Transmission Line Categorized by

Voltage Class
- 132 kV / 220 kV / 400 kV / 500 kV / 800 kV

Number of Circuits
- Single / Double / Multi Circuit

AC or DC
- EHV AC / UHV AC / HVDC
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A
TRANSMISSION LINE

Conductor
Towers (and Foundations)
Earthwire
Insulators ] Insulator
Hardware Fittings ] strings
Accessories
765 kV S/C Transmission Line
- Suspension, Tension Towers
500 kV HVDC Transmission Line
400 kV D/C Transmission Line
220 kV D/C Transmission Line
BASIC DESIGN ASPECTS
Electrical Design Aspects
- Power Flow / Line Loadability
- Electrical Clearances (Operational, safety)
- Corona & Interference
- Insulation Requirements

Mechanical Design Aspects

- External (Dynamic) loads due to wind, ice etc.
- Self Weight of components
- Temperature conditions, Climatological factors
- Vibrations
LOADABILITY OF TRANSMISSION LINES

Stability limit: Determined by system configuration.

Thermal limit: Determined by conductor size & its
permissible temp.
Indian practices for max. conductor temp for ACSR:
- 65deg C in 1970s .
- Increased to 75 degrees in 1980s.
Line Loadability generally restricted by stability limit.
Thermal limits are not fully exploited for longer lines.
FACTs, Series compensation etc.,improve stability limits &
enable loading close to thermal limits.
Maxm. Permissible temperature limits increased to 85 deg C
in general by POWERGRID and upto 95 deg C on case to
case basis
SELECTION OF CLEARANCES

Tower Clearance (Strike Distance) for different swing

angles
Phase to Phase Spacing (Vertical, Horizontal)
Ground Clearance
Mid Span Clearance and Shielding Angle
 TYPICAL 400KV S/C TOWER: CLEARANCES

MID SPAN CLEARANCE = 9.0 M (MIN)

A B
SAG=12.87 M
PHASE TO PHASE
CLEARANCE =
MAXM.

8.0M (MIN)

A= CLEARNCE AT 0 DEG
SWING (FOR
CLEARANCE =

SWITCHING / LIGHTNIG
OVERVOLTAGE)
GROUND

8.84 M

B= CLEARNCE AT MAX
SWING (FOR POWER
FREQ.OVERVOLTAGE)
SELECTION OF CLEARANCES: TYPES OF
OVER VOLTAGES
Power Frequency Over voltage
- Line to ground faults (Typically 1.4p.u to
1.7p.u)

Switching Over voltages

-Energizing or High speed Reclosings

Lightning Over voltages

SELECTION OF CLEARANCES

Strike distance (Live metal clearances): Clearance

requirements are to be based on two assumptions;
- In still air or under very moderate winds, the
clearance should be wide enough to withstand the
lightning or switching impulse voltages.
- Under high wind the clearance may be related to
the power frequency voltage.

Swing from vertical of Minimum Clearance in

sus. Insulator (degree) mm
400 kV Nil 3050
22 3050
44 1860
Max Swing 1200
SELECTION OF CLEARANCES
(CONTD.)

Phase to Phase Clearances: Dictated by live metal

clearances for standard tower configurations adopted
in India

Ground Clearances: Min clearance Based on I.E rules

and interference criteria (Electric field, surface
gradient, AN, RIV)

Mid Span Clearance: Between earthwire and

conductor: Based on voltage level, span etc.
BUNDLE CONDUCTOR SELECTION AND
OPTIMISATION
Size, Type and Configuration of Conductor influences

- Tower and its geometry

- Foundations
- Optimum spans
- Rating and configuration of Insulator string
- Insulator swings
- Ground clearance
- Line interferences like electric field at ground,
corona, radio & TV interference, audible noise etc
 CAPITAL COST OF 400kV D/C TRANS.
LINE VS. DESIGN SPAN (Indicative)
80
Capital Cost (Rs/km)

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
250 300 350 400 450 500 550
Design Span (M)
CONDUCTOR TYPES

ACSR
AAAC
ACAR
AAC
New Technology Conductors
- Trapezoidal
- ACSS
- INVAR
- Self Damping
- Vibration Resistant
 DESIGN OF TOWERS

