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5.1 INTRODUCTION
The sag of the conductor plays an important role in the design of overhead
lines. It is disadvantageous to provide either too high sag or too low sag. In the
case the sag is too high, more conductor material is required, more weight on
the supports is to be supported, higher supports are necessary and there is a
chance of greater swing due to wind load. On the other hand for too low sags,
there is more tension in the conductor and thus it is liable to break if any
additional stress is to be taken due to line vibration of all in temperature.
The sag or dip of the conductor depends on :
1.Weight of the conductor : This affects the sag directly. Heavier the
conductor greater will be the sag. In locations where ice formation takes place
on the conductor, this will also cause increase in the sag.
2.Length of the span : Sag is directly proportional to the square of the span
length. Hence longer span will have much greater sag with the other
parameters (weight, working tension, temperature...etc) remaining same.
3.Working tensile strength : The sag is inversely proportional to the working
tensile strength of the conductor if other parameters remain same. This
depends upon the type of conductor used for overhead lines.
4.Temperature : Metallic bodies expand with the rise in temperature, thus, as
temperature rises the length of the conductor increases and so does the sag.
Knowing the permissible tension, span, and the loadings, as well as the
position of the supports and the difference in their levels if any, the sag in the
particular span of the line can be calculated.
Figure 5.1 shows a conductor pulled between the equal level supports A
and B with a certain tension and O is the lowest point of the conductor.
Thus T0 [cosh W X1 - 1]
S1 = m
W 2 T0 (5.7)
and the vertical distance referred to support A is given by S1+h.
Where h is the difference in level between the two supports.
Thus S2 = S1 + h
Thus T0 [cosh W(L - X1) - 1]
S2 = S1 + h =
W 2 T0 (5.8)
Dr. Abdulaziz Salem Bahaidara 127
Transmission & Distribution Power Systems
The sag S2 and S1 can be calculated using equation (5.6)
W le2
S2 =
8 T0 (5.9 a)
W (2X I ) 2
S1 =
8T0 (5.9.b)
The difference in level between the two supports can be calculated with
equations (5.9 a) and (5.9 b)
W 2 2
h = S 2 - S1 = [l e - (2X I ) ]
8T0
le
X1= l -
2 (5.10)
The length of the equivalent span le can be obtained from the solution of
equation (5.10) with respect to le
2 T0 h
le = l +
wl (5.11)
For the case of unequal level supports equation (5.6) (parabolic equation)
is applied to find the sag as
W L2
Sc =
8 Tc cos (5.12)
Where tan -1 h
l
cos = T0 _ T0 = Tc cos
Tc
Example 5.1
Solution :
Example 5.2
Solution :
Solution :
Referring to Fig.5.2
le=l+2Th/wl=336+2x3.34x104(33.6-29)/(8.33x336)=445.79 m
a) S=wle/8T=(8.33x445.79x445.79)/(8x3.34x104)=6.195 m
The lowest point O is 6.195 m below support B which is 33.6 m above
water level. Therefore the clearance between point O and water is 33.6-
6.195=27.405 m.
b) Distance of point O from higher support B
=0.5x445.79=222.89 m
Distance of point O from lower support=336-222.89=113.11 m
Example 5.4
Solution :
a)Referring to Fig.5.2.
l=300 m, h=5 m, T=2000x9.81=19.62x103 N
W=0.85x9.81=8.34 N/m
le=l+2Th/Wl=300+2x19.62x103x5/8.34x300=378.4 m
S=Wle/8T=8.34x378.4x378.4/8x19.62x103=7.61 m
The lowest point on the conductor is 7.61 m below the higher support B
When the towers and lines are constructed, the lines are under tension and
the length of the conductor in the span is the stretched length under that
tension. The exact equation (5.2) for part of length of the conductor OC is .
T0 sinh WX
Lx =
W T0 (5.13)
The length of the conductor for half of span Ob and Oa can be obtained from
equation (5.13) by , putting X = l/2 .
T0 sinh Wl
Lob = Loa =
W 2 T0 (5.14)
The length of the conductor for the entire span is two times LOb and is
calculated by the following equation.
2T0
L sin Wl (5.15)
W 2T0
Expanding equation (5.15)
2 Wl 1 1 Wl 3 1 Wl 5 1
L = T0 [( ) + ( ) + ( ) + ...] (5.16)
W 2 T0 1! 2 T0 3! 2 T0 5 !
Ln1=Lm[1+(tn-tm)] ,m (5.19)
Ln=Lm[1+(tn-tm)][1+(n-m)] (5.21)
W n l cos W m l cos
2 2 2 2
n- = m - - ( tn - tm )
24 2n 24 2m
l
where, cos =
l inc (5.24)
linc - length of inclined span , m
Where, ci - the stringing tension with creepage taken into account and ei - the
stringing tension calculated by the equation of state. K = 1.05 for steel
conductors, K = 1.07 for copper conductors, K = 1.12 for aluminium
conductors, 1.1Kv1.2 for steel aluminium conductors depending on the
construction of the conductors.
