400kV Overhead Line Construction

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Tim Inglehearn

Contents

Overhead line components Typical tower types Overhead line construction Reinstatement Inspection and maintenance Substations

Overhead Line Components

Support Conductors Insulators Spacers Dampers Earth wire Jumpers (on tension towers)

Typical Tower Types

Suspension Tower Tension Tower
(angled or deviation towers)

Typical Tower Types

Termination Tower at a Sealing End Compound or Substation

Typical Tower Types

Span Lengths and Tower Heights
Short support: lower height; more supports per kilometre Tall support: greater height; fewer supports Clearance and sag; higher voltages require greater clearance/increased insulation Sum of adjacent spans Typical tower height: around 50m Typical tower span: 360m
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Overhead Line Construction

Access, Working Areas and Ground Preparation
Temporary metal trackways or stone tracks dependent on landowners requirements Localised vegetation clearance and excavation where tower foundations needed, minor soil storage as a result Drainage/dewatering works might be required depending on ground conditions/watertable Every tower requires its own working area protected by temporary Heras fencing
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Overhead Line Construction

Machinery Required
Excavator for foundations and any drainage works Delivery of materials to site Crane to assemble towers Winch and tensioner

Overhead Line Construction

Tower Foundations Excavated or Piled
Foundation type dependent on ground conditions Excavated foundations encased in mass concrete Piled foundations also use concrete Stub legs installed and remainder of tower built up by crane
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Overhead Line Construction

Tower Construction and Cranage
Fabricated from rolled steel angles and delivered to site in numbered parts (similar to flatpack furniture) Most parts are bolted together Sections e.g. crossarms assembled at ground level and raised into position using a crane All steelwork is galvanised for protection (will last approx. 20 years) Installation of insulators and fittings
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Overhead Line Construction

Stringing conductors
Draw wires winched through Conductors are winched into position Conductors pulled through suspension towers Winch and tensioner placed at tension towers Additional fittings (spacers etc.) installed
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Reinstatement
At end of construction, temporary access tracks and working areas are removed (unless otherwise agreed with the landowner) Land returned to original condition

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Inspection and Maintenance

Inspection is carried out every year Towers are repainted approx. every 18 years depending on condition Replacement fittings during routine inspection, if required Reconductoring takes place approx. every 40 years

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Substations
Transform voltages (400/132 kV) Switch connections in and out of the network Manage power flows Connection points Switches, transformers, compensation equipment Permanent land-take and vehicle access required Transformers delivered as abnormal loads - existing roads may need widening etc.
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Any Questions?

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