Chapter nine: Traveling waves and other transients on transmission lines
“Transient phenomena in TL occur, like in networks with bulk parameters, when any change in
their parameters, driving sources and/or configuration takes place. In general, the transients are
caused by lightning, switching or faults in TL. Studies of transient disturbances on a transmission
system have shown that changes are followed by traveling waves, which at first approximation
can be treated as step front waves. For example, when the lightning’s strike influences a line
conductor, the induced voltage wave tends to divide into two halves, with the two halves going
in opposite directions. When a voltage wave reaches a power transformer, for example, it
causes a stress distribution, which is not uniform and may lead to the breakdown of the
insulation system. Transient phenomena also occur in communication systems when signals of
different forms are transmitted along the transmission line. As the transmission line is a network
with distributed parameters, its transient analysis, like the steady-state behavior, has to be
based on partial differential equations.” From the book of arieh shenkman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_line meaningful information about the power
transferring in the normal case
1. Circuits with distributed constant:
Circuits with distributed constant have the ability to support traveling waves
In the lumped element circuit based, we can see that when the current starts to flow it will flow
through L1 to charge C1 then through L2 to charge C2 and so on so that any disturbance
regardless of how small it’s will be felt on the last section
So that in figure (a), any disturbance when closing the switch S1 , will travel down with the
line with finite velocity and felt on the remote points after a finite interval determined by
the speed of propagation of electromagnetic waves in the medium surrounding the line.
How the circuit is completed, if the current entering one conductor from the source and out
from the conductor to the source? by displacement current of front wave which is creating
continuously electromagnetic flux
What is displacement current:
when you model the transmission line you get cascade of L-C sections. the drift current flows through
the conducting wall (inner and outer) and some of this current is bypassed through the capacitors.
actually this bypassed current flows between the two conductor (through the capacitance between
inner and outer conductor) even without any medium. this bypassed current or displacement on each
section give rise to characteristic impedance. this is the role of displacement current.
Summarizing what is happening, when a line is connected to a source of electric energy, a
travelling wave of voltage passes along the line at velocity approaching the speed of light,
establishing an electric field between the conductors. The voltage wave is accompanied with
a current wave V/Z0 which in turn creates a magnetic field in the surrounding area.
2. Equation of waves:
3. Reflection and refraction of traveling waves:
Z0 is the proportionality factor of voltage and current wave
When a discontinuity in a line appears then Z 0 will be changing (characteristic impedance of
the line) read more about the impedance of the line
To not violate this proportionality mentioned above then some adjustments will take place
initiating 2 pair of waves
1. Reflected wave travels back
2. Refracted wave travels or penetrates through the discontinuity
Current and voltage waves at the line are themselves continuous and the energy is
preserved.
ZA ZB
Consider the junction between the 2 lines which have Z A and ZB as a characteristic impedance
where ZA > ZB
Two terms will be defined , namely:
Z B−Z A
1. Reflection index :
Z B+ Z A
2( Z B)
2. Refraction index:
Z B+ Z A
The marked reduction of the incident wave as it penetrates the cable is sometimes utilized
in power systems to protect terminal equipment from surge approaching down connected
lines
4. Behavior of traveling waves at line terminations:
Another type of discontinuity of line is line termination
Line termination: electrical termination is the practice of ending a transmission line with a device that
matches the characteristic impedance of the line. This is intended to prevent signals from reflecting off the
end of the transmission line. Reflections at the ends of unterminated transmission lines
cause distortion which can produce ambiguous digital signal levels and mis-operation of digital systems
1. Short circuit:
o Impossible to develop any voltage across it
o When the incident voltage wave reaches the short circuit, a reflected one in
initiated with same amplitude but –V to cancel out the refracted one.
o As mentioned before energy is imparted between the electric energy and magnetic
energy but when the line voltage becomes 0 then all electric energy are converted
into magnetic energy so this accomplished by doubling of the current
o When the wave reaches the source due to the boundary conditions (+V on the
course and 0 on the short circuit) so a new wave of +V is initiated and because of its
direction (positive direction) current should be of positive amplitude also +V/Z 0
o The source will not feel the fault until a t of time , until the current is doubled
