CHAPTER Four

MECHANICAL DESIGN OF
OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINES

By Alemante Ab.

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 Outlines
 Introduction
 Types of conductors
 Line supports
 Spacing between the conductors
 Sag-tension calculations
 Effect of wind and ice

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An overhead line comprises mainly
i ) conductors: which carry electric power from the sending end station to the receiving end station

ii ) support structures: which are attached to supports and insulate the conductors from the ground

iii ) insulators and pole fittings: which are attached to supports and insulate the conductors from the
ground
iV) Cross arms: which provide support to the insulators

V) Shield wires: which provides grounding and communication services for the overhead transmission
line.

Vi) Miscellaneous items:- such as phase plates, danger plates, lightning arrestors, anti-climbing wires etc.

 The continuity of operation in the overhead line depends upon the judicious choice of above
components.
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 Conductor Material
The conductor material used for transmission and distribution of electric power
should have the following properties :

i. high electrical conductivity.

ii. high tensile strength in order to withstand mechanical stresses.

iii. low cost so that it can be used for long distances.

iv. low specific gravity so that weight per unit volume is small.

All above requirements are not found in a single material.

 The metals which posses the above properties are copper, aluminum and steel,
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 Commonly used conductor materials
The most commonly used conductor materials for overhead lines are:

Copper: properties
 best conductivity
 higher current density,
 It has low specific resistance
 It is durable
 Aluminum: properties
It is cheaper than copper
 It is lighter in weight
 It is second in conductivity (has approximately 60.6% conductivity in
compared to annealed copper wire.
 For same ohmic resistance, its diameter is about 1.27 times that of copper.
 At higher voltages it causes less corona loss

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  diameter of the conductor is more, so it is subject to greater wind pressure
 Since the conductors are liable to swing, so it requires larger cross arms
 Low melting point
 Joining of aluminum is much more difficult than that of any other material
 Galvanized steel: properties
 It is lowest in conductivity
 ii ) It has high internal reactance
 iii ) It is much subjected to eddy current and hysteresis loss
 iv ) In a damp atmosphere it is rusted

The choice of a particular material will depend upon the cost, the required
electrical and mechanical, properties and the local conditions.
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 Line supports
The line supports are poles and the chief requirements for such supports are:
I. They must be mechanically strong

II. They must be light in weight without the loss of strength.

III. They must be cheap.

IV. Their maintenance cost should be minimum.

V. They must be easily accessible for point and erection of line

conductor

VI. They must have longer life.

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 Line supports

The choice of supporting structure for a particular case

depends upon:-
i. line span
ii. Cross sectional area
iii. line voltage
iv. Cost
v. local conditions

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 Classifications of Line Supports
Depending on the materials from which they are made from, line supports can
be classified in to

i. wooden poles,

ii. steel poles,

iii. R.C.C. poles and

Poles
iv. lattice steel towers
Towers

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 Wooden Poles
 Shorter span (up to 50m)

 Less cost & used for

distribution purpose in
rural areas.

 Used for voltage up to

20 kv

 Smaller life (20-25

years)

 Less mechanical
strength
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 Steel Poles

 Greater mechanical strength

 Longer life

 Larger spans

 Used for distribution

purpose in cities

 Three types:
 Rail poles
 Tubular poles
 Rolled steel joints

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 Reinforced Concrete Poles
 Greater mechanical strength
 Longer life
 Longer spans

 Good outlook

 Little maintenance

 Good insulating properties

 Two Types:-
 Single pole
 Double poles

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 Types of Transmission line Towers
Depending on their purpose (functions) overhead towers can be
classified in to 5.
1- Suspension Tower

2- Tension Tower

3- Angle Tower

4- End Tower

5- Transposition Tower

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 Suspension Tower Tension Tower
Suspension Tower (Span ≈ 1000 m)
 Used for River crossing, Railway/
Highway crossing tower, Mountain
crossing etc.

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 Angle Tower End Tower
 This type of towers exists in the beginning
and at the end of the line which exposed to
tension in one side.

