Short-Circuit Tests
on Bundle Conductors
A. L. M A L M S T R O M
MEMBER AIEE
Corona losses in transmission lines may be re
duced by the use of two or more conductors per
phase, an arrangement often referred to as bun
dle conductors. Tests made to determine stresses
on spacers between these conductors are de
scribed.
L
O N G D I S T A N C E S a n d ever-increasing difficulties
i n securing rights of w a y for t r a n s m i s s i o n lines
J h a v e m a d e it necessary to resort to h i g h e r operat
i n g v o l t a g e s . T h e D e t r o i t E d i s o n C o m p a n y is presently
c o n s t r u c t i n g a n e x t r a h i g h - v o l t a g e l i n e . S u c h l i n e s pre
sent a p r o b l e m of c o n d u c t o r d e s i g n b e c a u s e of corona
losses a n d r a d i o interferences. T h e s e losses can b e re
d u c e d by increasing the c o n d u c t o r d i a m e t e r , thereby
l o w e r i n g the dielectric stress at the c o n d u c t o r surface.
Fig. 1 . Preformed type of spacer mounted on test s p a n .
V a r i o u s m e t h o d s h a v e b e e n u s e d for i n c r e a s i n g t h e
d i a m e t e r w i t h o u t i n c r e a s i n g the a m o u n t of m e t a l ; for
e x a m p l e , t h e use of h o l l o w c o n d u c t o r s a n d e x p a n d e d
c o n d u c t o r s . O n e type of the latter has a filler, s u c h as
p a p e r or h e m p , b e t w e e n t h e steel core a n d t h e o u t e r
layers of a l u m i n u m .
Full text of District paper 58-508, presented at the AIEE Great Lakes Dis
trict Meeting, East Lansing, Mich., May 5-7, 1958.
A. L. Malmstrom, L. G. Gifford, and J. O. Smith are with The Detroit
Edison Company, Detroit, Mich.
The authors wish to acknowledge the valuable assistance of A. E. Featham,
R. W. Burke, and J. Howe of The Detroit Edison Company in the pre
paration of the field setup and instrumentation for the tests described.
724 Malmstrom,
L. G. G I F F O R D J. O. S M I T H
ASSOCIATE MEMBER AIEE
A n o t h e r m e t h o d by w h i c h c o r o n a losses c a n b e re
d u c e d is to use m o r e t h a n o n e c o n d u c t o r per p h a s e .
T h i s a r r a n g e m e n t , referred to as a b u n d l e c o n d u c t o r ,
u s u a l l y consists of t w o , three, or f o u r cables, w i t h the
t w i n type m o s t p r e v a l e n t . F o r a g i v e n v o l t a g e the in
d i v i d u a l c o n d u c t o r s i n a b u n d l e are smaller as the
n u m b e r of c o n d u c t o r s is increased. T h e y are electri
cally c o n n e c t e d to o n e a n o t h e r a n d are u s u a l l y spaced
f r o m 14 t o 18 inches.
A d v a n t a g e s of a b u n d l e c o n d u c t o r o v e r a s i n g l e con
d u c t o r of the s a m e total cross s e c t i o n are
1. R e d u c e d c o r o n a losses a n d , therefore, less r a d i o
influence.
2. Greatly r e d u c e d r e a c t a n c e a n d increased system
stability.
3. R e d u c e d i n d u c t a n c e a n d i n c r e a s e d c a p a c i t a n c e , re
s u l t i n g i n a n increase i n the p o w e r transfer capacity of
the line.
Electrical forces o n t h e b u n d l e consist of electro
m a g n e t i c a t t r a c t i o n , w h i c h is p r o p o r t i o n a l to t h e s q u a r e
of the current, a n d electrostatic r e p u l s i o n , w h i c h is
p r o p o r t i o n a l to t h e s q u a r e of t h e v o l t a g e . T h e electro
m a g n e t i c force p r e d o m i n a t e s at h e a v y current, a n d w h e n
large e n o u g h (short-circuit c o n d i t i o n s ) t h e c o n d u c t o r s
w i l l c o n t a c t e a c h o t h e r . Spacers b e t w e e n t h e c o n d u c t o r s ,
i n s t a l l e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 0 feet apart i n t h e s p a n , are
l e q u i r e d t o m a i n t a i n b u n d l e s p a c i n g . T h e s e spacers are
expected to prevent the conductors from wrapping
a r o u n d e a c h o t h e r u n d e r fault c o n d i t i o n s a n d a l s o w h e n
there is i n t e r m i t t e n t d r o p p i n g of ice. H o w e v e r , the c o n
d u c t o r s m a y c o n t a c t e a c h o t h e r b e t w e e n spacers u n l e s s
they are i n s t a l l e d at closer intervals.
