Victor F. Petrenko, Professor of Engineering, Thayer School of Engineering July 3, 2008.

3 Power Line De-icing tests, recorded in 3 video files. Explanation was given in Chinese in the videos, transcription are given here in both English and Chinese. Video - VRC Demonstration One (Separated Bundle) Power Line De-icing test 1 Youre attending a de-icing test with variable resistance conductor for distribution lines. Here you can see a single loop of that conductor which has an Ampacity of 200 amps. The current in both sides of the conductors is 60 amps. The conductor is constructed of 3mm diameter aluminum strands and the conductors resistance can be electronically switched from the very low value, that is when the conductor is in normal operation, to resistance which can be 10, 25, or even 50 times greater, and this is used for rapid deicing. The switching is done by control electronics placed at both sides of the conductor section. Such a section can be as short as one span between two conducting poles, or towers, and as long as 2 kms. In case of any failure or over-heating, the conductor automatically returns to normal operations mode. This test is being conducted at -10 C with dense wet snow frozen in and around the conductor. 200 60 3 10 25 50 2 10 The conductor further away from us, will be switched in the rapid de-icing mode; while the conductor close to us will remain in the normal operation mode. Begin test. End of test. (De-icing time is from 1:25 to 4:32) As you can see, the conductor in rapid de-icing mode is free of ice while the one further away from us, which is the one in normal mode did not heat, and therefore, still has the ice attached to it.

Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 603-646-0296

Victor F. Petrenko, Professor of Engineering, Thayer School of Engineering

Video - VRC Demonstration Two (Stranded Bundle) (Power Line de-icing test
2.) Youre attending a de-icing test with variable resistance conductor for distribution lines. Here you can see a single loop of that conductor which has an Ampacity of 200 amps. The current in both sides of the conductors is 120 amps. The conductor is constructed of 1/8 `` diameter aluminum strands twisted around the steel core in the center, like the one shown in the video. The conductors resistance can be electronically switched from the very low value, that is when the conductor is in normal operation, to resistance which can be 10, 25, or even 50 times greater, and this is used for rapid de-icing. The switching is done by control electronics placed at both sides of the conductor section. Such a section can be as short as one span between two conducting poles, or towers, and as long as 2 kms. In case of any failure or over-heating, the conductor automatically returns to normal operations mode. This test is being conducted at -10 C with dense wet snow frozen in and around the conductor. 200 120 1/8 10 25 50 2 10

The conductor further away from us, will be switched in the rapid de-icing mode; while the conductor closer to us will remain in the normal operation mode. Begin test. Turn on the power. Both sides are in normal operation mode. Lets turn on the rapid de-icing mode for the further away side. End of test. (de-icing time is from 2:05 to 3:20) As you can see, the conductor in rapid de-icing mode is free of ice while the one further away from us, which is the one in normal mode did not heat, and therefore, still has the ice attached to it.
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 603-646-0296

Victor F. Petrenko, Professor of Engineering, Thayer School of Engineering Power Line de-icing test 3. Youre attending a de-icing test with regular power line cable made from aluminum wires twisted around steel core in the center. The out diameter of the conductor is about 1.5 inch and the Ampacitiy of this cable is about 1000 amps. The de-icing method is highfrequency pulse de-icing method. Superimposed HF excitation on power line heats ice directly and evenly. Activation of the pulse can be controlled, thus, de-icing is used only when is needed to save energy and cost. This method can be powered by the line (through transformer or inverter) or by an external system (e.g. diesel generator). A single source can protect up to 100 km of line. 1.5 1000 100

This test is being conducted at -10 C with dense wet snow frozen in and around the conductor. 10 Begin test. End of test. As you can see, the conductor is free of ice in a few minutes after the high-frequency deicing method is activated. CN-VRC Cold Room Demonstration at Dartmout(Chinese) CN-VRC Power Line De-Icing Stranded Bundle (Chinese) CN-VRC Power Line Deicing Separated Bundle (Chinese) CN-VRC Power Line Rapid De-Icing (Chinese)

Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 603-646-0296