Overhead Transmission Lines

Overhead Lines
Chapter Objectives:
 Main Component of Overhead lines (8.1)
 Conductor Material (8.2)
 Lines Supports (8.3)
 Sag in Overhead Lines (8.15)
 Calculation of Sag (8.16)

Overhead Lines: An overhead line is a structure used in electric power

transmission and distribution to transmit electrical energy along large
distances. It consists of conductors suspended by towers or poles.
 Main Components of Over Head Lines
The successful operation of an overhead line depends
to a great extent upon the mechanical design of the
line. While Constructing an overhead line it should be
ensured that, it can with stand the most probable
weather condition.
 Conductors: Which carry electric power from
sending end station to the receiving end station.
 Supports: It may be poles or towers and keep the
conductors at the suitable level above the ground.
 Insulators: They are attached to the supports and
insulates the conductor from the ground.
 Cross Arms: It provides supports to the insulator.
 Miscellaneous Items: Danger Plates, anti
climbing wire and etc.
 Conductor Material
The conductor material used for transmission and distribution of electric power should
have the following properties.
 High electrical conductivity.
 High tensile strength in order to with stand mechanical stresses.
 Low cost so that it can be used for long distances.
 Low specific gravity so that weight per unit volume is small.
All aforementioned requirements are not found in a single material. A compromise is to
be made between cost and electrical as well as the mechanical properties of material.
 Conductor Material (cont.)
In transmission and distribution the most commonly conductor material are:
 Copper
 Aluminum
 Steel Cored Aluminum
 Cadmium Copper
Stranded Conductors: All conductors used for overhead lines are preferably
stranded. There is generally one central wire. Around central wire there is
successive layer of 6, 12, 18, 24 ……. wires. For n layers, the total number of
individual wire is (3n*(n+1)) + 1)

• 6+1=7
• 6 x 3+1=19
• 9 x 4+1 = 37
 Sag in Overhead Lines
The difference in level between the points of supports
and the lowest point on the conductor is called Sag.

 While erecting an overhead lines, it is very

important that conductors are under safe tension.
 If the conductor are to much stretched between
supports, it causes excessive tension.
 Conductor may break due to excessive tension.
 Conductor are allowed to have a dip/sag, which
permits safe tension in the string.
 Sag in Overhead Lines (Cont.)

The Conductor is not fully stretched but allow to have a dip

 Sag in Overhead Lines (Cont.)

Points to Ponder:
 When the conductor is suspended b/w two supports at the same level, it takes the shape
of catenary.
 If sag is very small as compared to the span, then sag span curve is like a parabola.
 Tension at any point on the conductor acts tangentially. Thus the tension T0 at the
lowest point O acts horizontally.
 The horizontal component of tension is constant throughout the length of wire.
 Tension at the supports is approximately equal to the horizontal tension.
 In order to reduce the conductor material and avoid extra pole height for sufficient
clearance above ground level, the conductor sag should be kept to a minimum.
 Try to achieve minimum sag and low conductor tension*.
 Calculation of Sag
• Supports at equal levels
L = length of span (m)
w = weight per unit length of conductor
(kg/m)
T = tension in the conductor (kg)
Sag (S) = wL2/8T  T =wL2/8S

• Supports at unequal levels

Sag S1 = wx12/2T (i)

Sag S2 = wx22/2T (ii)
x1 = (L/2) – Th/wL (v)
x2 = (L/2) + Th/wL (vi)
S2 - S1 = h & x 1 + x2 = L Note: Weight is in Kgs
 Effect of Wind and Ice Loading

• The weight of ice acts vertically downwards i.e., in the same

direction as the weight of conductor.
• The force due to the wind is assumed to act horizontally i.e., at
right angle to the projected surface of the conductor.
• The total force on the conductor is the vector sum of horizontal
and vertical forces
Density = gm/cm3
Area = cm2
Volume x length = cm3
gm in 1cm or 1m length can be calculated

Wind pressure = 3.9 gm/cm2

Ice coating thickness= 1.27cm
Conductor diameter = 1.96cm
Wind pressure on 1 cm or 1m length of Conductor
Ww = 3.9gm/cm2 x [(d+2t) x 1]
= (3.9 gm/cm2)x [(1.96cm + 2 x 1.27cm) x 100cm]
= 1755gm = 1.755kg
Weight of conductor is given in kg/m3
So if volume of 1m length is know we
can calculate weight in kg
If weight is given as kg/km
We can calculate weight in kg for a
length of 1m
Effect of Wind and Ice Loading
w = weight of conductor per unit
length = conductor material density x
volume per unit length
wi = weight of ice per unit length =
ice density x volume of ice per unit
length

If there is no ice and only wind than Ww= wind pressure x (d x1)
 Effect of Wind and Ice Loading

Tan θ = ww/(w+wi)
Sag = wtL2/8T ----(tilted sag)
Vertical Sag = (titled Sag x Cos θ) = S cos θ
Factor of Safety =
Ultimate Strength / Working Tension Wt =((w+wi)2 +ww2)1/2
 Effect of Wind and Ice Loading
A transmission line following data, calculate the height above ground at which
the conductor should be supported. Ground clearance required is 10 meters.
Weight of conductor = 680kg/km; length of span = 260m;
Ultimate strength = 3100kg ; Safety factor =2.

