An overview of the condition monitoring of overhead lines

Overhead lines are the most cost effective and frequently used carriers for electric energy. Exposure to environment acceletates deterioration; if this not detected and repaired quickly, some of it will degenerate into serious problems with time. Electrical Utilities, under pressure to reduce maintenance costs, increase line loading and increase quality of power supply, run inspection programs to locate and repair any significant failure at the earliest possible stage. However, present inspection techniques are often expensive and time consuming. Research and development into on-line condition monitoring techniques is thus timely and is as yet at an embryonic stage. This paper reviews the investigation irate overhead line deterioration, briefly outlines the inspection methods available at present, and finally introduces a current project being undertaken in the Power and Energy Systems Research Group at the University of Bath in collaboration with two major utilities in the UK, into on-line condition monitoring of overhead lines. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.