Introduction

Power Grid Foreign Object Laser Removal Device

With the development of urban and rural construction, the geographical environment of power transmission lines has changed greatly, and factors threatening power grid safety have gradually increased. In recent years, suspended objects such as kite strings, plastic mulch films, canvas, advertising banners, and fireworks residues have become one of the major hazards to high-voltage transmission lines. Wrapped or hung on power conductors, such foreign objects are highly likely to cause faults including single-phase grounding and inter-phase short circuits on high-voltage transmission lines. In severe cases, they may even lead to large-scale power outages of the power grid. Therefore, it is essential to remove these foreign objects in a timely manner.

Traditional removal of suspended foreign objects adopts contact methods, either power-cut maintenance or live-line operation. Maintenance personnel working on power lines after power outage not only increases the frequency and duration of power cuts, but also causes huge economic losses to enterprises and society. At present, many provinces and cities are committed to researching live-line working methods and equipment under equipotential conditions. Common live-line foreign object removal techniques include blowtorch combustion, rope hooking, equipotential soft ladder, operating rod picking, and insulated bucket truck operation. However, all these methods belong to mechanical contact operation. The equipment or maintenance personnel need to make contact with power transmission and transformation facilities, which may cause certain damage to the lines. In addition, when personnel and equipment enter the strong electric field of transmission and transformation conductors and ground wires, they are exposed to high safety risks.

Adopting laser as the energy source, the ground-based laser foreign object removal device emits a laser beam to irradiate the foreign objects, forming a laser ablation (or cutting) area on the surface. The foreign objects are completely ablated or divided into fragments, realizing the non-contact live-line removal of non-metallic suspended matters such as kite strings, plastic mulch films, canvas and advertising banners on high-voltage transmission and transformation equipment.

This long-distance non-contact live-line removal mode enables operators to stay away from the high-voltage strong electric field and requires no physical contact between equipment and transmission lines. It has important theoretical significance and great engineering practical value for improving the power supply reliability of transmission lines and ensuring the operational safety of maintenance personnel.