Mitigating Overhead Conductor Temperature Risk with Engineered Surface Coatings

Abstract

Overhead Transmission and Distribution lines are designed to convey electrical power across vast regions. Key to their long-term design and safe operation is the ampacity rating that dictates the upper operational temperature the line is designed to handle. Incorrect line ampacity rating modelling parameters can result in the conductor operating at a much higher temperature than predicted and introduce a Temperature Risk condition where electrical line clearance is severely violated, as well as causing physical and thermal degradation to both the conductor and associated hardware. Using an Engineered Surface Coating enables the use of prescribed values for emissivity and absorptivity throughout the life of the conductor, working to mitigate the possibility of a Temperature Risk condition. This paper provides example calculations and field results that show the effectiveness of an Engineered Surface Coating material in use in North America.