Design of Transmission Lines in India : a Review of Multiple

Swing Angle-clearance Combinations

Dr V N Rikh, Fellow
Proper live metal clearances have to be maintained under various swing angles of the suspension insulator
strings/jumper loops on a tower, in order to ensure a reliable performance of the transmission lines. The required
swing angle-clearance combinations for lines of different voltages are determined on the basis of a pre-specified
criterion of flashover probability. These combinations decide horizontal and vertical spacing of the power
conductors and thereby determine the tower configuration, weight and cost. Presently three to five swing angleclearance combinations are commonly specified for Indian transmission lines of each voltage. On the other hand,
in many countries generally only two or three combinations are specified. Based on detailed analysis this paper
attempts to prove that if even two judiciously selected swing angle-clearance combinations are used, they would
adequately determine optimum tower configuration and the remaining extra combinations presently specified could
be dispensed with, without jeopardizing the reliability of the lines.
Keywords : Transmission line; Line insulation; Swing angle; Line metal clearances

NOTATIONS

INTRODUCTION

C0 , C15 , C10, etc : location of critical live metal part of the

phase power conductor with swing angles
of 0, 15, 30 etc
L0 , L15 , L30, etc : live-metal clearances specified for swing
angles of 0, 15, 30 etc, cm
c
: minimum clearance between the live metal
parts phase power conductor and the nearest
(carthed) part of the tower structure or livemetal clearance, cm
h
: half width of the tower hamper at the critical
point (where the clearance arc from the
swung, live metal parts touches it), cm
l
: swinging length of the suspension string
duly adjusted for any longitudinal (to the
string axis) projection of the guard ring/
bandle spacer, cm
lo
: length of hanger of the suspension
string, cm
r
: transverse (to the string axis) projection, if
any, of the critical point of the guard
ring/bundle spacer, cm
: angle at which the uppermost (nearest to the

conductor) structural member of the underneath cross-arm is inclined to horizontal

plane, degrees
: angle at which the nearest structural mem
ber of the tower hamper is inclined to the
vertical plane, degrees
: angle of swing of the suspension insulator

string or of the jumper loop of tension insulator string, degrees

: tan 1 [r

(r2 + l2)]

One of the most important criteria for ensuring a reliable performance of transmission lines under all weather conditions, is to
ensure that proper live metal (conductor to nearest earthed parts
of the tower structure) clearances are maintained under various
angles (depending on wind speeds) of swing of the suspension
insulator strings for a suspension tower (or the jumper loops for
a tension tower). The required live-metal clearances for different
angles of swing of suspension insulator strings (or jumper loops
for tension towers) are determined on the basis of a pre-specified
criterion of flashover probability. When the suspension strings,
supporting the power conductors, hang vertically under nowind conditions, the live-metal clearance is maintained at a value
that ensures a probability of flashover across the air-gap within a
pre-specified value of, say, less than 2%. As the string/conductor
attachment point, swings toward the tower body under the influence of the wind, the critical value of flashover voltage gradient
across the gap correspondingly increases due to faster de-ionization of the air. This results in a reduced requirement of live-metal
clearances under higher wind velocities (and consequently bigger
swing angles of the string/conductor attachment points) to ensure
the same level of pre-specified flashover probability across the
air- gap.

Dr V N Rikh resides at 188-A, Saket, Meerut 250 003.

This paper was received on September 26, 2003. Written discussion on this paper
will be received until July 31, 2004.

The 66kV, 132kV and 220kV transmission lines in India (single

circuit as well as double circuit) commonly use self-supporting
barrel type towers. However, while 400kV double circuit Indian

Vol 85, May 2004

The swing angle-clearance combinations presently adopted for

Indian transmission lines are based on the aforesaid logic.
Usually three to five swing angle-clearance combinations are
specified for transmission lines of each voltage on the basis of
detailed analysis of prevailing weather conditions and flashover
characteristics of air-gaps. The values of these swing angleclearance combinations commonly specified in India1, are shown
in Table 1.
These combinations have yielded a reasonably satisfactory performance of the transmission lines in this country over several
decades.

