1994 Session 3 September ‘© CIGRE 28 August 22-902 INSPECTION POLICY OF EXISTING OVERHEAD LINES AND ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY BASED ON PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE X.DELREE J.ROGIER* A. VAN OVERMEERE, Gecoli ‘Tractebel Laborelec (Belgium) 1, INTRODUCTION The growth in domestic domand of electric power, the renewal of life-expired lines and the possible development of exchanges between the various European countries, all contribute to the need for new HV transmission lines, this ata time when itis increasingly difficult to obtain the necessary licences in Belgium 10 build new lines. Hence, uprating or rehabilitation of existing lines has been considered, some of which have been in service for over 60 years. In onder to help keeping under control the ever increasing potential problems relating to overhead line ageing, a standard line assessment methodology has been developed. The assessment procedure and the diagnostic techniques have been selected on the basis of practical experience, as ‘obtained by the feedback from the regular inspections so far in the field and especially from the first full-scale assessments conducted recently. At present, studies are being pursued in order to optimize the assessment methodology. Key words Overhead line - Assessment - Inspection « Test = Diagnosis - Sampling 2. CONTEXT Belgium (nearly 10 million inhabitants), with some 330 inhabitants per square kilometre, is a comparatively densely populated country in which the population is, spread far outside the urban areas. Moreover, the country’s industrialisation already started in the middle of the nineteenth century. As a result its HV networks are dense, strongly meshed and now have a large proportion of old lines. Fig. 1 clearly illustrates the considerable growth of 150 and 220 kV networks between 1955 and 1980. At these voltage levels, the line lengths in service since more than 30 or even 50 years are far from negligible : about 40 and 10 % respectively. ‘Their replacement by new structures, possibly with higher capacity, is increasingly difficult due to fierce ‘opposition from part of the population and for reasons of preservation of the remaining green areas. This leads to considerable delays in line construction licensing as many appeals are bound 10 be made before the many relevant authorities and courts, }2000Ke | |s500%m x 000K y ¥ s 500 Lg 0K) T aNREES "YEARS 0 35 735 30 Fig.1 Evolution in cumulated geographical length of overhead lines. ‘This situation can but spur on the efforts to extend the life of existing lines {1} and, if possible, uprate their transmission capacity. With this in mind, the inspection and assessment policies regarding old lines have been defined, focusing on four major objectives: 1) meeting all the legal and regulatory stipulations; 2). maintaining and possibly improving the present very high reliability of the HV networks; 3) extending the operational life of existing lines; 4) uprating the power transmission capacity of existing lines, by a maximal use of the corridor width of existing lines. * Avenue Ariane 7- 1200 BRUXELLES22-302 3. INSPECTION POLICY REGARDING EXISTING OVERHEAD LINES ‘The HV line inspection interventions, summarized in table 1, may differ substantially in nature and scope depending on which are the purposes of the inspections. 3.1 Regulatory requirements In Belgium, the regulations stipulate two types of HV installation inspection visits. Firstly, specialist organisations, which are appointed by authorities as, Authorized Inspection Agencies (A.L.A.) regarding this ‘matter, have to inspect any new equipment before it may be put into service and thereafter once a year for as long, as the equipment is kept in service, The reports established by the A.LA. are recorded in a separate register specific to each of the constructions. Secondly, these regulations impose regular inspections to the line ‘operator, the intervals of which, depending on the type of installations, are either stipulated or left for the operator to decide freely under his own judgment and responsibility 3.2. Maintai ing of reliability Routine inspection of the installations is carried out during quarterly and annual inspection visits. Limited interim visits may be inserted when particular problems, could be expected relating to a sudden change in the overhead line environment (residential parcelling out, creation of industrial parks, ..) The state of tower protection against corrosion is checked every four years, though the next inspection date may be brought forward should a change in the rate of deterioration have been previously noticed. Normally, corrosion inspections do not require line disconnection, but selected representative sample of about 20 % of all superstructures are climbed, including all the particular ceases such as new towers, reinforced or modified towers, towers in a more aggressive environment, towers with aircraft warning paints, and so on. Synthetic reports of these inspections are established, possibly with detailed proposals (year and recommended methods) for corrosion protection restoration, Also, thermographic and more comprehensive inspections are carried out at regular intervals to monitor the long term evolution of the condition of the HV line structures. Beside, a visit is made each time a line was \ripped oun by its protective equipment, 3.3) The decision to undertake an assessment is generally ‘guided by the third or fourth objective of above point 2 Assessment decision Indeed, an assessment can be decided if the findings uring the inspection visits may give rise to concerns that the Tine state can become unsatisfactory and that, if ro extensive rehabilitation work is undertaken, the line ‘will have to be disconnected or perhaps even dismantled in the short term, In this case, the assessment Will provide the basis to determine the extent and cost of the rehabilitation work, i.e. supply the information from ‘which the fine's future can be decided, ‘Table 1 Summary of regular and specitic inspection visits Tnspection, Period Resources ~ Purposes T Shor visit max. 3 monihe [With vehicle, with binoculars ‘elton eaurmen hors a “cn men 51 line