I t is difficult, if n o t i m p o s s i b l e , t o c a l c u l a t e t h e forces
resisted by the spacers u n d e r short-circuit c o n d i t i o n s .
B e c a u s e n o satisfactory test d a t a w e r e a v a i l a b l e o n these
spacers a n d the forces to w h i c h they are s u b j e c t e d u n d e r
faults, it was d e c i d e d to set u p a test s p a n t o m e a s u r e
t h e m . S p e c i a l i n s t r u m e n t s w e r e d e s i g n e d to m e a s u r e
these forces. I n a d d i t i o n , t h e a c t i o n a n d p e r f o r m a n c e of
v a r i o u s types of spacers u n d e r short-circuit c o n d i t i o n s
w e r e w i t n e s s e d a n d r e c o r d e d o n film w i t h m o t i o n pic
t u r e cameras.
TEST EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE
Test Equipment. I n o r d e r t o test t h e l i n e spacers
u n d e r s i m u l a t e d field c o n d i t i o n s , a special 4 0 0 - f o o t
single-phase b u n d l e s p a n w a s e r e c t e d of t w o 9 5 4 - M C M
( t h o u s a n d circular m i l ) 4 5 / 7 A C S R ( a l u m i n u m c a b l e ,
steel r e i n f o r c e d ) c o n d u c t o r s s p a c e d 16 i n c h e s apart. T h e
Gifford, SmithShort-Circuit Tests ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
return l i n e was offset h o r i z o n t a l l y 6 feet a n d vertically
13 feet a n d was of t h e s a m e c o n s t r u c t i o n T h e tension
in each c o n d u c t o r at the t i m e of testing v a r i e d f r o m
6,500 p o u n d s t o 7,000 p o u n d s b e c a u s e of c h a n g i n g tem
peratures d u r i n g the day of the test. T o approximate
actual c o n d i t i o n s , a spacer was p l a c e d i n t h e center of
the 400-foot span w i t h t h e e n d s of t h e s p a n rigidly
a n c h o r e d a n d c o n s i d e r e d as spacers. T h i s w a s e q u i v a
lent to the spacer a r r a n g e m e n t b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d for
future l i n e c o n s t r u c t i o n . I n Fig. 1, o n e t y p e of spacer
that was tested is s h o w n m o u n t e d o n the test l i n e .
T e s t current was o b t a i n e d by u s i n g a spare 24-kv
p o s i t i o n at W a r r e n S t a t i o n ( o n e of t h e h i g h e r sources
of fault current) to feed four 3,333-kva, 2 4 / 4 . 8 - k v single-
p h a s e transformers c o n n e c t e d i n parallel. T h e trans
formers were fed from t h e 24-kv p o s i t i o n by m e a n s of
3 0 0 feet of 3 5 0 - M C M cable. T h e s e c o n d a r y of t h e bank Fig. 3 . Spacer incorporating s t r a i n - g a u g e dynamometer.

of transformers was c o n n e c t e d t o t h e test l i n e t h r o u g h a

special secondary s w i t c h . T h e c l o s i n g of t h e s e c o n d a r y
s w i t c h w a s c o n t r o l l e d by a s y n c h r o n o u s t i m e r which
A series of a d d i t i o n a l tests w e r e p e r f o r m e d i n w h i c h
closed t h e s w i t c h at v o l t a g e zero t o o b t a i n maximum
several spacers of v a r i o u s d e s i g n w e r e e a c h i n s t a l l e d at
t h e c e n t e r of t h e test s p a n a n d s u b j e c t e d t o f a u l t cur
rents of v a r i o u s m a g n i t u d e s . A t least o n e test was con
d u c t e d o n e a c h type of spacer at t h e m a x i m u m current
of 18,500 s y m m e t r i c a l a m p e r e s , w i t h m a x i m u m offset.