Therefore the corrected value of the sag at erection will be
2
Se W1 li
Sci = = ,m
K 8 ci
(5.28)
From functions ci = f(te) and Sci = f(te) at parameter l the stringing charts can
be made. Figure 5.3 shows the stringing charts.
Solution :
d = 1.95 cm = 1.95x10-2 m
A = 2.25 sq.cm = 2.25x10-4 sq.m
E = 91.4x103 N/mm2 = 91.4x103x106
= 91.4x109 N/m2
For bad weather conditions (subscript 1)
The use of a sag template is essential to allocate the position and height of
the supports correctly on the profile. It is usually made of transparent
celluloid, perspex, or sometimes card board. The following curves are marked
on it : hot curve, cold curve, ground clearance curve and support - foot or
tower curve.
The hot curve is obtained by plotting the sages at maximum temperature
against span lengths. It shows where the supports must be located in order to
maintain the prescribed ground clearance.
The cold curve is obtained by plotting the sags at minimum temperature
Example 5.6
A 600 m span over a river is to have its two supports at the same level. The
conductor weighs 12 N/m and ice load is 14 N/m. The tension in the conductor
under the above conditions should not exceed 50000 N. Find the sag by
a)representing the line as a parabola b)representing the line as catenary and
compare the results.
Solution :
a) S=Wtl2/8T0
Total vertical load =12+14=26 N/m
Horizontal load = 0
S=26x600x600/(8x50000)=23.4 m
b) From equation (5.5)
2 2
Wt l W
S= [1 + l ( t )2]
8 T0 48 T0
26x600x600 600x600 26 2
= [1 + ( ) ] = 23.447m
8x50000 48 50000
It is seen that even for this long span the difference between the results of
exact and approximate formulae is only 0.2 %. Therefore the exact formulae
are seldom used in practice.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
PROBLEMS
1. An overhead line has a span of 150 metres between level supports. The
conductor diameter is 0.94 cm and weighs 0.62 Kg per metre length. The
allowable tension is 586 Kg. Calculate the sag, if the wind pressure is 39.2 Kg
per square metre of the projected area. [Ans. 2.97 m]
2. A 132 Kv transmission line uses ACSR conductors whose data are Nominal
copper area 110 mm2 ,size 30+7/2.79 mm, weight 844 Kg/Km ,ultimate
strength 7,950 Kg. Calculate the height above ground at which the conductors
with a span of 300 metre should be supported, the factor of safety being 2.
Wind pressure 75 Kg/m2 of projected area. Ground clearance required is 7
metres. [Ans. 11.78 m]
3. An overhead stranded galvanised steel conductor has a 183 m span. The
conductor has 37 strands each of 0.259 cm. diameter. The weight of
conductor is 7.15 N/m and the breaking strength is 67700 N. The factor of
safety should be 2.5 Calculate the sag under ice and wind condition if the
radial thickness of ice is 0.96 cm and the wind load is 382 N/m2 of projected
area (coated with ice). The weight of ice is 8920 N/m3. [ Ans. 3.2 m]
4. An overhead line, over a river crossing, is supported by two towers 50 m
and 80 m above water level. The horizontal span is 300. If the weight of
conductor is 8.28 N/m and the tension in the conductor is 19620 N,find the
height of mid point of the line above water level. [Ans. 60.252 m]
5. An overhead line has a span of 152 m and is supported on level supports.
The conductor has an effective diameter of 2.068 cm, cross-sectional area
of 3.065 sq.cm and weighs 2.292 Kg/m. The line is subjected to a wind
pressure of 39.063 Kg/sq.m of projected area. Assuming a maximum stress of
1054.63 Kg/sq.cm, find sag under the given conditions. [Ans. 2.17m]
6. A transmission line conductor consists of hard drawn copper 240 mm2 cross
section (61/2.24 mm) and has a span of 160 metres, the supporting structures
being level. The conductor has an ultimate tensile stress of 42.2 Kg/mm2 and
the allowable tension is not to exceed 1/5th of ultimate strength. Find a) the
sag in still air b) the sag with a wind pressure of 1.35 Kg per metre and an ice
Dr Abdulaziz Salem Bahaidara 144
Sag and Tension calculations
coating of 1.25 cm c) the vertical sag in b). [Ans. a)3.38 m b)5.66 m c)5.25 m]
7. Find the erection sag and tension of a line whose particulars are as follows -
nominal span 275 metres; Conductor data: size 30+7/2.79 mm steel cored
aluminium, nominal copper area 110 mm2, weight per metre 0.844 Kg.
Ultimate strength 7,950 Kg, coefficient of linear expansion/C 18.44x10-8,
modulus of elasticity Kg/mm2 9.32x10-3 .The factor of safety based on worst
loading conditions (radial ice thickness 0.95 cm and wind pressure 39 Kg/m2
of projected area at -5.5C) is to be 2.The line is to be erected at 50C in still
air. Weight of ice is 913 Kg/m3.
[Ans. Tension=1,595 Kg ; Sag at erection=5 metres]