A smart suspension clamp for power transmission lines

在北美和世界各地，高压输电线路一般采用铝导体钢加固，设计寿命为50年，实际现场使用寿命约为60至75年。今天，世界上大多数高压导体已经使用了40多年，因此需要越来越多的检查和维修操作。加拿大自然资源部预测，未来25年，加拿大电力需求将以每年1%的速度增长。因此，在未来的几十年里，输电线路的建设，以及新的和更环保的发电厂应该会增加，从而产生对重大技术改进的需求。因此，这将推动对最先进的生产线配件的需求，以及监测成本的降低。该项目针对这些预期需求，提出了一种仪表化的导体悬挂夹的设计，该夹具能够检测和监测在用电力传输链的退化。并提出了钢绞线疲劳寿命数值预测的建模方法。该项目方法建立在一个创新的有限元模型上，该模型提供了导体内部退化机制的详细描述。虽然项目团队成员已经建立了建模策略的基础，但目前的研究建议通过增加导线间接触应力分析来完成该过程，从而预测悬挂夹附近导体的磨损和疲劳退化。在完整的验证活动之后，最终的建模工具将允许识别定义内部退化机制的参数，以及描述符的制定，以完成由现有标准指标产生的描绘。智能夹具设计将特定的传感器关联到每个指示器。建模工具将有助于Helix Uniformed在评估任何新的夹具设计。该项目依赖于一名博士生和一名硕士生。

In North America and around the world, high voltage transmission lines are generally made of aluminum conductor steel reinforced with a design life of 50 years, and having a real field longevity of around 60 to 75 years. Today, most high voltage conductors around the world have been in service for more than 40 years, and consequently require more and more inspection and repair operations. Natural Resources Canada forecasts see Canadian electricity demand increasing at an estimated rate of 1 per cent per year for the next 25 years. Therefore, the construction of transmission lines, as well as new and greener power generation plants should be on the rise over the next decades, generating the need for major technological improvements. This will consequently push up the demand for state-of-the-art line accessories, as well as for monitoring cost reductions. This project targets these anticipated needs and proposes the design of an instrumented conductor suspension clamp capable of detecting and monitoring the degradation of in-service power transmission strands. It also aims at producing a modeling procedure for numerical prediction of strand fatigue life. The project methodology rests on an innovative finite element model providing detailed descriptions of the conductor internal degradation mechanisms. While the foundations of the modeling strategy have already been established by members of the project team, the present research proposes to complete the procedure by the addition of an interwire contact stress analysis allowing predictions of wear and fatigue degradation of the conductor close to the suspension clamp. After a complete validation campaign, the final modeling tool will allow the identification of the parameters defining the internal degradation mechanisms, as well as the formulation of descriptors to complete the portrayal resulting from existing standard indicators. The smart clamp design will associate specific sensors to each indicator. The modeling tool will be helpful for Helix Uniformed during the evaluation of any new clamp design. The project relies on one Ph.D. student and on one Master's student.