Design of Electrical Transmission Lines: Line and System Modeling

Line design is a very specialized field involving spatial constraints, high performance conductors, lightning protection, cable vibrations, digital terrain surveying, Fiber optic communication wires along with some exciting software developments over the past two decades. In the West, billions of dollars are being invested on building new lines and the so-called "Smart Grid." This book will cover electrical and mechanical characteristics associated with high-voltage transmission lines, selection of conductors, line layout, thermal ratings, plan and profile drawing among other things. Structures are only one component of a transmission line; as such, this book will form a companion volume to the book on structures and foundations.
The book is aimed at students, practicing engineers, technicians and linemen, researchers and academics. It will contain beneficial information to those involved in the management and maintenance of high voltage transmission lines and associated component systems. For those in academia, it will be an adequate textbook for (under)graduate courses centering on the topic. Asset managers at utilities and state-level electrical corporations should find the book a useful reference work during system and line maintenance operations.

Dr. Prasad Yenumula is currently a Principal Engineer from the Transmission Line Engineering System Standards of Duke Energy. He earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Civil engineering with an MBA degree with a specialization in Global Management. With a post-doctoral fellowship in engineering, he published more than 50 research papers in various journals and conferences. He worked as a line design engineer, line standards engineer and lines asset manager in the US & Canada for over 20 years. He was responsible for managing and leading a number of line projects and special assignments, along with developing various technical standards & specifications.

He is also a Professor (adjunct) with Gonzaga University, Washington, and contributes to the development and teaching of the on-line Transmission & Distribution engineering Master’s program. He also teaches business students at the University of Phoenix. He offered training classes in the areas of line design, standards and line design software. He was invited to make several presentations, was a reviewer of research papers, an advisor to Master’s students, and an examiner for doctoral students.

He is currently the Chair of line design task force of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). He is also the current Chair of CEATI (The Center for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation) International’s TODEM interest group. He is a member (alt) of NESC (National Electrical Safety Code) Subcommittee-5 (Strength and Loadings), EEI’s (Electric Edison Institute) NESC/Electric Utilities Representative Coordinating Task Force and ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), ISSMGE, SEI and DFI. He is a current member of the DFI’s working group on Electric Power Systems Foundations. He is Duke’s industry advisor to NATF, NEETRAC, EPRI and CEATI. He is also in various other national standards committees such as ASCE 10 on lattice towers, ANSI C29 on insulators and on the ASCE-FRP Blue Ribbon Panel review team. He received thirteen awards for his engineering, research and teaching efforts which include best Ph.D. thesis, best papers, and four faculty of the year awards.

Recently retired from Manitoba Hydro, Mr. Proteau has amassed 25 years of professional experience in transmission line projects in varying roles of responsibility ranging from detailed design, project management, and supervising multi-faceted engineering groups. Gerald received his Mechanical Engineering Degree from the University of Manitoba, Canada, in 1992 and is registered as a professional engineer to practice engineering in Canada. Mr. Proteau’s specialty fields of practice and interest include modeling of transmission lines with Lidar and other survey collection methods, aerial drone mapping technology with transmission line applications, and the detailed sag and tension analysis and behavior and optimization of transmission line conductors. Gerald is also an adjunct instructor with Gonzaga University, Washington and contributes to the development and teaching of the on-line transmission & distribution engineering Master’s program.