Deicing tranmssion lines - skin effect

[PeterVenkman]

I see IEEE papers of people looking into inject high frequency currents into transmission lines for deicing via the skin effect. Has anyone run across a utility that does this to deice their lines? Is it effective? Does anyone know of a vendor?

 

[Jebb]

Hydro Quebec has tried anything and everything for de-icing lines, especially after the devastating Dec. 1997 ice storm. The HQ IREQ (Test) division has published several papers on the de-icing subject. They've even tried applying short circuits on the lines to knock the ice off with magnetic forces of the fault current.

I actually witnessed it first hand responding with mutual aid while working for a New England utility. It got pretty old real quick after sleeping, in bed, with your coat and boots on in a hotel that had no electricity.