W = 680/1000 = 0.68 kg
Factor of Safety =
Ultimate Strength / Working Tension  Working T = 3100/2 = 1550kg
Sag = wL2/8T  (0.68 x (260)2)/(8 x 1550) = 3.7m
Conductor should be supported at a height of 10 + 3.7 = 13.7m
 Effect of Wind and Ice Loading
A transmission line has span=150m b/w level supports. The conductor has a cross sectional
area of 2 cm2. the tension in the conductor is 2000kg. If the density of the conductor material
is 9.9gm/cm3 and wind pressure is 1.5kg/m length, calculate the Sag. What is the vertical sag?

L = 150m, T = 2000Kg, ww= 1.5kg, A= 2cm2, Density= 9.9gm/cm3

Sol: weight of 1m length is:
w = d x v = 9.9 gm /cm3 x (2 cm2 x 100cm) = 1980gm = 1.980kg
Weight of 1m length with wind effect = wt= (w2 + ww2)1/2 = 2.48kg
S = (2.48 x 1502)/(8 x 2000) = 3.48m (inclined sag)
For vertical sag :- Tan θ = ww/(w+wi) wi=0  θ= 37.13ο
So Vertical Sag = S cos θ = 3.48 x cos 37.13ο= 2.77m
1m = 100cm
 Effect of Wind and Ice Loading
A transmission line weighs 1.925kg per m length, cross sectional area = 2.2cm2 and Ultimate
strength of 8000kg/cm2. The supports are 600m apart with 15m difference in levels. Calculate
the sag from taller support which must be allowed so that the factor of safety is 5. Assume ice
load is 1kg per m run and no wind pressure.
w = 1.25kg; A = 2.2 cm2;
Ultimate strength = 8000kg/cm2
= 8000 x 2.2 = 17600kg
L = 600m, H = 15m; wi= 1kg
w = 1.25kg; A = 2.2 cm2; Ultimate strength = 8000kg/cm2 = 8000 x 2.2 = 17600kg
L = 600m, H = 15m; wi= 1kg
Factor of Safety = Ultimate Strength / Working Tension

Sol:- Sag S2 = wtx22/2T ; T = 17600/5 = 3520 Kg

Total weight of 1m length of conductor = wt= w + wi= 1.925 +1 =2.925kg
From Figure x1 + x2 = 600m (1)

we know  x2-x1 = 2Th/wtL

=(2x15x3520)/(2.925 x 600)=60m(2)

x1 = 270m ; x2 = 330m

Sag S2 = wtx22/2T= 45.24m

 Assignment - 3
• Example problem 8.20. A transmission line has a span of 275 m between
level supports. The conductor has an effective diameter of 1·96 cm and
weighs 0·865 kg/m. Its ultimate strength is 8060 kg. If the conductor has
ice coating of radial thickness 1·27 cm and is subjected to a wind pressure
of 3·9 gm/cm2 of projected area, calculate sag for a safety factor of 2.
Weight of 1 c.c. of ice is 0·91 gm.
• Example problem 8.26. A transmission line over a hillside where the
gradient is 1 : 20, is supported by two 22 m high towers with a distance of
300 m between them. The lowest conductor is fixed 2 m below the top of
each tower. Find the clearance of the conductor from the ground. Given
that conductor weighs 1 kg/m and the allowable tension is 1500 kg.
Additional reading material
 Conductor Material (cont.)
 Copper
 Copper is an ideal material for overhead lines.

 Higher electrical conductivity.

 Greater tensile strength.

 Conductor Material (cont.)
 Aluminum
 It is cheap and light.
 Smaller conductivity.
 Lower tensile strength.
 Aluminum has weight approximately one half of the weight of equivalent
copper conductor.
 Supporting structure for aluminum need not to be made strong.
 Aluminum is liable to greater swings, hence large cross arms are required.
 Sag is greater in aluminum conductor.
 Conductor Material (cont.)
Steel cored aluminum conductor consists of central core of galvanized steel wires,
surrounded by number of Al strands.
Due to low tensile strength aluminum conductor produces greater sag. This prohibit their
use for larger span and makes them unsuitable for long distance transmission. Tensile
strength is increased, by reinforcing the aluminum conductor with a galvanized steel wire.
 Conductor Material (cont.)

 Advantages of Steel Cored Aluminum :

 Reinforcement with steel increases the tensile strength but at the same time keeps
the composite conductor light .
 Steel cored aluminum conductor will produced smaller sag and hence longer span
can be used.
 Due to smaller sag with steel cored aluminum conductor, towers of smaller heights
can be used.
 Conductor Material (cont.)
 Galvanized Steel (Zinc coated):
 High tensile strength.
 Used for extremely long spans
 Used for short line section, which is exposed to abnormally high stress due to
climatic condition.
 Cheap.
 Poor conductivity.
 High resistance*.
 Galvanization is carried out to prevent rusting.
 Conductor Material (cont.)

 Cadmium Copper: The conductor material now being employed in certain

cases is copper alloyed with Cadmium.
 Addition of 1% or 2% cadmium to copper increases the tensile strength by 50%
below that of pure copper.
 Useful for exceptionally long span.
 Due to high cost of Cadmium, such a conductor are economical only for the lines
of smaller cross section.