Tree encroachment detector

Abstract

Trees and other vegetation have adversely affected the operation of electric power transmission and distribution systems since the construction of the first electric lines. Vegetation intrusion causes loss of reliability and creates safety hazards. Failure to perform vegetation management has been identified as a contributing factor in wide-spread local outages, and, particularly during extreme weather conditions, to system-wide outages. Trees in direct contact with energized overhead conductors can cause interruptions by providing a pathway for the flow of fault current. When fault current is detected and interrupted by protection devices, such as fuses and re closers, an outage occurs. This electrical mode of failure and the fault pathway provided by trees has been the focus of this investigation. This research effort investigate vegetation induced fault on the Auchi -Agene bode 33kv transmission line for period of 2 years to identify the causes, the mostly affected section of that transmission line and suggest the necessary vegetation management practice to be adopted by the management to reduces the menace.