In areas prone to snow and ice disasters, the anti-icing and de-icing capabilities of transmission line towers directly affect the safe and stable operation of the power grid. Snow and ice disasters can lead to thicker ice buildup on conductors, increasing the vertical load on towers and potentially causing conductor galloping, ice shedding, and jumping, resulting in dynamic impacts on the tower structure and even serious accidents such as tower collapse and line breakage. Therefore, a comprehensive approach involving design optimization, material improvement, technical measures, and operation and maintenance management is needed to enhance the adaptability of transmission line towers in extreme snow and ice environments.
The design phase is a crucial stage for enhancing anti-icing capabilities. When selecting routes, it is essential to avoid micro-topography and microclimate zones, such as mountain passes, valleys, and windward slopes—areas prone to icing—to reduce the risk of lines being exposed to extreme weather. If avoidance is not possible, design standards should be raised based on historical icing data and meteorological conditions, such as increasing the mechanical strength of the towers, shortening the span, and using tension towers or reinforced straight-line towers. Meanwhile, optimizing conductor arrangement, such as using horizontal or inverted triangular arrangements, can reduce load differences caused by uneven icing and lower the risk of unbalanced tower stress.
Improving the materials and structure of transmission line towers is a crucial means of enhancing their anti-icing performance. Traditional steel-cored aluminum stranded wires are prone to increased conductor sag after icing due to thicker ice layers, increasing the tower load. New anti-icing conductors, such as composite-core soft aluminum conductors or smooth-surfaced Z-shaped conductors, can reduce ice and snow adhesion and decrease ice thickness. Furthermore, using high-strength steel or increasing cross-sectional dimensions in critical tower components, such as crossarms, curved arms, and main tower structure, can improve the overall bending and torsional resistance of the tower. Grounding wire supports must be designed to exceed the standard for conductor ice thickness to ensure their mechanical strength meets the requirements of extreme working conditions.
The application of technical measures is the core of proactive icing disaster prevention. Thermal de-icing technology, by applying short-circuit current or direct current to heat the conductor and melt the ice, is currently one of the most effective proactive de-icing methods. In areas prone to snow and ice disasters, mobile or fixed de-icing devices can be deployed, combined with online monitoring systems, to monitor icing conditions in real time and achieve precise de-icing. Mechanical de-icing technologies, such as drone impact detection, robotic de-icing, and pulley scraping, are suitable for initial or localized de-icing, reducing the safety risks of manual tower climbing. Furthermore, passive protective measures such as anti-icing coatings and snow-blocking rings can also delay icing formation or reduce the amount of icing to some extent.
Strengthening operation and maintenance management is fundamental to ensuring the effective implementation of anti-icing measures. Before the snow and ice season, transmission line towers, conductors, and hardware must undergo a comprehensive inspection to eliminate defects and potential hazards, such as tightening bolts, adjusting guy wires, and replacing aging components. Simultaneously, establishing an icing monitoring network, through manual observation, online monitoring, and drone inspections, allows for real-time monitoring of line icing conditions, providing a basis for de-icing and de-icing decisions. In addition, developing emergency plans, stockpiling emergency supplies, and conducting emergency drills can improve the ability to respond to sudden snow and ice disasters and shorten fault repair time.
The integration of intelligent technologies provides new solutions for anti-icing and de-icing. Utilizing big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, icing prediction models can be built to provide early warnings of icing risks and optimize de-icing and melting strategies. For example, by analyzing meteorological data, historical icing records, and line parameters, the time, location, and thickness of icing can be predicted, guiding maintenance personnel to take preventative measures in advance. Simultaneously, the application of equipment such as intelligent de-icing robots and drone inspection systems can achieve automated and precise operations, reducing manual intervention and improving de-icing efficiency and safety.
Establishing a collaborative defense mechanism is crucial for enhancing overall disaster resilience. Snow and ice disasters often involve large areas, requiring strengthened collaboration between power grid companies and departments such as meteorology, transportation, and communications to achieve information sharing and resource integration. For example, meteorological departments provide accurate icing warnings, allowing power grid companies to adjust their operating modes and deploy emergency response forces accordingly; transportation departments ensure the passage of emergency vehicles, and communications departments ensure smooth emergency command. Through cross-departmental and cross-regional collaboration, a combined force can be formed to combat snow and ice disasters, minimizing disaster losses.