No force measurements were made in these tests.
M e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e m a d e of the d i m e n s i o n b e t w e e n t h e
c o n d u c t o r s at t h e spacer l o c a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r
p e r m a n e n t d e f o r m a t i o n o c c u r r e d i n t h e spacers. T h e s e
spacers, e x c e p t the p r e f o r m e d type, are s h o w n i n Fig. 2.
T w o o t h e r types of spacers w h i c h w e r e n o t tested are
also shown.

Force-Measuring Instrumentation, T w o types of force-

m e a s u r i n g d e v i c e s w e r e e m p l o y e d t o m e a s u r e the forces
i m p o s e d u p o n a spacer by short-circuit currents. O n e
Fig. 2 . Some of the difFerent types of spacers a v a i l a b l e .
was a strain-gauge t y p e d y n a m o m e t e r i n c o r p o r a t e d i n a

current offset. T h e 24-kv breaker was p r e t r i p p e d so that

the d u r a t i o n of t h e fault current w a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y five
cycles, w h i c h is t h e e x p e c t e d breaker t i m e p l u s relay
time o n the e x t r a h i g h - v o l t a g e l i n e . T h e m a g n i t u d e of
the test current was varied by c h a n g i n g t h e n u m b e r of
transformers c o n n e c t e d i n parallel. T h e p o i n t of volt
age at w h i c h the secondary s w i t c h was c l o s e d a n d t h e
fault current were recorded by m e a n s of a n o s c i l l o g r a p h .

Test Procedure, A total of s i x tests w e r e c o n d u c t e d , in

w h i c h m e a s u r e m e n t s were m a d e of force o n a n instru
m e n t e d spacer i n s t a l l e d at the center of the s p a n . I n all
b u t o n e of these tests, a strain-gauge d y n a m o m e t e r was
e m p l o y e d t o record t h e c o m p r e s s i v e force d u e t o electro
m a g n e t i c a t t r a c t i o n b e t w e e n the c o n d u c t o r s a n d t e n s i o n
due to conductor rebound. T h e s e measurements were
m a d e at four v a l u e s of current, a p p r o x i m a t e l y 8,000,
13,000, 15,500, a n d 18,500 s y m m e t r i c a l a m p e r e s , respec
tively. A n a d d i t i o n a l test was s u b s e q u e n t l y c o n d u c t e d ,
at a current of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 18,500 a m p e r e s , i n w h i c h
the m a x i m u m c o m p r e s s i v e force was m e a s u r e d by m e a n s Fig. 4 . V i e w of s t r a i n - g a u g e dynamometer s h o w i n g details
of a deflection g a u g e . of magnetic shielding.

AUGUST 1958 Malmstrom, Gifford, Smith-Short-Circuit Tests 725

m o d i f i e d spacer. B y r e c o r d i n g t h e o u t p u t of this
d y n a m o m e t e r o n a n o s c i l l o g r a p h , a c o m p l e t e record of
t h e force t h r o u g h o u t a g i v e n test c o u l d b e o b t a i n e d . T h e
s e c o n d type was a p r o v i n g - r i n g t y p e deflection g a u g e
that m e a s u r e d o n l y t h e m a x i m u m c o m p r e s s i v e force o n
the spacer.
Fig. 5. Deflection g a u g e used for measurements of m a x i m u m
compressive force on spacer.
T h e m o d i f i e d spacer c o n t a i n i n g t h e strain-gauge
d y n a m o m e t e r is s h o w n , as it w a s i n s t a l l e d b e t w e e n t h e
c o n d u c t o r s , i n Fig. 3. A v i e w of t h e d y n a m o m e t e r w i t h
t h e s h i e l d i n g partially r e m o v e d is s h o w n i n F i g . 4. T h e
force-sensing e l e m e n t is a m a c h i n e d steel r i n g t o w h i c h
four resistance type strain g a u g e s are b o n d e d . T h e strain
g a u g e s are c o n n e c t e d t o g e t h e r i n a p u s h - p u l l type b r i d g e
circuit, such that t h e b r i d g e o u t p u t v o l t a g e is propor
t i o n a l to e i t h e r tensile or c o m p r e s s i v e l o a d i n g o n t h e
ring.
