MAINTENANCE OF

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINE

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• Condition of Monitoring
1. Inspection-The inspection of a overhead line (ORL) is
performed by taking actions that consist in evaluating the
conformity from a helicopter. Line Inspection Basically, the
common inspection systems for OHL consist in:- foot
patrol; climbing inspection; standard visual inspection from
a helicopter, detailed visual, infrared and ultraviolet
inspection other obstacles under lines;- Line components;-
Foundations state;- Towers state (crossheads, main legs,
crossbars, anchorage, insulating strings);- Active conductors
state; Protection conductors state; State of the earthlings;
The inspection goal is the condition assessment of all line
components.
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Overhead inspection from helicopter

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Overhead inspection using Drone

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2. Insulator tester- Is used to get information on voltage

distribution along the insulator strings which can be useful
for the design of future power transmission lines. The
working principle of this new device is based on the
automatic measurement and recording of the electric
field along the insulator string which decreases
considerably in front of an internally shorted insulator.
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Insulator tester
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3. Real-Time Monitoring System- Is a process through

which an administrator can review, evaluate and modify
the addition, deletion, modification and use of data on
software, a database or a system. It enables data
administrators to review the overall processes and
functions performed on the data in real time, or as it
happens, through graphical charts and bars on a central
interface/dashboard.
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Real-Time Monitoring System

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4. Server and Client Software- The server software is

responsible for data transfer between the central unit on
the tower and the server in the transformer station. It is
also responsible for calculating the prospective conductor
temperature. The client software shows the calculated
conductor temperature on a graphical interface using a
three-color code. The maximum permissible temperature
must previously be stated by the customer. The client
software can also be used to graphically display the
temperature at individually defined intervals.
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Server Client Software

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• Live Line Maintenance

A policy for overhead line maintenance must evolve from
the overall maintenance policy, setting particular direction
for overhead lines in the form of specific Key Performance
Indicators . Nowadays the Live Maintenance technologies
have a constant development in Smart Grid. By live
working the switching cycles of switchgears can be
reduced and considering the age of equipment, it can help
to reduce the incident risks
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This includes
1. Replacement of broken glass cap and pin disk insulators and
re insulation with composite insulators (NCI's).We experience
a large number of broken glass disks due to vandalism in
populated rural areas. Insulator replacements account for
approximately 80 % of live line maintenance activity in Indian
Transmission
2. Bird pollution and bird streamer faults are responsible for
around 30 % of the line faults experienced and flashed over
insulator strings have to be replaced on a regular basis.
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3. The majority of transmission lines have bundled

conductors (2, 3, 4 and 6) and spacer/damper replacement
account for a considerable proportion of preventative
maintenance work.
4. Conductor repairs, fitting of bird diverters and aviation
spheres make up the rest of the day to day maintenance
activities.
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• Maintenance in a transmission should be planned, executed and

controlled with the aims of:
1. Optimising maintenance costs
2. Ensuring high levels of assets availability
3. Extending assets life
4. Ensuring an adequate quality of supply
5. Ensuring the safety of staff and the public
6. Contributing to the long-term viability of the company
7. Reduce the damage to agricultural flora because the maintenance
can be planned considering the vegetation period.
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• The following operational facts are considered during the live line maintenance
1. Auto reclose devices on the line being worked on are inhibited to eliminate switching
over voltages.
2. Live work is not performed when thunder or lightning activity is present because of TO
V's.
3. Series capacitor banks are bypassed as these have found to have an effect of p.u.
overvoltage along the line during line faults and switching.
4. Closing resistors are generally used on EHV circuit breakers to reduce p.u. switching over
voltages. v. Where specific values for variables have not been determined by measurement
and/or simulation, the values suggested in the respective tables in IEC 6 1472 are utilised. vi.
Worst case scenarios (e.g. altitude) are used to determine one set of clearances applied
throughout the transmission network.
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• Hot sticks Method (HSM)

In this method the lineman will be at ground potential,
working with Hot Sticks (tools) keeping safe clearance
from the line.
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1. Hot line maintenance tools

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• Hot line maintenance tools

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• Hot line maintenance tools

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2. Safe working distance for Hot Line operations as per

OSHA standards
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• Bare Hand Method (BHM)

In 1937, Michel Faraday proved that electricity between
two points at the same potential is same. If a Lineman can
be shielded in a Faraday Cage, and the cage is bonded to
an energized conductor, he may work on the conductor
and associated hardware without shock or discomfort
Here the lineman will be working at line potential keeping
safe clearance from ground. For this conductive suits
made of 25% microscopic stainless steel and 75% nomex
will be provided.
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• Bare Hand Method (BHM)

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• Combination
Generally a combination of above two methods is used in
practice as HSM & BHM are complimentary and
supplementary to each other. Insulated ladders, insulated
aerial platforms, rope hoisting methods and helicopters
are utilised to gain access to live conductors and
structures. Tools and techniques have been developed and
optimised for local conditions and designs, based on
maintenance requirements and available resources