983 7-C-ESM

LOCATING DEFECTS
HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES
Dip1 .-1ng. G. Jaensch
Non-Member
Badenwerk AG
Durlacher Allee,
Germany

H. Hoffmann
Non-Member
Badenwerk AG
Durlacher Allee,
Germany

Abstract - Methods of locating

defects in overhead high voltage
and extra-high voltage transmission
lines are described and evaluated.
Included is a technology which
utilizes corona - partial discharge
detection to find faulty conditions
while simultaneously performing
routine visual inspections from a
helicopter. The corona inspection
system proved to be very useful in
locating broken strands, loose
spacers, insulators with internal
or external discharges, and other
faulty line conditions.

Keywords: defect locating,

transmission line inspection,
helicopter inspection, corona
detectior.,partial discharge
detectior.

0 -16

Dr. Alf Markees

Non-Member
Consultant
Ortschwaben,
Switzerland

an ongoing basis. Defects are thus

recognised in the early stages, and
the necessary maintenance or repair
work can then be performed in good
time and with the minimum of
expense.
The success of this procedure
naturally depends on whether
detection of all nascent damage
occurs at the earliest possible
stage using the selected method(s).
The most important factor is
reliable and productive
identification of defects and the
assessment of these defects.
Depending on urgency, it is then
possible to arrange for the
necessary maintenance or repair
work in good time, at a reasonable
cost, and in the correct order of
priority.

INTRODUCTION
High voltzge and extra-high voltage
overhead line networks are the most
commonly Lsed and cost-efficient
means of transporting electrical
energy. I t is also to be expected
that the planned deregulation of
the electricity market will further
increase the reliability demands on
these higl; voltage overhead line
networks.
Overhead electricity lines are
exposed to continuous mechanical
strain (ice loads, storms etc.) and
the aging process (wear,
corrosion:. Most of the damage is
initially minor and insignificant.
Over the course of time, however,
it leads 110 serious damage which,
if not recognised and rectified in
time, can result in line outage.
In order - 2 0 avoid high maintenance
costs whi.-stensuring the
reliabilixy of electricity supply,
the line .jystems are inspected on
0-7803-4883..4/98/$10.0001998 IEEE
179

This paper outlines the various

inspection options for regular line
monitoring based on the authors'
knowledge and experience. The focus
is on monitoring systems which can
be used in helicopters. In
particular, this paper reports in
detail on the latest electronic
monitoring system which has been
used with success throughout the
world for the last 7 years.
This paper is not concerned with
other technical devices, such as
ground fault directional relays,
lightning detection systems and
fault localisation devices used for
ad hoc line checks in the event of
ground faults and following trips.
It is assumed that these devices
are already being used
successfully.

2. INSPECTION METHODS IN
HIGH VOLTAGE & EXTRA-HIGH
VOLTAGE NETWORKS
For all of us, reliable and up-todate inspection results are the
prerequisite for the optimum
maintenance and repair of line
systems tailored to the technical,
operational and financial
requirements.
Whereas the actual condition of
line systems used to be mainly
ascertained by sight checks, we
have for several years now been
able to make use of innovative
techniques for line inspection - in
particular for active components
such as conductor ropes,
insulators, fittings, clamping
points, spacers and the like.
Yet none of the available
inspection methods (either on its
own or in combination with other
methods) is good enough to enable
us to ascertain the condition of
the line with absolute certainty.
Depending on requirements and the
level of know-how, a combination of
two or more methods is generally
used to ensure maximum reliability
of the assessment of the condition
of the active and inactive
components of a line system.

2.1 Ground-Level Checks

The overhead lines are monitored by
specialists who walk and/or drive
along the line route and perform
sight checks on the poles and power
circuits (sometimes with the aid of
optical equipment); it is sometimes
also necessary to climb the high
voltage pole.
This method of inspecting overhead
lines is not only time- and costintensive; it also makes increased
demands on the maintenance
personnel, who have to be
sufficiently fit and also have to
possess well-founded technical
know-how. Even then, no matter how
carefully and conscientiously the
inspection is performed, the
possibility cannot be ruled out

that less pronounced defects in the

active components are overlooked,
and this can subsequently lead to
serious defects in the electric
circuits.
Although photography and
videography from ground level
provide useful information and a
source of documentation, they are
time-and cost-intensive and are
limited in their perspective.

2.2 Aerial Checks

In order to offset the
disadvantages of ground-level
inspection for the upper, active
part of the line system, aerial
sight checks are now common
throughout the world as a means of
visually checking the line from
close up.
Despite this proximity, however,
the rapid passing of the lines
through the observer's field of
vision makes checking difficult.
Due to the heavy reliance on the
human eye, the speed of flight and
the limited "recording capacity"
constitute a handicap. It is
questionable whether the necessary
alertness and concentration can be
continuously maintained during the
course of several hours in the
noisy environment of a helicopter;
the quality and reliability of
observation will inevitably
deteriorate with increasing
duration of the flight.
Appropriate flight speed and
experienced observers with a high
level of alertness permit an
acceptable level of monitoring
using this method.
2.3 Aerial Checks Using
Photography And Videography
Photography and videography can
also be used from a helicopter.
This form of use leads to slightly
better results due to more
favourable access to the line.
The films/photographs are focussed
and analysed back at ground level;
hidden defects are not recognised.

180

Irregular, intensive electronic

activity in the ionised air layer
around the active line components,
such as strong coronas, leak
currents at insulators and
sporadically occurring intensity
fluctuations of the electrical
field (e.g. due to vegetation
growing too close to the conductor
ropes) are clear indications of
defects in an operational line.
This also means that tailored
measurement and evaluation of these
circumstances can provide pointers
to anomalies and defects in a line.

