A Study of How Enhanced Conductor Heat Dissipation From High Emissivity ACSS Allowed a Texas Utility to Make the Most of a Narrow Right of Way

摘要

The ampacity requirement for an Oncor transmission line reconductor/rebuild project increased by 16.7% after design work had been completed and steel poles had been ordered. With less than a year before construction was to begin, engineering teams at Oncor and Power Engineers evaluated options to add ampacity while keeping the main elements of the design intact. Oncor considered several options and in the end was able to meet ampacity requirements and proceed without a major redesign of the line by increasing the maximum operating temperature of the conductor and by utilizing a ceramic coated ACSS designed for better heat dissipation. As part of the installation Oncor also installed dynamic line rating equipment to verify performance of the high emissivity, low absorptivity coating. This paper summarizes the project history, evaluation of options, construction, and the measured temperature differences between the coated and standard uncoated conductor.