Abstract
Metal strands of composite fiber-optic ground wire (OPGW) are sometimes melted and broken by high-energy lightning strikes. Direct current (DC) arc tests simulating the lightning strikes have thus been performed to obtain the melting and breaking characteristics of OPGW strands. J-Power Transmission Network Co., Ltd. has developed high-strength and high-corrosion-resistant OPGW for long-span 500kV overhead transmission lines crossing straits. This paper describes the melting and breaking characteristics of the OPGW strands due to DC arc discharge simulating high-energy lightning strike. In this research, the tests were performed using two kinds of arc, one was the arc supposing summer lightning whose polarity was negative with a relatively short duration, and the other was the arc supposing winter lightning whose polarity was positive with a relatively long duration. Furthermore, the calculations regarding the melting and breaking of OPGW strands were carried out, and the calculation results showed a tendency similar to the test results.
