WELCOME

TRANSMISSION LINES DESIGN

AND CONSTRUCTION

BY
K.VEERABHADRA RAO
RETD.CHIEF ENGINEER,AP TRANSCO

DEVELOPMENT OF AC TRANSMISSION LINES

16-5-1888

TRANSMISSION LINE PATENT GIVEN

FIRST LINE 25 kV LINE LAUFFEN TO FRANKFURT
IN GERMANY
1912
110 kV LINE LAUCHLAMMER TO RIESA
17-4-1929
220 kV LINE BRAUWEILER TO FRANKFURT
TOWERS DESIGNED FOR 380 kV
5-10-1957
380 kV LINE ROMERSKIRCHEN TO LUDWIGSBURGHOHENECH
1967
735 kV LINE IN HYDRO QUEBEC
1982
1200 kV LINE IN SOVIET UNION
EXTREMEMELY HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION BEYOND 2000
kV NOT PREFERED DUE TO HIGH CORONA
DISCHARGELOSSES MORE THAN LOSSES DUE TO LINE
3
RESISTANCE

DESIGN BASIS
1.ECONOMIC FACTORS
2.NETWORK SAFETY
3.REDUNDANCY
4

MAIN COMPONENTS
1. CONDUCTOR
2. CONDUCTOR ACCESSORIES
a) REPAIR SLEEVES
b) COMPRESSION JOINTS
c) VIBRATION DAMPERS d) SPACERS / SPACER
DAMPERS
3. EARTH WIRE
a) COMPRESSION JOINTS
b) VIBRATION DAMPERS
c) COPPER EARTH BONDS
4. INSULATORS
5. EARTHING/ COUNTER POISE EARTHING SETS

MAIN COMPONENTS

contd..

6. INSULATOR STRING HARDWARE

a) SUSPENSION STRING HARD WARE
b) TENSION STRING HARD WARE
7. OPGW
8. EARTH WIRE /OPGW HARDWARE
9. TOWERS
10. TOWER ACCESSORIES
a) PHASE PLATES
c) BIRD GAURDS
e) STEP BOLTS

b) DANGER BOARDS
d) ANTI CLIMBING DEVICES
6

CONDUCTORS
1. COPPER
2 .COPPER CONDUCTOR STEEL REINFORCED
3. ALUMINIUM
4. ALL ALUMINIUM ALLOY CONDUCTORS(AAAC)
5. ALUMINIUM ALLOY CONDUCTOR STEEL
REINFORCED(AACSR)
5. ALUMINIUM CONDUCTOR STEEL
REINFORCED(ACSR)
6. ALUMINIUM CONDUCTOR ALUMINIUM CLAD
STEEL REINFORCED - ACSR(AS)
7

ADVANTAGES OF ACSR
1. MORE SPAN-LESS SAG
2. LARGER DIA -LESS CORONA LOSS FOR UHV
LINES

STANDARDS
1. IS:398 IEC-1098-1991:
SPECIFICATION FOR ALUMINIUM
CONDUCTORS FOR OVERHEAD
TRANSMISSION LINES
2 IS-398 PART-II
: ACSR
3. IS-398 PART-V
: ACSR FOR 400 kV AND ABOVE
4. IEC-1232
: ALUMINIUM CLAD STEEL WIRES FOR
ELECTRICAL PURPOSES
5.IS-1778
:REELS AND DRUMS FOR BARE
CONDUCTORS

PRINCIPAL PARAMETERS OF ACSR

1. APPLICABLE STANDARDS
2. NO./WIRE DIA.AL./STEEL
3. SECTIONAL AREA OF ALUMINIUM (SQ,mm)
4. TOTAL SECTIONAL AREA (SQ,mm)
5. OVERAL DIA.(mm)
6. APPROXIMATE WT(.KG / KM)
7. DC RESISTANCEAT 20 DEG.C( OHM/KM)
8. ULTIMATE TENSILE STRENGTH ( KN)
9. FINAL MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (KG/cm)
10. COEFFICIENT OF LINEAR EXPANSION (PER DEG.C)
11.LAY RATIO( MAX./MIN.)
12.TECHNICAL PARTICULARS OF STEEL AND AL.STRANDS

a) strand dia. b) cross sectional area c) wt./km d) min.breaking load befor

stranding and after stranding KN e)zinc coating of steel wire f) joints in
strands g) chemical composition of steel wire