equipment, conductor, ois, spacers, 2 Limited visi : During the construction period, between two short visits ‘entfiestion of changes in Ne environment 3 Checking visit, Tyear [Checking by Authorized Inspection Agencies oafonmity to regulon [4 Routine inspection T year cess 10 the fest of the tower (complements and replaces the short visit) oSYaible cormrion ontnsty ofthe visible eating pane 1 ed of pruning or clearing of wees 1 Weniieion of new cbuacles [5 Tnspection of the ‘max 4 years condition of corrosion. | Climbing of about 20 % ofthe towers without Tine dlscopnecion | |" cndifn ofthe easton pretccon and ete feast i an) protection _ 6 Thermographic Syeas | iy heleapier ot rom the ground inspection “dtction oft points F7 Extensive inspection | about 10 years Tine disconnection and clinbing of owers ‘sample selection of towers: . lot overt inspection ‘emoval of samples, here required ‘Srccking and messramen of eating fS Assessment 20 10 40 years Dauziled standardized 9" Specified visit after Tine |= ripping TE a renin ceil Sans 1 Ifrestortion fas: before the hie is ecannecied and on the fies working day except for special evens igrening, emergency fr network avalaity ——An assessment may also be ordered when it is advisable that the capacity of a line should be uprated In this case, itis important to investigate the possible technical options and evaluate the budgets these would involve. This information and possibly the results of ‘a comparison between the estimated budgets and the cost and difficulty of providing a new link, make it possible for the network planners to establish the fechnicaljeconomic best options in order to meet HV transmission demand in the future, PAST ASSESSMENTS In 1988, the operator of a 150 KV line situated in the North of the country was informed, following an extensive inspection, that general problems were revealed in connection with hardware and conductor ageing. This line is 24 km long and was put into service in 1965. In order to improve the handling of such situations, it was decided to assess old lines, and to gradually develop an assessment methodology based (on practical experience. A first assessment was conducted in 1989 on a short portion of a 3.3 km long 150 kV line built in 1958, ‘This was the basis for the more extensive assessments, ‘Already at the end of 1989, wo new assessments were launched on two 150 kV lines ‘A 43 km line put into service in 1960. This line is situated in the Northwest region of the country, crossing mainly pastures at a distance between 10 and 35 km from the North Sea; ‘A 51 km line put into service in 1932. This tine is located more centrally in the country and crosses a highly industrial region (collieries now disused, steelworks and chemical plants). ‘These assessments were completed over a period of two years, they were comprehensive and allowed the various methods for on-site inspection and for laboratory tests 10 be evaluated with a view to identifying the most reliable methods. ‘Asa result of the assessments, the full replacement of all the insulator strings and their attachment pieces was decided, even though only afew of these had been found deteriorated. Conductor reinforcement or replacement was undertaken also, and some foundations needed to be repaired in various types and to various extents varying along the line. Tower lattice deteriorations were found to be generally very local and not very severe. ‘The feedback from these assessments served towards the establishment of procedures for future assessments (see 5.) and made it possible to develop specific methods for diagnosis (see 6.) and for sampling (see7.). 22.302 HODOLOGY FOR FUTURE ASSESSMENTS 8.1. Prior colle n of records Experionce has shown the necessity, before any inspection in the field, of collecting the full documentation-of the line, starting with general data such as the line name and voltage level, year of construction, circuit lay-out, geographical length, umber of towers, etc. Then are adkled the as-built or updated drawings such as the geographical maps showing the line position and orientation, the updated list of towers with their latest identification number in the field and the type of hardware in place, The longitudinal profiles and plan views showing the distances, as well as the plans of the hardware with its allachment system drawings are also highly relevant, Silhouette drawings of the lower, showing its four faces, are indispensable for indicating afterwards the position of deficient stect angles. It is recommended also that the line operation records be collected and examined, so that the attention of the inspector may be drawn 1 a number of suspect line components that must be inspected in greater detail. This information will mainly be found in reports of previous incidents, anomalies revealed or situations experienced during or following routine or extensive inspections, thermographic or laboratory tests. From the operation records he will also learn what modifications and improvements have been made over the years of Line operation, Ones this body of data bas been synthesized, it has 19 be discussed at concertation mectings with all the parties concerned. ‘These meetings also provide the opportunity for apportioning the assessment tasks among the operator, the consulting engineer, the contractors, the specialized laboratories, ete, and for scheduling, organizing and co-ordinating the visits, inspections, measurements, removal of samples and. tests, Finally, all the relevant data will be recorded on standardized forms. 5.2, Assessment sequence Based on experience with previous assessments, a standard methodology has been developed that serves to better prepare, organise and implement the next assessments. Owing to the systematic approach, the results of assessments at various time or location can always be compared. Indeed, when the procedures are the same, the findings Of assessments conducted at different periods in time fon a same line make it possible to evaluate the evolution of its condition. Also, when several lines exist that are similar in design, execution, surrounding and possibly age, the overall number of samples to be removed for tests can be reduced.