The Reliability Investigation on ACSR Splice Connector Systems Used in Overhead Power Transmission Lines

Abstract

Due to material discontinuity and inherited forming mechanism from a crimped-type splice connector, the associated conductor-connector system is highly sensitive to system components aging, especially during high-temperature operations. Furthermore, due to the increase in power demand and limited investment in new infrastructure, existing overhead power transmission lines often need to operate at temperatures higher than the original designed values. This has led to the accelerated aging and degradation of conductor-connector systems. The implications of connector aging are two-fold: (1) significant increase in resistivity of the splice connector and (2) significant reduction in the connector clamping strength. Therefore, splice connectors are one of the weakest links in the electric power transmission infrastructure. In this paper we will discuss the reliability of splice connector systems, including both single stage and two stage splice connectors, used in ACSR conductor of transmission lines under high temperature operations.