Arc Diverter for Overhead Conductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
High voltage power distribution lines are prone to electrical flashovers due to animal contact, which can cause conductor damage and power outages, and existing protective measures are inadequate in preventing prolonged arc damage.
Innovation Solution
An electrically conductive arc diverter is attached to the outer surface of electrical conductors, extending beyond the edge of the insulator cover, to divert and spread the arc over a greater surface area, acting as a sacrificial component to shield the conductor from direct electrical arcs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an insulator cover is used to protect the conductor and insulator, then protection against dust and animal contact is improved, but the arc diverter extension beyond the cover edge is required to prevent prolonged arc damage
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is divided into two functional segments: the insulator cover that provides primary protection against dust and animal contact, and the arc diverter that extends beyond the cover to provide specialized arc management. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The arc diverter acts as an intermediary component between the insulator cover and the conductor. It intercepts and redirects arcs before they can cause prolonged damage to the conductor, serving as a sacrificial element that protects the more critical conductor while working in conjunction with the insulator cover.
2Reliability
If the arc diverter is attached to the conductor outer surface, then arc diversion capability is improved, but the attachment process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arc diverter is designed as a relatively simple, attachable component that can be applied to the conductor outer surface. While it serves a critical protective function, its design prioritizes ease of attachment and replacement over complex integration, allowing for straightforward installation and maintenance.
3Reliability
If the arc diverter extends beyond the insulator cover edge, then arc dispersion effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arc diverter extends in the axial direction beyond the insulator cover edge, utilizing the dimensional space available outside the cover. This extension allows the arc diverter to intercept arcs that occur at the cover edges or slightly outside, providing enhanced arc dispersion effectiveness by operating in an additional spatial dimension.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The arc diverter effectively reduces conductor damage by dispersing electrical arcs and preventing prolonged exposure, thereby enhancing the protection of high voltage power distribution lines from wildlife-induced electrical flashovers.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conductive arc diverter that is elongated in an axial direction that is parallel to a center axis of the electrical conductor
Implementation Method 2
to divert and spread the arc over a greater surface area, acting as a sacrificial component to shield the conductor from direct electrical arcs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3B
Figure 4~5B
AI summary
Described herein is a protective cover assembly for an electrical conductor mounted on an insulator. The assembly includes an insulator cover (100) including a cover body covering the electrical conductor (20) and the insulator and an electrically conductive arc diverter (200A). The arc diverter (200A) is elongated in an axial direction that is parallel to a center axis (C-C) of the electrical conductor (20) and is attached to an outer surface of the electrical conductor (20) at a portion of the electrical conductor (20) that is covered by the insulator cover (100) such that a portion of the arc diverter (200A) is positioned below and covered by the insulator cover (100) and another portion of the arc diverter (200A) extends past an edge (102) of the insulator cover (100) with an outer edge (214) of the arc diverter (200A) being spaced apart from the edge (102) of the insulator cover (100) in the axial direction.