SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEICING OF POWER LINE CABLES

摘要

A system and method for deicing power transmission cables divides the cable into sections. Switches are provided at each end of a section for coupling the conductors together in parallel in a normal mode, and at least some of the conductors in series in an anti-icing mode. When the switches couple the conductors in series, an electrical resistance of the cable section is effectively increased allowing self-heating of the cable by power-line current to deice the cable; the switches couple the conductors in parallel for less loss during normal operation. In an alternative embodiment, the system provides current through a steel strength core of each cable to provide deicing, while during normal operation current flows through low resistance conductor layers. Backup hardware is provided to return the system to low resistance operation should a cable overtemperature state occur.