10

IMP. TYPE TESTS

1.ULTIMATE TENSILE STRENGTH
2.CORONA EXTINSION VOLTAGE
3.RADIO INTERFERENCE VOLTAGE
4.DC RESISTANCE
5.STESS STAIN TEST

This test is to collect the creep data of the

conductor.Creep is due to settlement of strands and due to
non -elastic elongation of metal when subjected to
load.The manufacturer shall furnish the amount of creep in
10,20,30,40,50 years along with supporting
calculations.The calculation to be based on every day
temp. and tension 22 % of UTS. for 400 kV
and 25 %UTS for 220 kV
11

INSULATOR STRINGS
TYPES OF INSULATORS
1. PORCELAIN DISC INSULATORS,LONG ROD
INSULATORS
2.TOUGHENED GLASS
3.POLYMER SILICON RUBBER/ALLOY OF SILICON
RUBBER AND EPDM
NORMAL SIZES

1.254 X 145 mm 70KN/90KN EMS. 280mm CREEPAGE

2.280 X 170 mm 120 KN/160KN,
280mm/330mm/430mm CREEPAGE
3.305 X 145 mm 120 KN,
280mm /330mm/430mm CREEPAGE
4.305 X 170 mm 160 KN
280mm /330mm/430mm CREEPAGE
BALL DIA--16mm, 20mm
12

INSULATOR STRINGS----

CONTINUED

TYPES OF STRINGS
1.SINGLE SUSPENSION
2.DOUBLE SUSPENSION
3.SINGLE TENSION
4. DOUBLE TENSION
5.V-SRTING

13

CONSTRUCTION WORKS
1. SURVEYS
a) ROUTE ALIGNMENT
b) DETAILED SURVEY
i) PROFILES
ii) SOIL PARTICULARS
iii) SAG TEMPLATE
iv)TOWER SPOTTING
v) RIGHT OF WAY
2. APPROVALS FROM CONCERNED
a) ROAD CROSSINGS
i) RAIL CROSSINGS
iii) RIVER CROSSINGS

c) CHECK SURVEY

ii) TELECOM LINES

iv) AIR PORT AUTHORITIES
14

CONSTRUCTION WORKS
3. FOUNDATIONS
i) DESIGN FOR DIFFERENT SOILS
iii) FORM BOXES
v) CONCRETING
vii) EARTHING

contd..

ii) EXCAVATION PLAN

iv) STUB SETTING
vi) REVETMENTS

4. TOWER ERRECTION
i) TOWER SCHEDULES

ii) INSEPCTION AND SORTING

OUT MEMBERS
iii) TREATMENT OF JOINS
iv) ASSEMBLY
v) TIGHTENING AND PUNCHING OF BOLTS AND NUTS
vi) FIXING ACCESSORIES
15

CONSTRUCTION WORKS

contd..

5. INSULATOR HOISTING
6. POWER AND EARTH CONDUCTOR ERRECTION
i) DELIVERY OF CONDUCTOR AT SITE
iii) TENSIONING AND SAGGING

ii) PAYING OUT AND STRINGING

iv) CLIPPING -IN

7. FIXING OF CONDUCTOR AND EARTH WIRE ACCESSORIES

8. FINAL CHECKING
9. TESTING AND COMMISIONING
i) CONDUCTOR CONTINUITY TEST
ii) INSULATION RESISTENCE TEST
iii) TO BE CHARGED AT LOW VOLTAGE
iv) STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET

