Abstract
EOS (Energie Ouest Suisse), the largest utility in West
Switzerland, is presently constructing a new transmission
line near Geneva comprising two 400 kV circuits
and one 132 kV circuit. This line is built utilising the
same right of way of an existing double circuit 125 kV
line, which will be dismantled. For a line length of about
1 km the line passes through a densely populated area,
where, even for the existing 125 kV line, due to space
limitations, clearances have to be kept to the minimum
values prescribed in the national overhead lines code.
These clearances are evidently not sufficient to allow
the construction of the new 400 kV line.
The only possible solution in order not to jeopardize the
new construction, was to design a new type of compact
line using bidimensional frames as towers. These, together
with a new concept of pivoted, braced post, insulated
crossarms, employing hollow core silicon rubber
composite insulators, made it possible to construct the
new, highly uprated 400 kV line within the same right of
way of the old 125 kV line.
The following paper explains the reasons for the line
uprating, describes the main line parameters and gives
details of the compact tower design and of the special
features of the insulated crossarms used. Last but not
least the full scale electrical and mechanical tests carried
out in order to validate the critical aspects of this
new concept are presented.
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