Economic Optimization of Transmission Tower Grounding and Insulation

A reduction in transmission line cost was thought possible through a unified approach to line insulation system design. In this paper a mathematical model relating line performance to insulation system expenditure is analyzed and using incremental cost techniques a method for optimizing the selection of insulation system components to achieve a desired performance or reliability level is developed. The development provides an insight into the interaction of tower grounding and tower insulation in establishing the reliability of a line. A practical application of the technique developed is demonstrated in the companion paper.