Design Optimization of a Lattice Tower: Structure and Foundations

Abstract

Produced in power plants, electrical energy is transported to places of consumption via the electricity network. At the heart of this network are the supports that allow electricity to be efficiently transported over long distances, guaranteeing the security and supply of energy to the various centers of use. In the construction of a line, supports occupy an important part in terms of safety and construction cost. It is therefore essential to optimize their use to reduce the cost of transmission lines. This work addresses this problem, which focuses on the optimal utilization of X-lattice towers in the construction of overhead power lines. The challenge is to reconcile the search for optimal cost and respect for the design, resistance and service constraints of the structure. To do this, a parameter having a strong correlation with the weight, foundation and construction cost of the X-lattice tower for 161 kV lines is determined as an important cost variable. This parameter is the wheelbase of the towers. The junction point between the structure and the foundations is obtained by measuring the forces at the base of the tower following the lowering of the loads. These efforts make it possible to size foundations which are of the inverted or isolated sole type. The results obtained reveal that from 8 meters in width, the wheelbase gradually changes until the optimum is obtained at 6.29 meters. With this wheelbase, the production cost is optimal. It clearly emerges from this study that the construction of lattice pylons with a wheelbase of approximately 6.29 meters makes it possible to optimize the cost of construction of 161 kV lines in the Republic of Benin.