16

COST COMPONENTS
1. TOWERS AND ACCESSORIES
2. ACSR CONDUCTOR AND ACCESSORIES
3. EARTH WIRE AND ACCESSORIES
4. INSULATOR AND STRINGS
5. FOUNDATIONS
6. ERRECTION
7. CENTAGES

28%
36%
01%
06%
04%
14%
11%

17

DESIGN BY PROBABILISTIC METHOD

IEC-826
CLIMATIC LOADS
a) RETURN PERIODS OF CLIMATIC EVENTS
1) 50 YEARS
2) 150 YEARS
3) 500 YEARS
b) DRAG COEFFICIENT OF CONDUCTOR
c) TERRAIN CATEGORIES
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
a) RELIABILITY (STRUCTURAL)
OR
PROBABILITY OF SURVIVAL
b) SECURITY (STRUCTURAL)
c) SAFETY

18

DESIGN BY PROBABILISTIC METHOD

IEC-826
COORDINATION OF STRENGTH OF COMPONENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MAJOR
COORDINATION WITH
COMPONENT
MA JOR COMPONENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TO FAIL FIRST
TANGENT TOWER
TOWER,FOUNDATIONS,
HARDWARE
NOT TO FAIL FIRST
ANGLE TOWER
TOWER,FOUNDATIONS,
WITH 90% CONFIDENCE
HARDWARE
DEAD END TOWER
TOWER,FOUNDATIONS,
HARDWARE
CONDUCTOR
CONDUCTORS, INSULLATORS, HARDWARE

NOTE: WITH IN EACH MAJOR COMPONENTS THE UNDERLINED

COMPONENT IS THE WEAKEST WITH 90% CONFIDENCE

19

LOADINGS ON TRANSMISSION LINES

LIVE LOADS
1. WIND LOADS
a. NON-SNOWY REGIONS
b. WITH ICE SNOWY REGIONS
c. WITHOUT ICE SNOWY REGIONS

2. DEAD LOADS
a. WEIGHT OF TOWER
b. WEIGHT OF CONDUCTORS,
c. HARDWARE AND INSULATORS

3. SPECIAL LOADS
a. EXTERNAL LOADS DURING
b. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANACE
20

REQUIREMENT OF LOADS
1.RELIABILITY REQUIREMENTS
CLIMATIC LOADS UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS

2.SECURITY REQUIREMENTS
FAILURE CONTAINMENT LOADS UNDER BROKEN WIRE CONDITION

3.SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
LOADS DURING CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE LOADS

21

METHODOLOGY FOR THE DESIGN

OF TRANSMISSION LINES
ESTABLISH SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS

CALCULATE
CONSTRUCTION
AND MAINTENANCE LOADS

SELECT SECURITY
REQUREMENTS

CALCULATE LOADS
RELATED TO
SECURITY

SELECT
RELIABILITY

CALCULATE
CLIMATIC LOADS

COMBINE ALL LIMIT

LOADS

CALCULATE STRENGTH
NEEDED TO COMPLY
WITH ALL LOADS AND
REQUIREMENTS

DESIGN COMPONENTS
FOR LOADS AND
STRENGTH
REQUIREMENTS

CHECK SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS
FROM
NATIONAL
REGULATIONS

22

TOWER OUTLINE
1. TOWER HEIGHT
2. TOWER WIDTH
3. CROSS ARM WIDTH

23

ELECTRICAL CLEARANCES
1. MIN.GROUND CLEARANCE
2. MIN.CLEARANCE ABOVE HIGHEST FLOOD LEVEL
3. CLEARACE AND SWING ANGLES
4. AIR CLEARANCE
5. POWER LINE CROSSINGS
6. TELECOM.LINE CROSSINGS
7. RAIL TRACK CROSSINGS

24

DESIGN PARAMETERS
1. NO.OF CIRCUITS
2. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
a. WIND
b. TEMPERATURE
c. ISOKERANIC LEVEL
d. SEISMIC INTENSITY
e. ICE FORMATION