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 Spacing between the conductors

Generally the following formulae is used for obtaining spacing

between the conductors(phases):

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 Sag and Tension Calculation
 based on the fact that when a wire of uniform cross-section is suspended between two
points at the same level, the wire sags down and assumes the shape of a parabolic or
catenary shape.
Sag (s) is the vertical difference in level between the point of hanging points (support)
and the shallowest (lowest) point of the conductor.
Clearance (C) is the vertical difference between the shallowest (lowest) point of the
conductor and the ground.
As sag increase clearance decreases & vice versa.
Span length (L) is the horizontal distance between two consequentive poles

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The main factors in the design and stringing of conductors on the supports:-

Conductor load per unit length

Conductor tension
Span(distance between supports )
Temperature

For determining the conductor load . The factors need to be considered are:-

Weight of conductors it self

Weight of ice or snow clinging to conductors
Wind blowing against conductors

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From practical point of view economic design dictates the following
Sag of conductor should be minimum to refrain from extra pole height
Sufficient clearance above the ground level
To avoid providing excessive horizontal spacing b/n conductors to prevent them
from swinging together in mid span
Elastic property of the wire is measured by its modulus of elasticity

= kg/m2

Where, (kg/m2)
T=conductor tension (kg)
A= actual cross section of conductor(m2)
Elongation e of the conductor due to the tension is

e=
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Sag and stress in conductor are dependent on the following things
i. Initial tension put on them when the are clamped in place
ii. Weight of the conductors themselves
iii. Ice or sleet clinging to them
iv. Wind pressure
o Effect of temperature change in Sag and stress
Sag and stress vary with temperature
If the conductor stress is constant while the temperature changes ,the changes in length of
the conductor is:-
=lo t

t=t1-to=l1-lo
to= initial temperature
lo=conductor length at initial temperature
l1=conductor length at t1
α=
t= change in temperature in C0
=change in conductor length in meter
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If the temperature is constant while the conductor stress changes (loading) ,the
changes in length of the conductor is:-
=lo∆

=T1-To
Where
To= initial tension of conductor (kg)

=change in conductor tension

M=modulus of elasticity of conductor (kg-m)

A= actual metal cross section of conductor (m2)

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 Calculation of sag
There are two ways to calculate Sag
i. Parabolic formula: (Span ≤300 m)
ii. Catenary formula: (Span >300 m)
Consider a curved wire length l hanging in two poles in still air.

 Let us consider a force

at point B (mid point of OP)
Sag for unequal level

- For x1 = x2
 Effect of ice covering and wind over the line
Under the severest conditions of ice covering and wind, the stress over the line is
increased to the maximum.

 The ice covering over the conductor increase the weight of the conductor per unit
length.

Let, (d cm) be the diameter of the conductor and (r cm) be the radial thickness of
ice.

Representation of conductor covered with ice

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Cross-sectional area of the conductor
 d 2

4
Overall cross-sectional area when covered with ice

 (d  2 r )2
4
Sectional area of the ice :   d2
= (d  2 r )2 
4 4

= [ (d  2 r )2  d 2 ]
4

= [ d 2  4 r 2  4 d r d 2 ]
4
= r ( d  r )
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Density of ice = 0.915g/cm3

Weight of ice per meter length

= 0.287 r (d +r ) Kg

The effect of wind is allowed for by assuming that the wind is blowing with a velocity of
( 80.45 km/hr) across the line.

It is equivalent to a pressure of (33.7 kg/m2) of the projected surface to the line to ice.

The projected surface per meter length of the conductor

( d 2r )
 1 sq.m
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 Sag Template
For correct design and economy the location of structures on the profile with
template is very essential.
Sag template is a conventional device used in the design of transmission line to
determine the location and height of structures.

Sag template can be relied upon the following

Economic layout
Minimum error in design and layout
Proper grading of structures
Prevention of excessive insulator swing
Generally two types of tower are used :

The standard of straight run or intermediate tower

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 Determination of Base Width
The base width(at the concrete level) is the distance between the centre of gravity
at one corner leg and the centre of gravity of the adjacent corner leg.

A particular base width which gives the minimum total cost of the tower and
foundations.

Where ,
B = base width in meters
M=overturning moment about the ground level in tone-meters
m= overturning moment about the ground level in kg-meters
The ratio of base width to total tower height for most towers is generally about one-
fifth to one-tenth.
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Ground clearance CL=5.182+0.305*K, where K=( )

Span length and ground clearance

sag template for locating tower

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 

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