Transmission tower facts for kids
A transmission tower or pylon is a very tall structure. It is used to carry the wires of high-voltage overhead power lines. These towers make sure the wires are high enough. This keeps people, animals, and things on the ground safe from the electricity.
Most large transmission towers are made from lattice steel structures. Smaller ones might be made of wood, concrete, or steel poles.
Contents
Different Kinds of Towers
There are a few main types of transmission towers, each with a special job.
Suspension Towers
Most transmission towers you see are suspension towers. Their main job is to hold up the power lines. They don't pull on the wires much. The insulators on these towers hang vertically, like a pendulum. They simply support the weight of the wires.
Tension Towers
Tension towers (also called anchor towers) are different. They are built to pull on the wires. Their insulators are placed horizontally. These towers are used in a few key places:
- Terminal towers: These are at the very end of a power line.
- Branch towers: These are where power lines split off and go in different directions.
- Angle towers: These are used when the power line needs to change direction.
Transposition Towers
Transposition towers are not very common. They allow the power lines to change their position on the tower. This helps to balance the electrical load across the lines.
Images for kids
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Transmission tower in Toronto, ON
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A single-circuit three-phase transmission line
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A special HVDC distance tower in Canada
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A tension tower with phase transposition in Germany
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A pylon in Sweden around 1918
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A guyed "Delta" transmission tower in Nevada
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A typical T-shaped 110 kV tower from former East Germany
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A close-up of the wires attached to a pylon, showing different parts
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A Danube pole for 110 kV in Germany, built in the 1930s
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A new steel tube tower next to an older lattice tower in Australia
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A tower made of wood and metal crossbars
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A simple wooden transmission tower in Mongolia
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A reinforced concrete pole in Germany
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Workers on a pylon adding a fiber optic data cable
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A typical tower identification tag
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Three-phase alternating current transmission towers over water in Australia
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A high voltage insulator in the UK with arcing horns
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Arcing horns, which protect insulators from lightning
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A temporary guyed pylon next to a new tower being built
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The 128-meter high Hyperboloid pylon in Russia
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The River Elbe Crossing 2 in Germany
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A colorful "designer" tower called Steps of Antti in Finland
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Wintrack pylons in the Netherlands
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The Mickey Pylon in Florida, U.S.
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See also
In Spanish: Torre eléctrica para niños