O n e p r o b l e m e n c o u n t e r e d w h e n strain g a u g e s are e m
p l o y e d i n t h e presence of e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c fields of in
tensity is that of e l i m i n a t i n g large s p u r i o u s 60-cycle
currents i n t h e strain-gauge circuit. S u c h effects w e r e
m i n i m i z e d i n this case by t h e p r o v i s i o n of i/^-inch thick
steel s h i e l d i n g a r o u n d t h e strain g a u g e s a n d w i r i n g . T h e
d e t a i l s of t h e s h i e l d i n g c a n b e seen i n F i g . 4. T h e
d y n a m o m e t e r was c o n n e c t e d to t h e r e c o r d i n g e q u i p m e n t
by m e a n s of 3 0 0 feet of s h i e l d e d m i c r o p h o n e cable. T h e
cable was e n c l o s e d i n thin-wall c o n d u i t i n t h e p r o x i m i t y
of the c o n d u c t o r s as a further p r e c a u t i o n against spuri
ous pickup.
T h e deflection g a u g e is s h o w n i n Fig. 5. T h i s g a u g e
was constructed w i t h a shaft e x t e n d i n g i n w a r d f r o m o n e
side of a n 8-inch d i a m e t e r steel r i n g a n d c e n t e r e d i n a
h o l l o w t u b e a t t a c h e d to t h e o t h e r side of t h e ring. Prior
to a test, a s l i d i n g collar o n t h e shaft was p o s i t i o n e d i n
c o n t a c t w i t h the e n d of t h e h o l l o w tube. C o m p r e s s i v e
l o a d i n g o n t h e r i n g c a u s e d t h e s l i d i n g collar t o b e dis
placed toward a fixed collar o n t h e shaft. T h e m a x i m u m
d i s p l a c e m e n t was d e t e r m i n e d by i n s i d e m i c r o m e t e r
m e a s u r e m e n t s of t h e d i m e n s i o n b e t w e e n t h e s l i d i n g a n d
fixed collars. T h e . m a x i m u m c o m p r e s s i v e l o a d w a s de
t e r m i n e d from a c a l i b r a t i o n r e l a t i n g l o a d a n d deflection
of t h e s l i d i n g collar.
TEST RESULTS
T H E EXTRAHIGH-VOLTAGE L I N E is e x p e c t e d t o h a v e a
m a x i m u m f a u l t current of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 20,000 sym
m e t r i c a l a m p e r e s w i t h a m a x i m u m m o m e n t a r y offset of
726 Malmstrom, Gifford,
1.58 t i m e s t h e s y m m e t r i c a l v a l u e . M a x i m u m c u r r e n t o b
t a i n e d i n this test w a s 18,500 s y m m e t r i c a l a m p e r e s w i t h
a v e r a g e offset of 1.4 t i m e s t h e s y m m e t r i c a l v a l u e .
T h e results of t h e s i x tests i n w h i c h force w a s meas
u r e d are s h o w n i n F i g . 6, s h o w i n g a p l o t of t h e c o m p r e s
sive force o n t h e spacer a g a i n s t s y m m e t r i c a l current.
T h e m a x i m u m force r e c o r d e d was 4 8 5 p o u n d s , corres
p o n d i n g to a s y m m e t r i c a l c u r r e n t of 18,500 a m p e r e s .
