Transmission line assessment

A transmission line system consists of five sub-systems, based on their individual functions. They are insulation, current carrying, construction, lightning protection and accessories subsystems. Each of the subsystem consists of components. Hundreds of transmission towers are usually be found between two substations. The condition of a transmission line is assessed based on these subsystems. Among others, only some component, namely critical components, contributes to the condition of a transmission line. A favourable transmission line assessment will include every aspect of transmission line, i.e. component condition and environment condition. Environment is crucial factor in transmission lines, a transmission lines may have severe weather condition on some of its towers and in the same time a benign environment on its others. Despite of this importance, in this paper we will discuss about the determination of a transmission line condition. To begin with, an FMECA approach should be conducted and the result will shows each subsystem's weighting factor's which by then we are able to determine the most critical components of it. To achieve this, a good data is very important. The rule used in the assessment is the condition of a transmission line which is determined by the lowest tower condition score.