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

CONDUCTOR
EARTH WIRE
INSULATOR STRINGS
25
SPAN

LOADINGS
1. CLIMATIC LOADS RELATED TO RELIABILITY REQUIREMENTS:
WIND LOADS
i) SNOWY WITH ICE
ii) SNOWY WITH OUT ICE
iii) NON SNOWY
2. FAILURE CONTAINMENT LOADS RELATED TO SECURITY
REQUIREMENTS.
i) LONGITUDINAL LOADS ii) TORSIONAL LOADS
iii) ANTI CASCADING LOADS
3. LOADS DURING CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE LOADS
RELATED TO SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
26

LOADINGS

contd..

NATURE OF LOADS
1. TRANSVERSE LOADS(T)
WIND LOAD ON TOWER STRUCTURE, CONDUCTOR, GW &
INSULATOR STRING
COMPONENT OF MECHANICAL TENSION
2. VERTICAL LOADS(V)
SELF WEIGHT
LOADS DURING CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
3. LONGITUDINAL LOADS(L)
RELIABILITY CONDITION (NORMAL CONDITION),
SECURITY CONDITION (BROKEN WIRE CONDITION) AND
SAFETY CONDITION (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE)
HAVE ALL THE ABOVE LOADS UNDER THEIR LOADING
COMBINATIONS.
SAFTETY CONDITION HAS BOTH NORMAL AND BROKEN WIRE
CONDITION.

27

ANTI CASCADING CHECKS

ALL ANGLE TOWERS SHALL BE CHECKED FOR ANTI CASCADING
CONDITIONS WITH ALL THE CONDUCTORS AND G.W. INTACT
ONLY ON ONE SIDE.
1. TRANSVERSE LOADS(T) :

UNDER NO-WIND CONDITION

2. VERTICAL LOADS(V)
:
CONDUCTOR, GW WEIGHTS ON
ONE SIDE ONLY, WEIGHT OF INSULATOR STRINGS AND
ACCESSORIES
3. LONGITUDINAL LOADS(L):
PULL OF CONDUCTOR/GW AT
EVERY DAY TEMPERATURE AND NO-WIND APPLIED
SIMULTANEOUSLY AT ALL POINTS ON ONE SIDE WITH ZERO
DEGREE DEVIATION.
28

BROKEN WIRE CONDITION

(BWC)
SINGLE CIRCUIT: ONE PHASE OR GW BROKEN WHICH EVER IS
MORE STRINGENT FOR A PARTICULAR MEMBER
MULTI CIRCUIT:
SUSPENSION TOWER: ANY ONE PHASE OR GW BROKEN WHICH
EVER IS MORE STRINGENT FOR A PARTICULAR MEMBER
SMALL ANGLE TOWERS: ONE PHASE AND GW OR TWO PHASES
BROKEN ON ONE SIDE.
LARGE ANGLE TOWERS/DEAD END TOWERS: ANY THREE
PHASES BROKEN ON THE SAME SIDE OR ANY TWO PHASES
AND GW BROKEN ON THE SAME SIDE.
29

DESIGN OF TOWER MEMBERS

STRESS ANALYSIS:
1. GRAPHICAL DIAGRAM METHOD: NOW OBSOLETE
2. ANALYTICAL METHOD
3. COMPUTER AIDED ANALYSIS: 3D ANALYSIS
SELECTION OF MATERIAL
i) BOLT DIAMETER
FLARGE WIDTH
16MM

45 MM

ii) MINIMUM THICKNESS: 5 MM LEG

4MM BRACINGS/REDUNDENT MEMBERS
iii) GRADE OF STEEL : MILD STEEL AND HIGH TENSILE STEEL
iv) STENDERNESS RATIO:
LEGS

< 120

BRACINGS < 200

REDUNDENT < 250
TENSION
< 400

30

DESIGN OF TOWER MEMBERS

contd..

