Power Line Design

Our Mission: Improving Quality of Life Through Accessibility to Energy.

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Delivering High-Quality, Dependable Power Generation For 28 Years.

We develop smart, comprehensive power generation solutions for a future where society can thrive.

About Power line Design

Design of Overhead Power Lines

Trans-Africa Projects (TAP) specialises in the design of overhead power lines and the supporting structures for these lines. We have been involved in various projects from 11 kV through to 765 kV voltage levels for both new-build and refurbishment/normalisation projects.

Trans-Africa Projects is frequently engaged in different engineering aspects of projects, and the full range of services offered is outlined below.

Conceptual Designs

The ability to influence and reduce total project cost is best achieved in the early stages of a project when the project is conceptualised and the feasibility and alternative solutions are determined. In the power line industry early decisions can have a large impact on total project costing, typically the size and type of phase conductors to be installed as well as the actual line route selected. These two functions are drivers of the other cost components of the line.

The services that Trans-Africa Projects considers at this stage of a project include route selection, conductor optimisation, conceptual line profile utilising available Digital Terrain Model data and order of magnitude costing

Preliminary or Detailed Line Designs

Trans-Africa Projects is often engaged by clients in different roles but the two most common scenarios are briefly described below.

In the first scenario, Trans-Africa Projects is appointed as the owners’ engineer and performs preliminary designs and creates functional specifications to enable EPC contractors to bid on and execute the detailed designs under Trans-Africa Projects’ approval.

The second scenario is when Trans-Africa Projects is engaged as an EPCM consultant, where Trans-Africa Projects will provide the full design service including preliminary and detailed designs to suit the project and client requirements.

Insulation Coordination and Electromagnetic Compatibility Studies can be done where new designs are implemented.

Some of the deliverables offered in these design scenarios are highlighted below:

Line profiling (performed in the industry standard package PLS-CADD©) typically using aerial LIDAR or conventional survey data as per client’s requirements and specifications
Cost estimation and alternative design comparisons
Structure and foundation selection and/or design
- Pole designs – material choices consist of wood, concrete, steel or RFP as suited to the project requirements
- Steel Lattice Tower designs

Constructability plans including site access planning, outage planning and phase configuration confirmation
Geotechnical investigations
Optical fibre designs for communication and protection of assets (including OPGW, ADSS and wrap installations)
Compilation of:
- Design reports and presentation of design at client Technical Evaluation Forums
- Specifications for new installations
- Specifications for refurbishments and retrofits to match with existing infrastructure

Technical tender evaluations
Engineering support during construction including assistance with Factory Acceptance Testing and tower proto-type testing