Transmission Line Towers are designed as per

IS:802:1995 considering wind zones as per
IS:875:1987

SALIENT DESIGN CONDITIONS CLIMATIC LOADS

RELIABILITY REQUIREMENTS UNDER
NORMAL CONDITION

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FAILURE CONTAINMENT

LOADS UNDER BROKEN
WIRE CONDITION

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS LOADS DURING CONSTRUC-

TION AND MAINTENANCE
LOAD.
DESIGN OF TOWERS

The reliability of transmission line towers

depends on the appropriate selection of
design criteria/parameters.
Climatic conditions play an important role
in determining the reliability of
transmission line tower.
A significant number of transmission line
failures can be the result of wind speed
exceeding design limits due to deficiencies
in selection of design parameters/criteria.
 TOWER DESIGN
1. TOWER TYPES
2. CLASSIFICATION OF TOWER
3. TOWER CONFIGURATION
4. LOADING OF TOWER
5. ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
Type of Towers
a). Tangent towers with suspension string
(0 to 2 )
b). Small angle towers with tension
strings (2 to 15 )
c). Medium angle towers with tension
strings (15 to 30 )
d). Large angle (30 to 60 ) and dead
end towers with tension strings.
CLASSIFICATION OF TOWERS
ACCORDING TO CONSTRUCTIONAL FEATURE:
- Self Supporting Towers.
- Conventional Guyed Towers.
- Chainette Guyed Towers.
ACCORDING TO NO OF CIRCUITS THEY CARRY:
- Single Circuit Towers.
- Double Circuit Towers.
- Multi Circuit Towers.
ACCORDING TO TOWER SHAPES:
- Horizontal Towers.
- Vertical towers.
TOWER CONFIGURATION
A TOWER IS CONSTITUTED OF FOLLOWING:

- PEAK
- CROSS ARM
- BOOM
- CAGE
- TOWER BODY
- BODY EXTENSION
- LEG EXTENSION
- STUB/ANCHOR BOLT & BASE PLATE
ASSEMBLY.
Wind Zones and Basic Wind
Speeds

Wind Basic Wind Speed

Zone (Vb) m/sec

1 33
2 39
3 44
4 47
5 50
6 55
Reliability Levels

RELIABILITY RETURN SUGGESTED FOR

LEVEL PERIOD

1 50 FOR EHV TRANS LINES UPTO 400KV

CLASS

2 150 FOR TRANS LINES ABOVE 400KV CLASS

AND TRIPLE & QUAD CIRCUIT TRANS LINE
UPTO 400KV.

3 500 FOR TALL RIVER CROSSING TOWERS AND

SPECIAL TOWERS.
 Loads Due To Conductor &
Earthwire
i). Transverse Load
a). Due to Conductor & Earthwire.
Pd . Cdc. L . Gc. d
b). Due to insulator string. Where,
Cdi. Pd. Ai . Gi Pd = Design wind pressure

c). Deviation loads Cdc, Cdi = Drag co-officients

2T. Sin(D/2) L = Wind span

Gc, Gi = Gust response factors

ii). Vertical Load d = Dia of cable

T = Design tension

iii). Longitudinal Load D = Deviation angle

 Tower Loads
i). Transverse Load
Pd. Cdt. Ae. Gt
ii). Self Weight

Load Combinations
Reliability Conditions
Security Conditions
Safety Conditions
 FLOW CHART FOR TOWER DESIGN
NAME, VOLTAGE, CLASS, GEOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS DESIGN PHILOSPHY (FROM
WIND ZONE & BASIC DESIGN DETAILS OF ROUTE & BILL IS / IEC/ STANDARDISATION
PARAMETERS ( FROM OF QUANTITIES (FROM SITE) COMMITTEE REPORTS)
APPROVED FR OR SEF
GROUP)

INPUTS

REVIEW

CONFOIGURATION & TYPE OF TOWERS

REVIEW
TOWER LOADINGS & CONDITIONS
REVIEW DESIGN
STURUCTIRAL ANALYSIS STAGES
-BY COMPUTER
-BY MANUAL VERIFICATION

REVIEW
FINAL DESIGN (THEORITICAL)

STRUCTURAL DRAWINGS

PROTO MANUFACTURE/ FABRICATION TESTING &

MODIFY DESIGN FINALISATION

SUCCESSFUL
FAILED
PROTO TESTING (FULL SCALE) DESIGN FINALISED
 FLOW CHART FOR FOUNDATION DESIGN
START

MAXIMUM/ CRITICAL TOWER LOADINGS FROM TOWER DESIGN/ PREVIOUS SIMILAR FDN
DESIGN
, TOWER DIMENSIONS & SLOPE FROM TOWER DESIGN

REVIEW

FOUNDATION LOADINGS
INPUTS

TYPE OF FDN FROM BOQ (SITE INPUT), SOIL DESIGN PHILOSPHY (FROM IS/ CBIP /
PROPERTIES FROM SPECN/ SOIL INV. (STANDARDISATION COMMITTEE
REPORT & CONCRETE PROPERTIES FROM REPORTS)
SPECN REVIEW

FOUNDATION DESIGN BY COMPUTER /MANUALLY

REVIEW REVIEW

YES LARGE VARIATION WRT YES

PREVIOUS SIMILAR DESIGN/ NIT
ESTIMATE ?

FOUNDATION DRAWINGS FINALISATION

REVIEW

DESIGN FINALISED END

 INSULATION CO-ORDINATION

Insulation co-ordination aims at selecting proper insulation

level for various voltage stresses in a rational manner. The
objective is to assure that insulation has enough strength to
meet the stress on it.

