Line Support

The function of line support is obviously to support the conductors. Line support must
be capable of carrying the load due to insulators and conductors including the ice and
wind loads on the conductor along with the wind load on the support itself.

Main requirement of the line supports is:

(a) High mechanical strength to withstand the weight of conductors and wind load
etc.
(b) Light in weight without the loss of mechanical strength
(c) Cheaper in cost
(d) Low maintenance cost
(e) Longer life
(f) Good looking
(g) Easy accessibility

The choice of line support for a particular situation depends upon the lines span, cross-
sectional area, line voltage, cost and local conditions.

The design of an overhead line support depends upon the fact whether the support is
rigid or has a certain amount of flexibility in the direction of the line. Wooden poles and
some special types of the steel structures are of letter type and only the transverse wind
pressure accruing upon the conductors and upon the support itself is usually
considered in their design.

(a) Wooden poles: These supports are cheapest, easily available, provide insulating
properties and therefore are extensively used for the distribution purposes
especially in rural electrification keeping the cost low. Their use is usually limited to
low pressure (up to 22 kV) and for short span (up to 60 metres).

A pole which acts as a terminal or carries Switchgear or a transformer, is used at

tapping point may be of the ‘H’-type.
The length of wooden Pole depends upon clearance above the ground surface and
secondly, the number of cross-arms and other equipment to be attached. Normally, the
length of wooden Pole is 10 to 12 m.

The main drawbacks of wooden supports are: tendency to rot below the ground level,
comparatively smaller life, less mechanical strength and requirement of periodical
inspection.

(b) Steel poles: The Steel poles are of three types (i) tubular poles (ii) rail poles and
(iii) rolled Steel joist poles. The Tubular poles are of round cross-section, the rail
poles are of shape of track used for railway and rolled Steel joist are of I cross-
section.

Such pole possesses greater mechanical strength and permit use of longest span (50-80
m) but cost is higher. Their life is longer than that of wooden poles and life is increased
by regular painting. These poles are set in concrete muffs at the foundation in order to
protect them from the chemical action. The average life of a steel poles is more than 40
years.

Advantages of tubular poles are that these are lighter in weight and easy to install
though initial cost is little more as compared to wooden poles. Tubular poles in height of
9 to 11 metre are generally used for distribution purposes in cities to give good
appearance. Steel rail poles in height of 11 m and 13 m are used for transmission
purposes at 11 kV and 33 kV respectively.

(c) RCC poles: Poles made of reinforced cement concrete (RCC), usually called the
concrete poles are extensively used for low voltages and high voltage distribution
lines up to 33 kV. Their construction should confirm to the standard specification of
RCC work but in no case the dimensions shall be less 25 cm × cross 25 cm at the
bottom and 13 cm × 13 cm at the top. These give good reasons that they require no
maintenance, have got insulating properties and resistance against chemical
reaction, very strong, have longer life and can be used for longer span (80-200 m).
such poles are most suitable for water logged situation where other types will not
be at all suitable, as due to standing water wooden poles will decay very rapidly and
steel construction will be having deposit of crust.
(d) Lattice Steel Towers: Though there is no hard and fast rule but wooden poles are
generally used for distribution purposes in rural area, the Steel tubular poles and
concrete poles are usually used for distribution in urban area to give good
appearance and steel rails or narrow-base, lattice-steel towers are used for
transmission at 11 kV and 33 kV and broad base Lattice-Steel towers are used for
transmission at 66 kV and above. The broad base Lattice-Steel towers are
mechanically stronger and have got longer life. Due to their robust construction
long span (300 m or above) can be used and are much useful for crossing field,
valleys, railway lines, rivers etc. Even though they are two to four times costlier
than wooden poles, yet for tall support and longest span these prove more
economical.
Steel towers can be broadly classified as tangent towers and deviation towers. Tangent
Towers can be used for straight run of the line and up to 2 O line deviation from the
straight runs. The base of such a steel Tower may be square or rectangular. Insulators
used with such towers are suspension types.

For deviation exceeding to 2 O, special angle towers, sometime called the deviation
towers, are used. Such towers have broader base and stronger members as they are
withstanding the resultant force due to change in direction in addition to the force to
which the tangent towers are subjected. Insulators used with such towers are of strain
type. The cost of the deviation towers is comparatively larger than that of tangent tower
because it is designed to withstand heavy loading as compared to standard or tangent
tower.

For protection against corrosion, the Steel towers are periodically painted or galvanized
and the life of Steel towers can be made almost indefinitely large by a reasonable
amount of attention to their maintenance.