A Comparative Study on High-Voltage Spacer-Damper Performance and Assessment: Theory, Experiments and Analysis

This paper reports on the experimental analysis of commercially available spacer-dampers used to suppress wind induced Aeolian vibrations on transmission lines with bundle conductors. Three spacer-dampers with different bushing-shaft designs, overall mass, and fabrication technology have been selected for this evaluation. Spacer-damper performances have been examined in a temperature- controlled testing facility by measuring their frequency and force-displacement response, in order to determine whether the bushing-shafting design meets the prerequisite to withstand the undesirable motions of the coupled sub-conductors. The tests showed that the hysteresis force-displacement test gives a better indication of an efficient spacer-damper and its energy absorption but is not consistent enough to describe the entire list of needed features against wind induced vibrations, i.e., its mobility or impedance, admittance and receptance vs. frequency. However, to investigate the working range of the spacer-damper in terms of the relative amplitudes between the frame and the arm of the spacer-damper, an analytical and experimental sensitivity model was developed. Analytically, the sensitivity models are based on the partial differential of an explicit dynamic model of the arm-rubber-frame and arm-rubber while the transfer functions have been experimentally established from the identification technique of force response frequency. In both approaches, the same conclusion was observed, although, analytically some assumptions have been made. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of the energy absorbed with variation of the ambient temperature was conducted during the hysteresis test.