Transmission Tower

What is a Transmission Tower?

A transmission tower (also known as a power transmission tower, power tower, or electricity
pylon) is a tall structure (usually a steel lattice tower) used to support an overhead power line. In
electrical grids, they are used to carry high voltage transmission lines that transport bulk electric
power from generating stations to electrical substations; utility poles are used to support lower-
voltage sub-transmission and distribution lines that transport power from substations to electric
customers.
Transmission towers have to carry the heavy transmission conductors at a sufficient safe height
from the ground.

Transmission Tower Parts:

A power transmission tower is a key part of a power transmission system. A power transmission
tower consists of the following parts:
1) The peak of the transmission tower
2) The cross arm of the transmission tower
3) The boom of transmission tower
4) Cage of transmission tower
5) Transmission Tower Body
6) Leg of transmission tower
7) Stub/Anchor Bolt and Baseplate assembly of the transmission tower.

Peak of Transmission Tower

The portion above the top cross arm is called peak of transmission tower. Generally, earth shield
wire connected to the tip of this peak.

Cross Arm of Transmission Tower

Cross arms of transmission tower hold the transmission conductor. The dimension of cross arm
depends on the level of transmission voltage, configuration and minimum forming angle for
stress distribution.

Cage of Transmission Tower

The portion between tower body and peak is known as cage of transmission tower. This portion
of the tower holds the cross arms.
Transmission Tower Body

The portion from the bottom cross arms up to the ground level is called the transmission tower
body. This portion of the tower plays a vital role in maintaining the required ground clearance of
the bottom conductor of the transmission line.
According to the angle of deviation there are four types of transmission tower-
1) A – type tower – angle of deviation 0o to 2o.
2) B – type tower – angle of deviation 2o to 15o.
3) C – type tower – angle of deviation 15o to 30o.
4) D – type tower – angle of deviation 30o to 60o
.
Based on numbers of circuits carried by a transmission tower, it can be classified as-
1) Single circuit tower
2) Double circuit tower
3) Multi circuit tower.

What are Bundled Conductors?

We can often see the transmission lines where instead of a single conductor per phase multiple
conductors per phase are being used. This is called bundled conductor. Three such groups of
conductor form a single circuit and six groups form a double circuit transmission line.

Spacers:
A metallic structure called spacers groups the conductors of a phase. These spaces help to
maintain a constant distance between the conductors throughout their length, avoid clashing of
conductors amongst themselves and also allowing them to be connected in parallel. Each phase
can have two, three, or four conductors.

(Bundle conductor)
Conductors used in transmission line:
1) AAC – All Aluminum Conductor
2) AAAC – All Aluminium Alloy Conductors
3) AACSR – All Aluminium Alloy Conductors Steel Reinforced
4) ACAR – Aluminium Conductors Alloy Reinforced
5) ACSR – Aluminium Conductors Steel Reinforced