A typical o s c i l l o g r a p h record of current, spacer force,
a n d t h e p o i n t o n t h e v o l t a g e w a v e at w h i c h t h e fault
was a p p l i e d is s h o w n i n F i g . 7. T h e s y m m e t r i c a l current
for this test w a s 15,500 a m p e r e s . T h e current w a s in
t e r r u p t e d after 4i/^ cycles. A p p r o x i m a t e l y 0.04 s e c o n d
after i n t e r r u p t i o n of t h e current, t h e c o n d u c t o r s con
tacted at l o c a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e spacer a n d t h e e n d s of
the s p a n . T h i s e v e n t is characterized by h i g h - f r e q u e n c y
o s c i l l a t i o n s of short d u r a t i o n o n t h e force trace. T h e
m a x i m u m c o m p r e s s i v e force of 3 3 0 p o u n d s o c c u r r e d
0.07 s e c o n d later. T h e s u b s e q u e n t r e b o u n d of t h e con
d u c t o r s p r o d u c e d a m a x i m u m tensile force of 3 2 0
p o u n d s o n t h e spacer. I n all tests, t h e m a x i m u m t e n s i o n
i m p o s e d b y r e b o u n d of t h e c o n d u c t o r s w a s a p p r o x i
m a t e l y e q u a l t o t h e m a x i m u m c o m p r e s s i v e force o n t h e
spacer.
D u r i n g t h e p e r i o d of c u r r e n t flow, t h e c o m p r e s s i v e
force o n t h e spacer increased at a n a p p r o x i m a t e l y u n i
f o r m rate. T h e 60-cycle v a r i a t i o n s v i s i b l e o n t h e force
trace of t h e o s c i l l o g r a p h record prior t o i n t e r r u p t i o n of
t h e c u r r e n t represent s m a l l s p u r i o u s i n d u c e d currents i n
600|
CD
w A00[
Fig. 6. Compressive 300F
force on spacer v s
fault current.
g 2001
LJ
lOOh
8
12 16 20
FAULT C U R R E N T ,
SYMMETRICAL KtLOAMPERES
t h e strain-gauge circuit, t h e result of i m p e r f e c t m a g n e t i c
s h i e l d i n g of t h e d y n a m o m e t e r .
W i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of o n e type, all t h e spacers that
w e r e tested w e r e f o u n d to h a v e n o n o t i c e a b l e d e f o r m a
t i o n from t h e forces i m p o s e d as t h e result of f a u l t cur
rents. T h e spacer that w a s unsatisfactory c o n s i s t e d of a
l e n g t h of s t r a n d e d c a b l e b e t w e e n t w o c l a m p s . T h i s type
p e r m i t t e d t h e t w o c o n d u c t o r s t o c o n t a c t e a c h o t h e r at
t h e spacer c l a m p s w h e n s u b j e c t e d t o t h e c o m p r e s s i v e
force a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e h i g h c u r r e n t flow. A f t e r o n e
m a x i m u m current test, t h e s t r a n d e d c a b l e of this spacer
was p e r m a n e n t l y d e f o r m e d .
SmithShort-Circuit Tests ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
 A n o t h e r spacer, o f t h e p r e f o r m e d type, w a s s u b j e c t e d
to t h e forces r e s u l t i n g f r o m test currents of 13,000 a n d
16,000 amperes, followed b y three tests at 18,500
Fig. 7. Typical oscillograph record of force variation.
amperes each w i t h m a x i m u m offset. After these tests,
the s p a c i n g of t h e c o n d u c t o r s at t h e s p a c e r l o c a t i o n w a s
r e d u c e d f r o m 16 i n c h e s t o 15%6 i n c h e s . A n o t h e r pre
Standard Basic Impulse
Insulation Levels
AIEE C O M M I T T E E
Since the issue of report on basic impulse in
sulation levels in 1941, additional information
regarding system grounding practices and maxi
mum operating voltages has been made avail
able. This new report provides recommended
values applicable to equipment for use on
grounded and ungrounded a-c supply systems.
