PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN OF OVER HEAD LV BUNDLE CONDUCTOR SYSTEMS IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF HIGH LIGHTNING ACTIVITY AND HIGH POLLUTION

摘要

Eskom participates in South Africa's electrification program which started in 1992 and is still continuing. Eskom made 350 000 connections per year at the peak of the program. Eskom lead the industry in reducing first capital costs in the program by more than 50%. [1] This cost reduction was achieved by ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of the technology, the design process as well as the logistics and construction and sales processes. This was done without increasing operating costs and maintaining the same levels of reliability. This paper discusses one of the technology choices that were made and problems that are being experienced currently with LV bundle conductor in especially high lighting activity areas where pollution is prevalent. The paper discusses the mechanisms that lead to the problem as well as the solutions to the problem.