Methods for dealing with icing of power line wires

Abstract

This article describes the types of ice and snow deposits on metal wires of overhead power lines. It has a harmful effect on the functional state of power lines. Under the influence of the force of resistance to air flows in the wind and the gravity of the wires with an increased mass, accidents are possible. These include breaks, wire interconnections, and short circuits in the line. Here we give a brief overview of existing methods for preventing the formation of ice on the line wires and fighting icing by removing the ice shell. This article describes a combined method for breaking the ice coating on the wires. For this purpose, we propose a combination of two methods. One of them is to load the wires with high-frequency current. Due to the skin effect, the inner surface of the ice heats up, and a thin layer melts. This significantly reduces the adhesion of the ice to the metal. Simultaneously, low-frequency current of the order of one Hertz flows through the wires. This current causes the wire to resonance oscillations, which destroy the ice covering. The article provides an estimate of the duration of the high-frequency current exposure time, its value, and the frequency of the second current.