STUDY OF ICE FORMATION PROCESSES ON OVERHEAD POWER LINES AND DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS TO COMBAT THIS PHENOMENON

Abstract

Icing on the wires of overhead power lines is a big problem to maintain their integrity. The process of icing wires leads to a significant increase in their mass and, accordingly, to large overloads on the wire and electric supports. Exceeding the loads above the permissible ones can cause great damage to power lines. Wires, cables can break, fittings can be damaged and even lead to collapse of electrical poles. At the same time, damage is caused from the undersupply of electricity. This damage may exceed the damage from damage to the elements of power lines. Ice on the wires usually appear in winter, especially when the warming is going to be replaced by a cold snap and the temperature fluctuates around zero. The problem can be exacerbated by strong wind loads. An increase in air humidity also accelerates the formation of an ice "coat" on wires and electrical poles. Under the most unfavorable conditions, the wall thickness of the “fur coat” of ice on the wire can reach more than 70 mm. Such an ice coat can lead to exceeding the maximum permissible loads and damage to the power line, as well as damage from a power outage. The mechanism of ice formation on overhead power lines, as well as negative damage to power lines and high-voltage pylons under the action of ice load, has been studied. An analysis of the known methods of dealing with ice on power lines has been carried out. An innovative device for combating icing formations is proposed. The advantage of the proposed device is the ability to operate in two modes: vibrating and shock-shaking, which expands its functionality. In preventive mode, the device operates continuously due to the interaction with alternating current flowing through the wires of power lines in the normal mode of their operation, without the need for shutdown for maintenance, which gives the electromechanical interactions of devices with the wire of the power line a vibrational character and ensures the continuity of the process of removing water drops from the wires at an early stage before ice formation. Thus, in the preventive mode of operation of the power line, the causes of icing of the wires are eliminated, and not its consequences, which eliminates the need to shut down for maintenance, and reduces the required costs of resources and energy.