Electrical Transmission Tower Types and Design
The main supporting unit of overhead transmission line is transmission tower. Transmission
towers have to carry the heavy transmission conductor at a sufficient safe height from ground. In
addition to that all towers have to sustain all kinds of natural calamities. So transmission tower
designing is an important engineering job where all three basic engineering concepts, civil,
mechanical and electrical engineering concepts are equally applicable.
A power transmission tower consists of the following parts,
1. Peak of transmission tower
2. Cross arm of transmission tower
3. Boom of transmission tower
4. Cage of transmission tower
5. Transmission Tower Body
6. Leg of transmission tower
7. Stub/Anchor Bolt and Base plate assembly of transmission tower.
The main parts among these are shown in the pictures.
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 bottom cross arms up to the ground level is called transmission tower body.
This portion of the tower plays a vital role for maintaining required ground clearance of the
bottom conductor of the transmission line.
Design of Transmission Tower
During design of transmission tower the following points to be considered in mind,
The minimum ground clearance of the lowest conductor point above the ground level.
The length of the insulator string.
The minimum clearance to be maintained between conductors and between conductor and
tower.
The location of ground wire with respect to outer most conductors.
The mid span clearance required from considerations of the dynamic behavior of conductor
and lightening protection of the line.
To determine the actual transmission tower height by considering the above points, we have
divided the total height of tower in four parts,
1. Minimum permissible ground clearance (H1)
2. Maximum sag of the conductor (H2)
3. Vertical spacing between top and bottom conductors (H3)
4. Vertical clearance between ground wire and top conductor (H4).
Types of Transmission Tower
According to different considerations, there are different types of transmission towers. The
transmission line goes as per available corridors. Due to unavailability of shortest distance
straight corridor transmission line has to deviate from its straight way when obstruction comes.
In total length of a long transmission line there may be several deviation points. 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.
As per the force applied by the conductor on the cross arms, the transmission towers can be
categorized in another way-
1. Tangent suspension tower and it is generally A - type tower.
2. Angle tower or tension tower or sometime it is called section tower. All B, C and D types of
transmission towers come under this category.
Apart from the above customized type of tower, the tower is designed to meet special usages
listed below,
These are called special type tower
1. River crossing tower
2. Railway/ Highway crossing tower
3. Transposition tower
Based on numbers of circuits carried by a transmission tower, it can be classisfied as-
1. Single circuit tower
2. Double circuit tower
3. Multi circuit tower.
Methods of Transmission Tower Erection
There are four main methods of erection of steel transmission towers which a re described
below:
1. Build-up method or Piecemeal method.
2. Section method.
3. Ground assembly method.
4. Helicopter method.
Build Up Method of Transmission Tower Erection
This method is most commonly used in India for the erection of 6.6 kV, 132 kV, 220 kV and 400
kV transmission line towers due to the following advantages :
1. Tower materials can be supplied to site in knocked down condition which facilitates easier
and cheaper transportation.
2. It does not require any heavy machinery such as cranes etc.
3. Tower erection activity can be done in any kind of terrain and mostly throughout the year.
4. Availability of workmen at cheap rates.
This method consists of erecting the towers, member by member. The tower members are kept
on ground serially according to erection sequence to avoid search or time loss. The erection
progresses from the bottom upwards. The four main corner leg members of the first section of
the tower are first erected and gaurd off. Sometimes more than one contiguous leg sections of
each corner leg are bolted together at the ground and erected.
The cross braces of the first section which are already assembled on the ground are raised one by
one as a unit and bolted to the already erected corner leg angles. First section of the lower thus
built and horizontal struts (belt members) if any, are bolted in position. For assembling the
second section of the tower, two gin poles are placed one each on the top of diagonally opposite
corner legs. These two poles are used, for raising parts of second section. The leg members and
braces of this section are then hoisted and assembled. The gin poles are then shifted to the corner
leg members on the top of second section to raise the parts of third section of the lower in
position for assembly. Gin poles are thus moved up as the tower grows. This process is continued
till the complete tower is erected. Cross-arm members are assembled on the ground and raised up
and fixed to the main body of the tower. For heavier towers, a small boom is rigged on one of the
tower legs for hoisting purposes. The members/sections are hoisted either manually or by winch
machines operated from the ground. For smaller base towers/vertical configuration towers one
gin pole is used instead of two gin poles. In order to maintain speed and efficiency, a small
assembly party goes ahead of the main erection gang and its purpose is to sort out the tower
members, keeping the members in correct position on the ground and assembling the panels on
the ground which can be erected as a complete unit.
