A method to calculate jump height of iced transmission lines after ice-shedding

Abstract Based on the energy conservation, stress–sag relation, geometrical relation of spans and dynamic relation of clamps connected with suspension insulators of a multi-span transmission line following ice-shedding, a theoretical method to calculate the maximum jump height of the line is presented. The jump heights of transmission lines with various parameters, including the number of spans, span length, conductor type, ice thickness and suspension insulator length, after ice-shedding are determined by the presented method and the finite element method, and the results obtained by both methods agree well. The method presented in this paper is more accurate than those previously proposed by other authors and more convenient than the finite element method. It is suggested that the presented method be employed to predict the jump height of a transmission line located in an ice zone after ice-shedding, which is a key factor in the design of electric insulation clearance.