When the load is supplied there are line losses due to the resistance of the line conductors. Therefore, the power received at receiving end is always less than the sending end voltage.

Efficiency of Transmission Line

The ratio of receiving end power to the sending end power of a transmission line is called the transmission efficiency of the line. The efficiency of a 3-phase transmission line can be calculated by using the expression below:

Transmission efficiency of a 3-phase transmission line, % ἠ = (Receiving end power/Sending end power)/100

% ἠ = [(Receiving end power/ (Receiving end power + losses)]/100

% ἠ = [(3V_R Icosφ_R) / (3V_R Icosφ_R + 3I²R)]/100

Where,
V_R = Receiving end voltage (phase value).
cos φ_R = Receiving end power factor.
R = Transmission line resistance per phase.

Effect of Load Power Factor on Efficiency

The efficiency of a transmission line depend to a considerable extent upon the load power factor.

The power delivered to the load is given by the expression:

P = 3V_R Icos φ_R ………….three phase.
Or I = P ÷ 3V_Rcos φ_R.

Thus, for a constant amount of power and voltage at the receiving end, the line current is proportional to the load power factor. Consequently, with the decrease in load power factor, line current and hence line losses are increased.

Thus, the efficiency of the transmission line decreases with the decrease in load power factor.

The transmission line performance depends upon the three parameters R, L, and C. These three parameters are distributed uniformly along the whole length of the line. The resistance and inductance form the series impedance and the capacitance exists between the line conductor and earth conductor. To know the transmission line performance, it is required to know the manner in which capacitance is taken into account and accordingly the overhead transmission lines are classified as:

• Short transmission lines.
• Medium transmission lines.
• Long transmission lines.

Short Transmission Line

When the length of an overhead transmission line is below 60 km and the line voltage is low (below 20 kV), it is usually considered as a short transmission line.

Due to the smaller length and lower voltage of the line, the capacitance effects of the line are extremely small and hence can be neglected. Therefore, while studying the short transmission line performance, only resistance and inductance of the line are taken into account.

Therefore, regulation of short transmission lines depends upon its resistance and inductive reactance.

Medium Transmission Line

When the length of an overhead transmission line is about 60 to 150 km and the line voltage is high (20 to 100 kV), it is usually considered as a medium transmission line.

Due to sufficient length and voltage of line, the capacitance effects are also taken into account while studying the medium transmission line performance. Though capacitance is uniformly distributed over the entire length of the line yet reasonable accuracy is obtained by considering the capacitance of such a line lumped at one or more places.

Long Transmission Line

When the length of an overhead transmission line is more than 150 km and the line voltage is very high (more than 100 kV), it is usually considered as long transmission line. To study the performance of such a line, the line constants are considered uniformly distributed over the whole length of the line and rigorous methods are employed for the solution.

1. Types of Poles in Transmission Line
2. Overhead Line Insulators
3. Voltage Distribution Over Suspension Insulator String
4. Kelvin’s Law in Power System
5. Skin Effect and Proximity Effect in Transmission Line
6. Voltage Regulation & Efficiency of Transmission Line
7. Corona Effect in Transmission Lines

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