Section Method of Transmission Tower Erection
In the section method, major sections of the tower are assembled on the ground and the same are
erected as units. Either a mobile crane or a gin pole is used. The gin pole used is approximately
10 m long and is held in place by means of guys by the side of the tower to be erected. The two
opposite sides of the tower section of the tower are assembled on the ground. Each assembled
side is then lifted clear of the ground with the gin or derrick and is lowered into position on bolts
to stubs or anchor bolts. One side is h held in place with props while the other side is being
erected. The two opposite sides are then laced together with cross members and diagonals; and
the assembled section is lined up, made square to the line. After completing the first section, gin
pole is set on the top of the first section. The gin rests on a strut of the tower immediately below
the leg joint. The gin pole then has to be properly guyed into position.
The first face of the second section is raised. To raise the second face of this section it is
necessary to slide the foot of the gin on the strut of the opposite face of the tower. After the two
opposite faces are raised, the lacing on the other two sides is bolted up. The last lift raises the top
of the towers. After the tower top is placed and all side lacing have been bolted up all the guyed
are thrown off except one which is used to lower the gin pole. Sometimes whole one face of the
tower is assembled on the ground, hoisted and supported in position. The opposite face is
similarly assembled and hoisted and then the bracing angles connecting these two faces are
fitted.
Ground Assembly Method of Tower Erection
This method consists of assembling the tower on ground, and erecting it as a complete unit. The
complete tower is assembled in a horizontal position on even ground. The tower is assembled
along the direction of the line to allow the cross arms to be fitted. One slopping ground, however,
elaborate packing of the low side is essential before assembly commences. After the assembly is
complete the tower is picked up from the ground with the help of a crane and carried to its
location, and set on its foundation. For this method of erection, a level piece of ground close to
footing is chosen from the tower assembly. This method is not useful when the towers are large
and heavy and the foundations are located in arable land where building and erecting complete
towers would cause damage to large areas or in hilly terrain where the assembly of complete
tower on sloping ground may not be possible and it may be difficult to get crane into position to
raise the complete tower. In India, this method is not generally adopted because of prohibitive
cost of mobile crane, and non-availability of good approach roads to tower locations.
Helicopter Method of Transmission Tower Erection
In the helicopter method, the transmission tower is erected in section. For example bottom
section is first lifted on to the stubs and then the upper section is lifted and bolted to the first
section and the process is repeated till the complete tower is erected. Sometimes a completely
assembled tower is raised with the help of helicopter. Helicopters are also used for lifting
completely assembled towers with guys from the marshaling yards where these are fabricated
and then transported one by one to line locations. Helicopter hovers over the line location while
the tower is securely guyed. The ground crew men connect and tighten the tower guys. As soon
as the guy wires are adequately tensioned the helicopter disengages and files to the marshaling
yard. This method is adopted where approach is v very difficult or to speed up the construction
of the transmission line.
Tightening of Nuts and Punching of Threads and Tack Welding of Nuts of Transmission
Towers
All nuts shall be tightened properly using correct sized spanners. Before tightening it is ensured
that filter washers and plates are placed in relevant gaps between members, bolt of proper size
and length are inserted and one spring washer is inserted under e each nut. In case of step bolts,
spring washer shall be placed under the outer nut. The tightening shall be carried on
progressively from the top downwards, care being taken that all bolts at every level are tightened
simultaneously. It may be better to employ four persons, each covering one leg and the face to
his right. The threads of bolts shall be projected outside the nuts by one to two threads and shall
be punched at three positions on the top inner periphery of the nut and bolt to ensure that the nuts
are not loosened in course of time. If during tightening a nut is found to be slipping or running
over the bolt threads, the bolt together with the nut shall be changed outright.
