Power Transmission, Distribution and

Utilization
Lecture# 12: Mechanical design of
Transmission line.
Dr. Hadeed Ahmed Sher
Assistant Professor, EED
KFUEIT, Pakistan

Slide credits
This presentation is based on the textbook
Principles of power system by V K Mehta
All figures are taken from the above
mentioned book.

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Contents
Sag in overhead T/M lines
Calculation of sag
General information about mechanical design

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Sag in transmission lines

Sag is the difference of height between the
electric pole support and the lowest point of
conductor.
It is much visible in transmission networks.
It depends on the distance and elevation between
the two consecutive electric poles.
Sag cannot be ignored because the material used
for conductors needs a safe tension level.

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Sag in transmission lines

A low sag is desirable to have
Low conductor material
Save pole material.

A deep sag is useful to

Avoid the mechanical failure
Permits the use of less strong poles.

In practice an optimization is required

between the two.
Usually tension is maintained as 50% of
breakdown tensile strength of conductor.
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Sag in transmission lines

Shape of fig. i is like a catenary ( a suspended

chain or cable)
Shape of fig. ii is like a parabola.
The tension T acts tangentially and hence is
horizontal as shown in Fig. ii
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Calculation of sag
Let,
l= length of conductor
w=Weight per unit length
T= Tension

P is an arbitrary point chosen at a distance x from

the point O. We assume that this distance is so
small that the length of the curve OP is also equal
to x.
The forces on P are
Weight wx of conductor at distance x/2 from O
Tension T acting at O
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Calculation of sag
Equating the moment of
two forces
T.y=w.x.(x/2)
y= wx2/2T
Since the point O is at equidistance from A
and B. Considering from A , the sag is y.
S=(w(l/2))/2T
S=wl2/8T
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Calculation of sag
Usual case in hilly areas.
OA and OB is not equal.
Therefore, the total length
and height is divided into
two parts x1,x2 and S1 and S2 respectively.
Usual case in hilly areas.
Sag from point A and B is calculated separately
the sag can be calculated.
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Calculation of sag

Let w is the weight of the conductor.

Previously we have derived that y=wx2/2T
Sag S1= wx12/2T
Sag S2= wx22/2T
The total length l=x1+x2
S2-S1=(w/2T)[x22-x12]=(w/2T)(x2+x1)(x2-x1)
= (wl/2T)(x2-x1)
h = (wl/2T)(x2-x1)
x2-x1=2Th/wl
x1=l/2-Th/wl
x2=l/2+Th/wl

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Calculation of sag

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General information about mechanical

design
Tower height : Horizontal spacing is favored over
the height of tower because
The taller towers increase the probability of lightning
hazard.
Span length defines the tower height.
If the span is short more towers are required and if
the span in long few towers are required.
However, for long spans the towers should be tall. This
makes the system expensive.
Usually an optimization is done to select the tower
height and span length.
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General information about mechanical

design
Ground clearance: Local laws, standards, type
of terrain and the voltage level defines the
minimum clearance of the wire from the
ground.
This minimum value should be calculated based
on the maximum elongation of cable due to
temperature rise.
The sag also increase because of snowfall.
Special arrangements should be made to melt the
ice on the cables.
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General information about mechanical

design
Sag and tension : Factor of safety should be
incorporated in the design viz a viz cable tension.
Tension is effected by the temperature, wind and ice
loading.
Tension increases with decrease in sag which means a
cable is more tense in winter.
If the span is short more towers are required and if
the span in long few towers are required.
However, for long spans the towers should be tall. This
makes the system expensive.
Usually an optimization is done to select the tower
height and span length.
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General information about mechanical

design
Conductor spacing: Particularly important in
areas where winds blow at high speeds.
Safe inter conductor spacing ensures that
flashover never happens.
It ensures that under unequal ice loading the
system works.
Light weight cables swing more therefore, more
inter conductor spacing is provided.

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General information about mechanical

design
Stringing charts: Used in design. It is a plot of
sag and tension as a function of temperature.

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