I N 1951, t h e A I E E - E E I - N E M A J o i n t C o m m i t t e e o n
I n s u l a t i o n C o o r d i n a t i o n , after m o r e t h a n 10 years
of study, issued a r e p o r t ( E d i s o n Electric I n s t i t u t e
P u b l i c a t i o n N o . H - 8 ; N a t i o n a l Electrical M a n u f a c t u r e r s
A s s o c i a t i o n P u b l i c a t i o n 1 0 9 ; Electrical Engineering,
vol. 6 0 , M a r c h 1 9 4 1 , p . 121) w h i c h r e c o m m e n d e d a
series of s t a n d a r d basic i m p u l s e i n s u l a t i o n levels ( B I L s ) ,
30 k v t h r o u g h 1,550 k v , i n c l u s i v e . T h e s e r e c o m m e n d e d
standard B I L s h a v e r e c e i v e d w i d e a c c e p t a n c e a n d are
serving a very u s e f u l p u r p o s e . H o w e v e r , s i n c e t h e 1941
report w a s issued, a d d i t i o n a l d a t a h a v e b e e n m a d e
available r e g a r d i n g system g r o u n d i n g practices a n d
m a x i m u m o p e r a t i n g voltages. I n a d d i t i o n , there h a s
been substantial operating experience w i t h e q u i p m e n t
h a v i n g r e d u c e d i n s u l a t i o n strengths. T h e s e d a t a a n d
e x p e r i e n c e s w a r r a n t a r e - e x a m i n a t i o n o f these B I L
values to determine whether changes o r additions are
A U G U S T 1958 AIEE Committee ReportStandard
f o r m e d s p a c e r of t h e s a m e t y p e w a s s u b j e c t e d t o t w o
h i g h - c u r r e n t tests, w i t h n o n o t i c e a b l e d e f o r m a t i o n .
CONCLUSIONS
1. T h e m a x i m u m c o m p r e s s i v e force e x e r t e d o n 16-
i n c h spacers i n s t a l l e d a t 200-foot i n t e r v a l s is of t h e o r d e r
of 5 0 0 p o u n d s for f a u l t currents of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 20,000
a m p e r e s . T h e force increased approximately at t h e
s q u a r e of current.
2. T h e t e n s i l e force e x e r t e d o n spacers as t h e result of
c o n d u c t o r r e b o u n d is a p p r o x i m a t e l y e q u a l t o t h e c o m
pressive force c a u s e d b y e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c attraction.
3. A l l e x c e p t o n e of t h e spacers that w e r e tested w e r e
f o u n d a d e q u a t e , f r o m a s t r e n g t h s t a n d p o i n t , t o resist t h e
forces i m p o s e d b y short-circuit currents of u p t o a p p r o x i
mately 20,000 symmetrical amperes having maximum
offset. T h e t y p e t h a t w a s n o t a d e q u a t e c o n s i s t e d of a
p i e c e of s t r a n d e d c a b l e b e t w e e n t w o c l a m p s .
REPORT
required. Also, the trend toward the use of higher
transmission voltages makes it desirable to determine
whether higher values should b e added.
SCOPE
THIS REPORT p r o v i d e s recommended standard BIL
values applicable to e q u i p m e n t for use o n grounded
o r u n g r o u n d e d a-c s u p p l y systems. T h e s e basic i m p u l s e
i n s u l a t i o n levels are t h o s e w h i c h h a v e g e n e r a l applica
t i o n a n d are c o n s i d e r e d s u i t a b l e for a d o p t i o n as A m e r i
can Standard values.
OBJECTIVES
INSULATION CO-ORDINATION has for its objectives the
e s t a b l i s h m e n t of s t a n d a r d B I L v a l u e s a n d t h e specifica
t i o n of i n s u l a t i o n s t r e n g t h s of electric e q u i p m e n t i n
terms of s t a n d a r d i n s u l a t i o n levels, w h e n s u c h e q u i p
m e n t is a p p l i e d a m o n g t h e preferred n o m i n a l system
voltages (taking into consideration usual operating con
d i t i o n s a n d v a r i a t i o n s i n system g r o u n d i n g practices).
I t is e x p e c t e d t h a t t h e s t a n d a r d B I L v a l u e s w i l l c o n -
A report by the AIEE Standards Co-ordination Committee No. 8, recom-
mended for publication by the AIEE Standards Committee.
The personnel of the AIEE Standards Co-ordinating Committee No. 8
are: J. H. Foote (chairman), H. W. Collins, I. W. Gross, E. M. Hunter,
T. G. A. Sillers, E. C. Starr, J. J. Taylor, C. F. Wagner, Byron Evans.
K. E. Hapgood, K. H. Kidd, S. C. Killian, J. R. Meador, C. W. MiUer,
J. M. Towner, and F. J. Vogel.
Basic Impulse Insulation Levels 727