How many
Flashovers? Strength
Probability Density

Insulation Flashover
Stress
Over Voltage

Probability
Voltage-kV
CAP & PIN DISC INSULATOR
DISC INSULATOR
PORCELAIN LONG ROD INSULATOR STRING
PORCELAIN LONG ROD INSULATOR STRING
INSULATOR AND INSULATOR STRING DESIGN
Electrical design considerations
Insulation design depends on
- Pollution withstand Capability
Min. nominal creepage dist. = Min nominal specific
creepage dist X highest system voltage phase to phase
of the system
Creepage Distance of insulator string required for different pollution
levels
Pollution Equiv. Salt Deposit Density Minm nominal specific
Level (mg/cm2) creepage dist (mm/Kv)
Light 0.03 to 0.06 16

Medium 0.10 to 0.20 20

Heavy 0.20 to 0.60 25

Very Heavy >0.60 31

- Switching/ Lightning Over voltage

 INSULATOR AND INSULATOR STRING DESIGN
Mechanical design considerations
a) Everyday Loading Condition
Everyday load 20 to 25% of insulator rated strength.

b) Ultimate Loading Condition

Ultimate load on insulator to not exceed 70% of its
rating. This limit corresponds roughly to pseudo-elastic
limit.

c) In addition, capacity of tension insulator strings at least

10 % more than rated tensile strength of the line
conductors.
 Earthwire

Function

To protect conductor against lightning flashovers

To provide a path for fault current
 LIGHTNING FLASHOVERS

Direct Flashover

Occurs due to shielding failure with lightning on the conductor ,

flashover taking place across the insulator string from
conductor to ground.

Back Flashover

Occurs due to high tower footing resistance with a high voltage

at the grounded tower cross arm compared to conductor,
resulting in a flashover across the insulator string from ground
to conductor.
 HARDWARE FITTINGS

For attachment of insulator string to tower

D-Shackles,Ball clevis, Yoke plate, Chain link
For attachment of insulator string to the conductor
Suspension & tension assembly
Fittings like D-Shackles, Socket clevis, chain link
For protection of insulator string from power follow
current
Arcing Horn
For making electric field uniform and to limit the electric
field at the live end
Corona Control Ring/ Grading Ring
For fine adjustment of conductor sag
Sag Adjustment Plate, Turn Buckle
 HARDWARE FITTINGS

Arcing Horn
The air gap is maintained for satisfactory performance under
actual field conditions.
For power follow current

Yoke Plate
To withstand mechanical loads- Thickness & shear edge
maintained
To maintain sub conductor spacing

Corona Control Ring/ Grading Ring

To cover atleast one live end insulator disc
To cover hardware fittings susceptible for Corona/RIV
 HARDWARE FITTINGS

Suspension Assembly
Shaped to prevent hammering between clamp & conductor
To minimize static & dynamic stress in conductor under various
loading conditions
Minimum level of corona/RIV performance
For slipping of conductor under prescribed unbalanced conditions
between adjacent conductor spans

Tension Assembly
To withstand loads of atleast 95% of conductor UTS
To have conductivity more than that of conductor

Sag Adjustment Plate/ Turn Buckle

To adjust sag upto 150mm in steps of 6mm
 ACCESSORIES FOR CONDUCTOR &
EARTHWIRE
For joining two lengths of conductor/earthwire
Mid Span Compression joint for Conductor/ earthwire

For repairing damaged conductor

Repair Sleeve

For damping out Aeolian vibrations

Vibration Damper for conductor & earthwire

For maintaining sub conductor spacing along the span

Spacers

For damping out Aeolian vibrations, sub span oscillation and to

maintain sub conductor spacing
Spacer Damper
 ACCESSORIES FOR CONDUCTOR &
EARTHWIRE
Mid Span Compression joint for Conductor/ earthwire &
Repair Sleeve

To withstand at least loads equivalent to 95% of the

conductor UTS
To have conductivity better than equivalent length of
conductor (99.5% Aluminium)
 TYPE OF WIND INDUCED VIBRATIONS

AEOLIAN VIBRATIONS
High frequency, low amplitude vibrations induced by
low, steady & laminar wind

WAKE INDUCED VIBRATIONS

Low frequency, medium amplitude vibrations induced
by high velocity steady winds on bundle conductors

GALLOPING
Very low frequency, high amplitude vibrations induced
by high velocity steady winds on conductors with
asymmetrical ice deposit
 FACTORS INFLUENCING VIBRATION
PERFORMANCE

TYPE , STRANDING & DIA OF CONDUCTOR,

EARTHWIRE

CONDUCTOR/EARTHWIRE TENSION

SUB-CONDUCTOR SPACING IN BUNDLE

CONDUCTORS

BUNDLE CONFIGURATION
 VIBRATION CONTROL DEVICES
VIBRATION DAMPERS
Commonly used for vibration control of single
conductor systems as well as bundle conductors
alongwith spacers

SPACER DAMPERS
Used for vibration control of bundle conductors
(instead of combination of vibration dampers &
spacers)

DETUNING PENDULUMS
Used for control of galloping
VIBRATION DAMPER
SPACER-DAMPER