Eskom Transmission

Live Line Maintenance

Techniques and
Practices

Eric Marshall

Chief Eng Live Work

Eskom Transmission, South Africa
 OVERVIEW

Eskom Transmission Network and environment

Typical structures
Maintainability of designs
Operational facts considered: TOVs and clearances
Maintenance requirements
Live Work Techniques, tools and PPE
Live Work Risks
Operational info of Eskom Transmission Live Work Program
Questions
Eskom EHV Transmission Network
Eskom Transmission Network

Consisting of:
28 790 km of OHL
220 kV = 1 217 km 80 % Glass cap and pin
insulators
275 kV = 7 476 km
20 % Composite insulators
400 kV = 16 913 km
533 kV DC = 1 035 km Multi bundle phase conductor
(up to 6)
765 kV = 1 153 km
Vast family of conventional and
and growing.
cross rope structures

95 % of preventative and corrective

maintenance conducted live !!
Environment
Birds and associated pollution
Fires
Lightning
Tuff in Africa
Typical Eskom Transmission Structures

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Typical Eskom Transmission Structures

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Typical Eskom Transmission Structures

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Min Cost vs. Reliability vs. Maintainability

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Maintainability of designs: Structures

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Maintainability of designs: Structures

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Maintainability of designs: Structures

Nylon Rope

7.0 m

7/3 m

Tfront Test Sequence

149 us Test 1 No Dummy
244 us Test 2 No Dummy
244 us Test 3 Dummy 7/3 m from positive
244 us Test 4 Dummy 7/2 m from positive 16
244 us Test 5 Dummy 7/3 m from negative
Maintainability of designs: Hardware

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Maintainability of designs: Hardware

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Maintainability of designs: Hardware design

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Maintainability of designs: Adaptors
Operational facts considered: TOVs and
clearances
ToVs Caused by:
Switching on the network
Lightning .

Controlled and managed by:

Inhibiting auto re-close device

No live work under lightning and thunderstorm activity

Closing resistors used on circuit breakers

Bypassing series capacitor banks

Safety Clearance distances

MINIMUM SAFE WORKING DISTANCES (CLEARANCES)

ESKOM STANDARD HIGH VOLTAGE LIVE WORKING (TST 41-91, REV2)
Nominal Circuit Phase to earth (mm) Phase to phase (mm)
voltage (kV)
AC 220 1700 2800
275 2000 3400
400 2800 4800
765 5500 9700
DC 533 4250 -

ONE DISTANCE KEEP IT SIMPLE !!

Maintenance requirements

Constrained Transmission network minimal outages

available

As a result 95 % plus of routine maintenance is conducted

alive using various live work techniques

Activities includes mainly:

Insulator replacements

Spacer and damper replacements

Conductor repairs
Tools and equipment

In accordance with international

standards
Conductive clothing IEC 60895
Insulated foam filled tubes IEC 60855
Insulated aerial platforms ASTM A92.2
and South African Occupational Health
and Safety Act
Tools and equipment
Live Work Techniques: Eskom Tx
(220-765 kV)

Generally.
Combination of Stick and Bare hand techniques
utilising the following means:
Stick or distance method
Conventional climbing and rigging ladders
Insulated aerial platform
Rope Hoisting method
Helicopter based Aerial under slung & skid
Conventional Stick V suspension assembly 400kV

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Conventional Stick I suspension assembly 275 kV

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Conventional Bare hand I string
Conventional Bare hand I string
Conventional Bare hand I string
Conventional Bare hand Strain assembly 220 kV

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Conventional Bare hand Strain assembly 220 kV

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Insulated Aerial platform Bare Hand 765 kV
Ins. change out

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Insulated Aerial platform Bare hand765 kV
Ins. change out

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Insulated Aerial platform Bare hand 765 kV
- Spacer replacement

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Rope Hoisting method Bare hand 400 kV
Ins change out
Rope Hoisting method Bare hand 400 kV
Ins change out
Aerial under slung 400 kV Insulator change out

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Aerial under slung 400 kV Insulator change out

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Aerial under slung 400 kV Insulator change out

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Aerial under slung 400 kV Insulator change out

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Aerial under conductor work 765 kV

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Aerial Rack or Skid work on earth cond.
Aerial Live Spray Washing

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Live Work Risks

Mechanical...
Failure of line hardware and insulators
Failure of mechanical/hydraulic tensioning equipment

Electrical...
Insulating tool failure and flashover
Bridging of the air gap resulting in flashover
Insulator flashover/failure

Other...
Falling from heights
Aviation related
Driving to and from work site
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Operational info Eskom Transmission L/L

Governance and control

Live Work Technology centrally managed and controlled

8 Live Work Standards and 21 Live Work Procedures
Governed by Tx LWSC and Eskom LW CG
Aviation regulated by Civil Aviation Authority

Resources
97 authorised live work staff - stick, bare hand and aerial techniques
5 In-house single engine helicopters and 10 Pilots
6 Insulated aerial platforms up to 765 kV
Centrally managed and dispatched
7 geographically de concentrated operational units ( 7-15 man strong)
In house training and assessments. 47
Questions

Thank you