas.

from University of Arkansas in 1973. Professional Engineer in the state of

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