These engineered towers keep bare, high-voltage conductors safely suspended above the ground and away from each other. They are designed to withstand massive mechanical loads from wind, ice, and the tension of the heavy cables. Different designs are used for straight runs, sharp turns, and river crossings to maintain required electrical clearances.
The storm brought down an anchor pylon on the 400 kV line, so we've to reroute power through the northern interconnector.
Also heard as
- transmission tower
Related terms
Anchor pylon
A heavy-duty transmission tower designed to handle high lateral mechanical tension.
Clearance
Straight-line air gap between two conductive parts, the dimension that decides whether a surge can flash across.
Sag
Brief drop in RMS supply voltage, usually to between 10 and 90 percent of nominal, lasting up to about a minute.
Electric power transmission
The bulk transfer of electrical energy from generating power plants to electrical substations.