Live Line Maintenance Techniques

The principle to perform live line work on compact lines is no different to a conventional one. However, actual live line experience with compact designs is still limited. This design should consider live line work requirements during the early stages, to maintain the minimum approach safety distance (MAD), as it might become one of the governing design parameters of a compact line. The major differences between compact and conventional line live work can be summarized as: (1) Reduced electrical clearance. (2) More complicated insulator configuration. (3) Extensive use of Non-Ceramic Insulators (NCI) or composite insulators. This chapter revises the methods and techniques used for live line work on a compact line, the tools, the theory, the control of overvoltages and the experimental practices used by different utilities around the world, analysing the differences between HVAC and HVDC lines and other considerations to be taken into account.