Dip Estimation for Overhead Transmission Conductor using Catenary Angle

Under normal operating condition, the conductor of overhead transmission line could be always hold it`s clearance within the safety margin that is specified in the line design guide of power company. Hence it may be very important to measure/or monitor the dip of the conductor, when building a new line, re-tensioning for an aged conductor, or monitoring dynamic line rating to maximize power capability. In this paper, we suggest a new method to estimate the dip and tension by catenary angle of the conductor. Since most conductors in overhead transmission lines show typical catenary curves, it can be uniquely determined the catenary curve for the conductor from the catenary angle at tower. Based on the catenary curve, the dip or horizontal tension can be easily estimated. Through some simulation and simple experimental results, it is verified that the suggested method can be effectively applied to measure/or monitor conductor dips and tensions in the overhead transmission lines.