On T h e G r o u n d
I n T h e Air

verhead lines.
the points to

When this kind of measuring

technique is used, the signal of
the alternating current field of an
intact line system on an
oscillograph takes the form of a
closed, smooth curve (Fig. 1).

Figure 1

The high-frequency interference

signals caused by coronas at
defect sites is shown as
interference of the closed
curve. The appearance, strength
and position of these
interference signals are
characteristic for the location
and type of defect in the
overhead line.

181

Figures 2 - I show some typical curve and defect pictures

Fig.

Heavily soiled insulators

Fig.
4

Rope damage a t the end of the power loops

Fig.

ig.

T r e e s growing too c l o s e t o the conductor ropes

3 . 2 U s e O f The Electronic
System
Deployment of the electronic
monitoring system is effected in
several steps:
-

During an inspection flight,

the signals of all
frequencies picked up by an
antenna secured to the
helicopter are continuously
recorded on a data tape.
182

An operator on board the

helicopter operates and
monitors the recordings, in
particular the sensitivity.
The operator records
additional verbal remarks on
a direct sound track (pole
number, traverses, flight
direction etc.) and enters
written remarks in a special
checklist.

4.2 Korona R e p o r t
Following the line inspection, the
recorded data are evaluated by the
operator with the help of an
analyser and sent to us in a
report.

The recorded data are

evaluated by an operator on
the ground using an analyser;
the information is then used
to compile an initial
sumnarising report.

- The defects recognised by

4.3 Follow-Up Check

This follow-up check should be
performed with great care, as this
determines the usefulness of the
Korona system. The follow-up check
is effected using a telescope with
up to 40 times magnification. Our
experience has shown that the use
of binoculars with 8-fold to 10fold magnification does not achieve
the desired results.

means of electronic detection

can be definitively pinpointed in a follow-up check
from ground level using a
telescope or by climbing the
poles.
Our experience with the electronic
inspection system of the KORONA
MeBtechnik company is presented
below.

1. TRIAL REPORT

When we performed the first followup check in 1989 using the above
binoculars, which were standard
equipment in our network operating
stations, our personnel was only
able to confirm 7 of the 78 defects
detected by the Korona company.
This outcome was anything but
satisfactory. We informed the
Korona company of our findings and
expressed our dissatisfaction.

Badenwerk has used the Korona

measurinq system for aerial line
inspecticn checks since 1989. The
measurinq system is easy to mount
in any helicopter, is light in
weight ar.d of compact dimensions.
4 . 1 Operator Documentation

have extremely well-prepared

documentition at his disposal. The
lines to be monitored are
integrated in the documentation
supplied by Korona and the poles
clearly labelled.

We then performed a 2nd follow-up

check using a telescope provided by
the Korona company and were able to
confirm 54 defects - a
"detection/defect confirmation
rate" of approximately 7 0 % !

The operator then supplements this

list by r.dding route no. and
cassette no. The operator is often
able to xegister strong discharges
during the flight and can then
enter these as defects in the
checklist.

This was not due to inadequate

checking by our personnel, but
shows that the defects can often
not be recognised using the
standard equipment.

183

Figure 8 shows a photograph taken with a telephoto lens which roughly

corresponds to the magnification achieved using binoculars.

Fig. 8
Fieldspacer appears
to be OK

Figure 9 shows a photograph taken through the telescope with 40 times

magnification

Fig. 9
Loose f i e l d
spacer

The (3amage caused by these loose field sDacers was serious (Fiu. 10)

F i g . 10

Worn-down
clamp

184

The clamFs of the spacers had become worn down; beneath the clamps, the
aluminiun layers of the conductor ropes had also become seriously worn in
several Flaces, in some places even as far as the internal steel cores (Fig.
ll), which also showed slight signs of damage.

F i g . 11.
Aluminium
layers worn
down to the
si;eel cable

rate has allowed us to change over

to a 2-year application cycle.

4 . 4 E f f i c i e n c y O f T h e Method

A comparj.son of sight checks and

the Koro1.a method shows that the
Korona irispection detected 4.5
times as many defects and found 3
times as many defects as the
conventional method.

5.SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

The persisting - and doubtless
necessary - cost debate will also
lead to a general trend away from
preventive maintenance with fixed
cycles and towards a more
condition-based inspection policy

The use of this system enabled us

to reduce the average number of
line checks from 3.5/year to
2.5/year with at least the same if

in this area. This naturally

not better operational reliability.

necessitates methods and techniques

which can determine the condition
of operating equipment with a high
degree of reliability. With the
electronic monitoring system, we

5 years from 1989

the Korona system
falling defect

185

now have an optimum measuring

method at our disposal to satisfy
this requirement in the area of
high voltage overhead lines. Our
experience shows that the
combination of conventional aerial
inspection and the adapted use of
the KORONA measuring system has
supplied the best results over a
number of years.

- The operator concentrates his

attention and the measuring
system on the active
components of the line;
subsequent evaluation on the
ground and localisation
provide pointers to a wide
variety of defects.

- The additional personnel can

fully concentrate on the
inactive line components,
such as poles, aerial cable
assemblies, and guard ropes.
In this way, we were able to
detect a greater number of
faults at an early stage, in
particular hidden defects and
problems caused by the
dangerous proximity of
vegetation. This also enabled
us to react in an appropriate
and systematic way and to
perform the necessary
maintenance/repair work at
low cost.
Of the various known technical
inspection systems for power lines,
we are firmly convinced that the
KORONA measuring system described
above has the greatest potential
for the future.
6 . ACKNO-DGMENT

The photos were provided by the

company KORONA Messtechnik, St.
Gallerstrasse 23, P . 0 . Box 8 , CH9 2 0 0 GOSSAU SG., Switzerland

186