230KV 3Phase Trasmission Line Switch

This video was captured in 2002 at a BPA substation located at the Haskill tap of the Libby-Conkelley No.1 230 kV transmission line near Kalispell Montana. It shows a three phase vertical break disconnect switch attempting to de-energize an unloaded 34 mile long section of transmission line. This switch was part of an experimental design and is no longer in service. Air break disconnect switches are not intended to actively switch load current. In the clip, the arcing is due to the attempted interruption of comparatively low reactive (capacitive or "charging") currents drawn by the open transmission line. Even with the reduced current, the disconnect switch was not always capable of opening the circuit. At the very end of the clip, a brief phase-to-phase power arc causes the upstream line interrupters to open, finally extinguishing the arcs.
A ton more of this stuff can be found at http://205.243.100.155/frames/longarc.htm

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Tesla
• Arc
• Power
• Electricity
• Substation
• Lethal

[biowerks]

The power company gets all the cool toys!

[666SAZUKE666]

yes, you can

[TAPriceCTR]

@bamaslamma1003

thank you

[bamaslamma1003]

@TAPriceCTR The circuit breaker feeding the line interrupts all three phases at once. Initially the circuit is carrying relatively low reactive current (capacitance between phase conductors and inductance of unloaded transformers in the circuit). At that point the load is within the breaker's rating. Once the arc flashes over to another phase, it appears as a short circuit, tripping the breaker and killing power.

[bu11dogs1000]

wut is dat thing for?????

[MrStemkilla]

@biowerks the military get the eavan better toys

[TAPriceCTR]

what would cause 3 to trip simultaniously?

[Gasoline500]

that is bad ass!!

[MrTehcat]

HAARP!

[FearlessSpinner]

@gocountry1391 If you had to maintain a powerline...you wouldnt want to do that while 100.000 of volts flow through it eh? ;)

[gocountry1391]

what they are doing that for?

[EaseAssassin]

HAARP!, Bush, Inside Job!, Illuminati