STEEL LATTICE TOWER

LATTICE TOWER A lattice tower is a steel structure used on transmission and distribution overhead lines. The main purpose of these structures is the transport of the energy from the production plants to the consumption areas. These structures are mainly manufactured in L profiles, but there are also some solutions in CHS profiles or other profiles like for example U/H profiles. The connections are mostly bolted connections, but there may also be welded connections. The design and material types of a lattice tower are linked to the transferred load from cables to the structure and the operation voltage. The line voltage can be from 15kV up to 420kV and the loads are designed taking in consideration the span, angle line, type of cable and climate conditions of the location. There are several tower configurations, but the most common are alignment, angle, reinforcement, and dead end.

Besides the electrical and mechanical aspects, the design of a lattice towers also considers, nowadays, other values, namely of environmental nature, being included in some countries, of compulsory and objective evaluation in terms of the impacts on the landscape and on the avifauna:

• Adequacy of the supports to the configuration of the terrain.
• Minimization of the risks of collision of birds with the cables through the reduction of the «collision areas».
• Dimensions and geometry of the supports at ground level appropriate to the type of operation of the same.
• Corrosion protection scheme is normally galvanized, but in some cases/countries a duplex system may be requested by aesthetic issues, aeronautical signalling, or extra protection due to highly corrosive environments.
• Product group classification UN CPC 42110.