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On the other hand, with a given value of swing angle-clearance

combination;

Table 1 Swing angle-clearance combinations adopted for Indian

transmission lines
Swing Angle, degree

Live Metal Clearance, mm

66 kV
Lines

132 kV
Lines

220 kV
Lines

400 kV
Lines
3050

915

1530

2130

15

915

1530

2130

22

3050

30

760

1370

1830

44

1860

45

610

1220

1675

lines also use barrel type towers, the 400kV single circuit lines
commonly use corset (or Wasp-waisted) type of towers.
A study of swing angle-clearance combinations adopted in other
countries reveals that, in many countries, generally only two and
sometimes a maximum of three, combinations are specified for
designing tower configuration. This paper therefore attempts to
analyze the impact of each of the combinations (shown in Table
1) on the tower configuration for Indian transmission lines, and
determine whether all these combinations play a critical role in
determining tower configuration/s or some of these (combinations) could be dispensed with, without jeopardizing reliability of
the transmission lines.
PARAMETERS AFFECTING TOWER
CONFIGURATION
The swing angle-clearance combinations, along with the following two important design parameters help determine the horizontal, as well as the vertical, spacing of the power conductors and,
in turn, help decide the configuration, dimensions and therefore
the weight/cost of the towers;

l
l

An increase in the outward (towards the conductor, eg, in

the Barrel type towers)) slope of the tower hamper,
increases the horizontal spacing while an increased inward
(away from the conductor, eg, in a corset type tower) slope
of the tower hamper reduces the horizontal spacing of the
conductors, and
An increase in the upward (towards the conductor) slope
of the uppermost member of underneath cross-arm results in
an increased vertical spacing of the conductors. As per
prevalent design practice, a downward slope of the
underneath cross-arm member is not adopted.

The effect of the slopes (towards the phase conductor/s) of the

tower hamper as well as that of the nearest member of underneath
cross arm, on the horizontal and vertical conductor spacings, is
illustrated for a Barrel type tower in Figure 1.
In case of a corset type tower, the slope of Tower Hamper is away
from the (outer) phase conductor/s and its effect on the horizontal
conductor can be visualized from a typical Figure 2. As the corset
type tower is used for single circuit lines (usually of 400kV), there
is no vertical formation of the conductors.
IMPACT OF SWING ANGLE-CLEARANCE
COMBINATIONS ON THE TOWER CONFIGURATION
As explained above, for any given values of and , each
swing angle-clearance combination will require certain minimum values of horizontal and vertical spacings of the power

The slope and (to the vertical plane) of the outermost

(nearest to the conductor) structural member of the tower
hamper, and
The slope (to the horizontal plane) of the uppermost
(nearest to the conductor) structural member of the
underneath cross-arm.

The values of and are determined in the process of economic

optimization of tower configuration.
For any given values of ,

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An increase in (inward) swing-angle, , of the insulator string

(or, jumper loop, for a tension tower) requires a
corresponding increase in the horizontal spacing of the phase
conductor/s maintain the specified live-metal clearance,
Similarly, any increase in the live-metal clearance, c, requires
a corresponding increase in the horizontal spacing.
The requirement of vertical spacing of the phase conductors
, however, decreases with any increase in (inward)
swing-angle, , of the insulator string (or, jumper loop, for a
tension tower), though an increase in the live-metal clearance
c, still requires a corresponding increase in the vertical
spacing.

Figure 1 Effect of tower hamper and X-arm slopes on conductor spacings

for barrel type tower

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l2 + r2) cos ( + sin ( tan +

Cv = (
c sec + l0 (2)

