MRSK Tsentra : Power engineers of IDGC of Centre recorded a unique natural phenomenon in the Tver region

Electric grid facilities of IDGC of Centre in the Tver region continue to experience heavy loads associated with winter natural anomalies. Over the weekend the region recorded a unique case of frost on wires. The diameter of the frozen compacted snow mass around the wire is about 40 cm.

The abnormal phenomenon was found in the forest belt in Udomelsky district in the ROW of the 35kV overhead line Udomlya-Kopachevo of the Tver branch of IDGC of Centre. 'The character of this natural phenomenon can be explained by the peculiarities of the terrain. The fact that the marshes even in the most severe frosts do not freeze and steam. At temperatures below zero vapour crystallizes in the frost that builds up on the power line wires, as explained by Alexander Pilyugin, First Deputy General Director - Chief Engineer of IDGC of Centre. Under the influence of the snow mass gravity, the wire gets stretched and sags, threatening breaks and technological failures in work of electric grid facilities.'

Tverenergo's power engineers, having for the first time confronted with the phenomenon, started to perform maintenance work. They made full inspection of the line, switched it off, cleared the frost by tapping with operating insulated rods. As the pressure of snow deformed the wires, some sections of the overhead line were re-stretched.

Currently, the technical unit of the Tver branch of IDGC of Centre has increased the number of rounds of power lines crossing the swampy area to eliminate the possibility of failure in the work of power equipment.