Does transmission line theory and transmission line termination take any significance when dealing with long high-voltage power lines? Do power companies terminate their power lines to avoid reflections in their power lines over great distances? (say 1000 km for example)
If so, how do they do it (in general terms)?
Most of the sources I have found talk about electronic and PCB design, I have not been able to find anything about this phenomenon in the electrical power industry so far.
Any article or reading material suggestions are very welcome in the comments.
Best Answer
Power transmission lines are not terminated with a resistance in the way that data transmission lines are. As a result, there is reflection on power transmission lines. The voltage near the end of a power transmission line is often higher than at its source. This is known as the Ferranti effect. Power utilities compensate for the Ferranti effect by having step-down distribution or service transformers with a variety of taps on them. Distribution or service transformers provide the final "mains" voltage for end-users. Which tap is selected on the service transformer depends upon the voltage on the transmission line where the transformer is located. Thus, although the transmission line voltage varies from point to point, the "mains" voltage supplied to end users can generally be kept within 10% of nominal (in the US).