Using these expressions, the requirement of horizontal spacings

for each specified swing angle (with corresponding live metal
clearance) for the aforesaid range of , are shown in the following figures :

l
l
l
l
l

Figure 2 Effect of slope of tower hamper on conductor spacing, Ch , for

corset type tower

conductors. If the horizontal and vertical spacing requirements

for each of the three (or four) swing angle-clearance combinations
specified for the lines of a particular voltage (eg, 66kV) as above
are determined, it can be seen that only one of the combinations
(generally, with higher swing angle) will be critical for the requirement of (maximum) horizontal spacing while some other
combination (generally with lower seing angle) will be critical for
the vertical spacing, for the given values of and . Thus, for
the selected values of and , only two combinations would
normally be critical for fixing tower configuration while the
remaining combinations, will require spacings which are less than
the critical values and thus play no part in deciding the tower
configuration.
The commonly used, practical value of is between 0 and +15
while the value of may range between +5 and +20 for Barrel
type towers and between 0 and 20 for corset type tower. If the
critically of all the swing angle-clearance combinations (specified
for a particular line voltage) could be examined over the aforesaid
practical range of and , it will reveal whether all the specified
combination do play a determining role for tower configuration
or one/two of them, are not critical and could be dispensed with.

Figure 3(a) - 66kV lines (barrel type towers)

Figure 3(b) - 132kV lines (barrel type towers)
Figure 3(c) - 220 kV lines (barrel type towers)
Figure 3(d) - 400 kV double circuit lines with barrel type
towers
Figure 3(e) - 400 kV single circuit lines with corset type
towers

Figure 3(a) Variation of horizontal spacing, Ch , with the slope of Tower

Hamper (66 kV lines)

Figure 3(b) Variation of horizontal spacing, Ch , with the slope of Tower

Hamper (132 kV lines)

Considering a typical case of suspension tower, it can be shown

that the horizontal and vertical spacings of the phase conductors
are given by :

l2 + r2) sin ( ) + cos ( ) tan +

Ch = 2 [(
l0 tan + c sec + h] (1)
Vol 85, May 2004

Figure 3(c) Variation of horizontal spacing, Ch , with the slope of Tower

Hamper (220 kV lines)

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Figure 3(d) Variation of horizontal spacing, Ch , with the slope of Tower

Hamper (400 kv line barrel type tower)

Figure 4(b) Variation of vertical spacing, Cv, with the slope of

underneath X-arm for (132 kV lines)

Figure 3(e) Variation of horizontal spacing, Ch , with the slope of Tower

Hamper (400 kV line corset type tower)

Similarly, the requirement of vertical spacings for each specified

swing angle of , are shown in the following Figures (there being
no vertical spacing for a corset type tower):

l
l
l
l

Figure 4(c) Variation of vertical spacing, Cv, with the slope of

underneath X-arm for (220 kV lines)

Figure 4(a) - 66kV lines (barrel type towers)

Figure 4(b) - 132 kV lines (barrel type towers)
Figure 4(c) - 220 kV lines (barrel type towers)
Figure 4(d) - 400 kV double circuit lines with barrel type
towers

The aforesaid analysis is based on the values of relevant dimensions as shown in Table 2.
Figure 4(d) Variation of vertical spacing, Cv, with the slope of
underneath X-arm for (400 kV lines barrel type tower)
Table 2 Typical values of relevant dimensions
Item

Figure 4(a) Variation of vertical spacing, Cv, with the slope of

underneath X-arm for (66 kV lines)

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Typical Value for Line Voltage

66 kV

132 kV

220 kV

400 kV

Swing length of suspension

string, l, cm

97

163

234

385

Transverse projection of guard

ring, r, cm

10

12

15

20

Hanger length of suspension

string, l0, cm

10

35

Critical half-width of tower

hamper, h, cm

50

75

85

100

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CRITICALITY OF SPECIFIED SWING

ANGLE-CLEARANCE COMBINATIONS
A close examination of the Figures 3 and 4 reveals the following
facts in respect of swing angle-clearance combinations (denoted
only by corresponding Swing angles in the following paragraphs)
specified for the Indian transmission lines of different voltages:
66kV lines [Figures 3(a) and 4(a)]:

For deciding horizontal spacing, the swing angle of 45 is

critical for the entire range of except for in a small range
of 18 to 20 where a 30 swing angle requires only a
marginally (less than 1%) higher value of horizontal spacing.
For deciding vertical spacing, the swing angle of 15 is
critical for the entire range of expect for in a small range
of 5 to 7 where 15 swing angle requires a marginally (less
that 3%) higher value of horizontal spacing.

