Design of Overhead Transmission Lines, Towers, Poles and Foundations
About Me
18+ Years
Years of Industry Experience
Hello, my name is Ertugrul Keles (CPEng, IntPE(NZ) / APEC Engineer, Eur-Ing), and thank you for visiting my personal website, where you can learn more about me and the areas in which I specialise.
Having worked on projects ranging in voltage from 11kV to 765kV in a variety of countries. Extensive background in transmission line, structure & foundation design and tower testing, as well as, topographic surveys, line route selection, structure spotting, field engineering, and construction management.
Currently, I am working in New Zealand with Groundline Engineering, where I lead a team of professionals in designing overhead transmission towers, foundations and lines. My role includes mentoring team members and addressing technical queries, ensuring high-quality and reliable project outcomes.
Countries I am Engaged in Various Projects
Last
Projects:
Dates: 2023
Client: National Grid Electricity Distribution
Scope: PLS-CADD & PLS Tower Modelling. Loop-in loop-out terminal tower connection design to planned solar farm substation.
Project Highlights:
✔Finding a solution to build a terminal tower under existing line.
✔ Keeping back span and forward span line tensions same to not overload the existing towers.
✔Foundation design of tower on a Mudstone soil layer.
✔Removing existing tower with minimum outage.
132kV HL Route Point of Connection Design, England
Role: Team Leader | Senior Design Engineer
Dates: 2023
Client: Keltbray / UK Power Networks
Scope: PLS-CADD & PLS Tower Modelling. CAT2 Review of design works to replace existing tower PLC63 (PL16 DD2S STD) which is located adjacent to the M1 motorway and has been damaged by a car.
Project Highlights:
✔Securing the M1 Motorway for any tower collapse.
✔Line design with the same structure tensions at the back and front spans.
✔Determining the capacity of existing damaged tower under winter and
wind condition.
✔Planning for construction in stages to minimise outage and take safety
into account.
132kV PLC63 Damaged Tower Replacement, England
Role: Senior Design Engineer | CAT2 Review
Dates: 2022-2023
Client: Transpower
Scope: Transmission Line Design and provision of survey services from concept through to detailed design for a 220kV single circuit connection between Ohinewai Station and the BHL-WHN line.
Project Highlights:
✔Designing a V-string set so that the swing angles are in limit considering high wind conditions according to TP standards.
✔Selecting the best line route for the line from the tower to the substation, considering the environment and farmland.
✔Find the best solution for undercrossing of existing overhead lines.
✔ Line, Structure and Foundation Design
220kV Ohinewai to BHL-WKN Connection, New Zealand
Role: Senior Design Engineer
132kV HT and AM Route OPGW Replacement, England
Role: Senior Design Engineer | Project Engineer
Dates: 2023
Client: National Grid Electricity Distribution
Scope: PLS-CADD & PLS Tower Modelling. Like for like replacement design of Overhead Line’s Optical Ground Wire (OPGW).
Project Highlights:
✔Design and draw a new suspension and tension OPGW set for the new OPGW considering the manufacturer drawings.
✔Find the best tension of new OPGW, considering internal clearances requirement of BS EN50341 and existing tower member usages.
✔Find and create the tower types by using LIDAR date.
Dates: 2020-2021
Client: Transpower
Scope: Design of 220kV tower tee connection to BOB substation. Deviation of the existing towers between towers 124 and 125 to allow for the extension in the Bombay Substation. Mapping from processed LIDAR data, design Poles and Tower for the connection. Design raft and auger foundations for the structure.
Project Highlights:
✔Find the best location for the Tee-Off Tower for substation connection.
✔Find the most economical safest solution to connect from tower to substation.
✔Select a foundation type and design it for the new Terminal Tower. Pole Structure foundation design.
✔ Design tensions to not overload the existing back and forward span towers.
✔Undercrossing design of a live line.
220kV HLY-OTA A Tee Connection Design to BOB Substation, New Zealand
Role: Senior Design Engineer | Project Engineer
220kV WRK-WHI A Wind Farm Connection, New Zealand
Role: Senior Design Engineer | Project Engineer
Dates: 2019-2020
Client: Meridian, Transpower
Scope: Design of 220kV tower injection point to wind farm substation. Modelling
Tower Type Suspension with Tee-Off Crossarms. PLS-CADD modelling from processed LIDAR data. Supervising a team of engineers as they design & draw towers.
Project Highlights:
✔Find the best solution to use existing suspension tower to use as a TeeOff tower.
✔Design Square crossarm for suspension tower by using existing tower connection dimensions.
✔Find the most economical safest solution to connect from tower to substation.
✔Design a pad for crane and outriggers considering safety in design
✔Construction stages design to keep safe the motorway which is under the existing span.
