Helicopter-based live-line work. Volume 1, Helicopter platform work between phases: Final report
- General Electric Co., Lenox, MA (US). High Voltage Transmission Research Center
This report presents experimental data on tests of a configuration consisting of a helicopter between two energized phases (for AC and switching surge) or poles (for DC). The configuration is that related to live-line work from a hovering helicopter. The McDonnell Douglas 500 Series helicopter was used for the tests. All tests were performed with phase-to-phase, or pole-to-pole energization. For AC tests, proper relationship between the phase-to-ground voltages and the phase-to-phase voltage was maintained by energizing the experimental setup from a balanced 3-{phi} AC source. For DC tests, one pole was energized with positive DC voltage to ground, while the other pole was energized with negative DC voltage to ground. For switching surge tests, a surge of positive polarity and a specific peak voltage magnitude was applied to one phase while a surge of negative polarity and the same peak voltage Magnitude was simultaneously applied to the other phase, resulting in {alpha} = 0.5 ({alpha} is the ratio between negative and total surge). In the research program, four conditions were investigated, namely helicopter operating versus not operating, and helicopter bonded to one phase or pole versus not bonded. Results from this research show effects of the rotating main rotor blade of the helicopter, effect of the position of the electrically floating helicopter in the phase-to-phase or pole-to-pole gap, effects of the mannequin, importance of the polarity of the DC poles and switching surges, and effects of inclement weather such as rain. The overall conclusion of this research is that the phase-to-phase or pole-to-pole spacings that cause sparkover with the helicopter between phases (poles) were always significantly smaller than the typical spacings on actual existing overhead transmission lines of the corresponding voltage rating.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); General Electric Co., Lenox, MA (United States). High Voltage Transmission Research Center
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 10167036
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-102318-Vol.1; ON: UN93016839; TRN: 93:001807
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jun 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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