132 kV lines [Figures 3(b) and 4(b)]:

l
l

For deciding horizontal spacing, the swing angle of 45 is

critical for the entire range of .
For deciding vertical spacing, the swing angle of 15 is
critical for the entire range of expect for in a small range
of 5 to 7 where 0 swing angle requires a marginally (less
than 2%) higher value of horizontal spacing.

220 kV lines [Figures 3(c) and 4(c)]:

l
l

For deciding horizontal spacing, the swing angle of 45 is

critical for the entire range of .
For deciding vertical spacing, the swing angle of 15 is
critical for the entire range of expect for in a small range
of 5 to 7 where 0 swing angle requires a marginally (less
than 1.5%) higher value of horizontal spacing.

400 kV double circuit lines on barrel type of tower [Figures 3(d)

and 4(d)]:

l
l

For deciding horizontal spacing, the swing angle of 22 is

critical for the entire range of .
For deciding vertical spacing, the swing angle of 0 is critical
for most of the range of expect for in a small range of
16 to 20 where 22 swing angle requires a marginally (less
than 1.5%) higher value of horizontal spacing.

400 kV single circuit lines on corset type tower [Figure 3(e)]

For deciding horizontal spacing, the swing angle of 44 is

critical for the entire range of except for in a small range
of 0 to 3 where a 22 swing angle requires only a
marginally (less than 0.5%) higher value of horizontal
spacing.

OBSERVATIONS
On the basis of criticality of specified swing angle-clearance
combinations on Indian transmission lines as explained above and
acknowledging that a marginal reduction of less that 3% in the
spacings will not materially/practically affect the performance of
the transmission lines, it can be noted that the following swing

Vol 85, May 2004

angle-clearance combinations could adequately determine the

optimum tower configurations, as the other specified combinations do not play any role in affecting tower configuration :
66 kV lines on barrel type towers:

l
l

Swing angle = 45, Live metal clearance = 610 mm

Swing angle = 15, Live metal clearance = 915 mm

132 kV lines on barrel type towers :

l
l

Swing angle - 45, Live metal clearance = 1220 mm

Swing angle = 15, Live metal clearance = 1530 mm

220 kV lines on barrel type towers:

l
l

Swing angle = 45, Live metal clearance = 1675 mm

Swing angle = 15, Live metal clearance = 2130 mm

400 kV DC lines on barrel type towers:

l
l

Swing angle = 22, Live metal clearance = 3050 mm

Swing angle = 0, Live metal clearance = 3050 mm

400 kV SC lines on corset type towers :

Swing angle = 44, Live metal clearance = 1840 mm

CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of aforesaid analysis, it can be seen that a maximum
of two swing angle-clearance combinations, if judiciously
selected, could completely and adequately determine optimum
tower configuration for a pre-specified level of performance
(flashover probability) of the transmission lines and the remaining (one or two) presently specified combinations could be dispensed with, without jeopardizing the reliability of the lines.
The analysis presented in this paper is based on the configuration
of a suspension tower. However, it can be shown that similar
results would be obtained for tension towers also.
This analysis is also based on the presumptions that :

l
l

Live metal clearances presently specified with different

swing angle (for different voltage lines) are properly
co-coordinated for the pre-specified level of flashover
probability.
66 kV SC/DC lines, 132 kV SC/DC lines, 220 kV SC/DC
lines and 400 kV DC lines use standard barrel type towers
and 400 kV SC lines use corset type towers.
The values of and are within the practical range assumed
in the analysis.

REFERENCES
1. Transmission Line Manual. (Book) Publication No 268, Central Board of
Irrigation and Power, New Delhi.
2. S S Murthy and A R Santhakumar. Transmission Line Structures. (Book)
McGraw-Hill Book Company, Singapore 1990.
3. V N Rikh. Economic Stranding and Size of ACSR for H V Power Lines.
Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India), part EL-3, vol 53, February 1973,
pp 127-134.
4. IS802 (Part 1/Sec 1) : 199, Indian Standard on Use of Structural Steel in
Overhead Transmission Line Towers-Code of Practice. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.

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