Transposition (transmission lines)

Conductors are transposed in overhead power lines to reduce transmission losses. Unlike in cables, continuous transposition is impractical, so it is done at a specialized transposition tower. A transposing structure may be a standard structure with special cross arms or maybe a dead-end structure. The transposing is necessary as there is capacitance between conductors, as well as between conductors and ground. This is typically not symmetrical across phases. By transposing, the overall capacitance for the whole line is approximately balanced. Transposing also reduce effects to communication circuits.[1]

Wire transposition on top of pole

A transposing scheme is a pattern by which the conductors of overhead power lines are transposed at transposing structures. To ensure balanced capacitance of a three-phase line, each of the three conductors must hang once at each position of the overhead line. For longer powerlines without branches, wires are transposed according to a fixed transposing scheme, at regular intervals. At closely branched grids and where several electric circuits share a route (in particular when the lines operate at different voltages) on the same pylons the outside unbalance of the line, which is caused by the other electric circuits, dominates. In these cases, one finds large deviations from the transposing schemes. For example, in some such transpositions, only two of the three conductors on the pylons change their place. Also, transpositions on pylons near power substations are used to get an optimal arrangement of the feeding system without crossing of conductors.

As the mutual influence of electric circuits can change after new lines are installed or old lines dismantled, certain transpositions may disappear or be added after new construction in electricity mains. In the case of a twisted line the individual conductors of an electric circuit swap places, either in their whole course (at cables) or at certain points (at overhead lines). The mutual influence of electrical conductors is reduced by transposing. The unbalance of the line, which can lead to one-sided loads in three-phase systems, is also reduced. Transposing of overhead lines is usually realized at so-called transposing pylons. Transposing is an effective measure for the reduction of inductively linked normal mode interferences.

Three basic patterns, with variants, with the fractional length shown above each segment

Modern power lines are normally not transposed on the go as the difference in the inductance of the phases are negligibly small due to asymmetrical spacing, However, intermediate switching stations, where the transposition takes place, are implemented whenever it is necessary. It cannot be neglected. [2]

Pylon 206 of powerline Hoheneck-Herbertingen near Rübgarten.

In communication cables, the transposition is used to reduce coupling between circuits in the same cable. The principal measure is the pitch or lay length,[3] the distance over which the pairs of a circuit are twisted. By twisting, the wires become longer than the cable. The stranding factor indicates the relationship of single wire length to cable length; it amounts to with communication cables about 1.02 to 1.04.

In open wire lines used for long-distance (trunk or toll) telephone circuits, transposition was used for reducing cross-talk. Originally used to transmit a single telephone call per pair, two pairs were commonly used to carry three calls with a phantom circuit configuration. With the invention of carrier systems, one pair of over-wire could carry 24 analogue toll circuits using two 12-circuit carrier systems.

Overhead trunk lines were rare in Europe and the German term for transposition “Drehkreuzachse” remained a mystery at the Bletchley Park codebreaking centre until late in World War II: General Fellgiebel of the Army Signals Service and Heinz Guderian developed a landline system for newly occupied territories to carry multiple telephone and telegraph or teleprinter channels. Overhead lines were common in larger and less densely populated countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the western United States.[4]

• "Paekakariki railway station. Shows on left main overhead telephone line north of Wellington, New Zealand with trunk (top) and local (bottom) circuits c1942". NZETC. 1942.