Comparison of Aluminum and Copper Particle Critical Diameter Produced in Overhead Line Conductor Clashing

The issues of hot metal particle eruption due to overhead line conductor clashing and potentially ignition of cellulosic fuel beds under the transmission line have not been sufficiently explored although conductor clashing is often considered as fire cause. At the point where contact or electric arc between two conductors on different potentials is established, electric energy is converted into heat energy so the large amount of generated heat can cause melting and vaporization of conductor material. Some of ejected sparks will ignite and burn, while others will simply fall to the ground, cooling off on the way by convection and radiation. The critical diameter is the least diameter of the particle caused by conductor clashing that will be sufficient to ignite the biomass on the ground. The results show that the copper particles in the same conditions bring a greater ignition risk due to their higher heat capacity.