PERMISSIBLE STRESSES
SELECTION OF MEMBERS
BOLTS & NUTS
i) CLASS 4.6
ULTIMATE BEARING STRESS - 4440 Kgf/cm2
ULTIMATE SHEARING STRESS - 2220 Kgf/cm2
ii) CLASS 5.6
ULTIMATE BEARING STRESS - 6322 Kgf/cm2
ULTIMATE SHEARING STRESS -3161 Kgf/cm2
FOR 16 mm DIA BOLTS

31

TESTING OF TOWERS
TOWER TESTING STATION
1. TEST BED
2. PERMANENT ANCHORS: LONGITUDINAL MOST
3. ARRANGEMENT FOR APPLYING THE COMBINATION OF LOADS
4. ELECTRICAL WRINCHES (REMOTE CONTROLLED)
5. INSTRUMENTS TO RECORD THE LOAD APPLIED:
MECHANICAL SPRING GAUGES OR ELECTRICAL /
ELECTRONIC TRANSDUCEROS/DYNAMO METERS
6. CONTROL ROOM
7. THEODOLOTES TO OBSERVE DEFLECTION OF TOWER
TESTING
1. BOLT SLIP TEST
3. NC

2. BWC/ANTI CASCADE CONDITION

32
4. DESTRUCTION TEST

APPLICATION OF LOADS
TRANSVERSE, LONGITUDINAL LOADS AND VERTICAL LOADS
AT PEAK AND RESPECTIVE CROSS ARM POINTS.
WIND LOAD ON TOWER BODY SIMULATED AT
A. G.W.
B. CROSS ARM LEVELS
C. WIND BELOW CROSS ARM LEVEL TO BE
SIMULATED TO ACT AT BOTTOM CROSS ARM LEVEL
D. TOWER WITH EXTENSION AT TOP OF EXTENSION

33

QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN

1. QUALITY POLICY
2. QUALITY CONTOL(QC) DEPARTMENT
3. QUALITY PLANNING
4. DESIGN AND DRAWING
5. COMPANY STANDARDS
6. INSPECTION EQUIPMENT, TOOLS AND GUAGES
7. MATERIAL MANAGEMENT
8. INSPECTION OF INCOMING MATERIAL
9. BOUGHTOUT ITEMS
10. IN-PROCESS INSPECTION
11. DOCUMENTATION
34

DESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS
1. TYPE OF LOADS
a. COMPRESSION OR DOWN WARD THRUST
b. TENSION OR UPLIFT
c. LATERAL FORCES OR SIDE THRUST BOTH, TRANSVERSE AND
LOGITUDINAL DIRECTIONS
2. SOIL PARAMETERS
a. LIMIT BEARING CAPACITY
b. DENSITY OF SOIL
c. ANGEL OF EARTH FRUSTRUM
3. SOIL INVESTIGATION
a. TYPY OF SOIL
b. GROUND WATER TABLE
35

DESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS

contd..

4. TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS
a. NORMAL DRY SOIL FOUNDATION
b. WET SOIL FOUNDATION
c. PARTIAL SUBMERGED FOUNDATION
d. FULLY SUBMERGED FOUNDATION
e. BLACK COTTON SOIL FOUNDATION
f. PARITAL BLACK COTTON SOIL FOUNDATION
g. SOFT ROCK/FISSURED ROCK FOUNDATION
h. HARD ROCK FOUNDATION
i. SANDY SOIL FOUNDATION

36

DESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS

contd..

5. STRUCTURAL ARRANGEMENT OF FOUNDATION

a. PCC TYPE
b. RCC SPREAD TYPE
c. BLOCK TYPE
d. UNDER CUT TYPE
e. GROUTED ROCK AND ROCK ANCHOR TYPE
f. PILE TYPE
g. WELL TYPE
6. REVETMENT ON FOUNDATION

37

THE END

38