Critical span analysis of overhead conductors

Those factors that influence the location and number of critical spans are identified. Sensitivity parameters are introduced and used to show how the critical span is influenced by weather conditions, conductor properties and conductor current. The weather conditions along the route of the line are shown to be the dominant factors which affect the conductor temperature and ultimately the number and location of critical spans. The weather data were used in a computer program to predict real-time conductor temperature, and the span temperatures at the five locations. In addition, a statistical analysis of the temperature data was used to determine the location of a critical span under various weather conditions. Temperature data collected at the test span, weather data from the five sites, and the results of the sensitivity analysis all confirm the difficulties in locating critical spans, particularly when they are governed to a large degree by local weather conditions that are highly variable and practically impossible to predict.<>