THE OPERATION MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

OF ELECTRIC SPECIAL POWER

OPTIC FIBER CABLE

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 THE OPERATION MANAGEMENT AND
MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRIC SPECIAL POWER
OPTIC FIBER CABLE
Abstract：Special power optic fiber cable (OPGW/ADSS) is becoming an inseparable important part
of telecommunication for modern electric power system, it has mainly supported telecommunication,
relay protection, automation, dispatching and transmission information which have a direct
relationship on safe operation of power network. The special power optic fiber cable has received
extensive application, but the electric industry doesn’t map out the detailed and uniform operation
management and maintenance protocol. The paper discusses the operation management
organization and models, fixes on the maintenance interface on cable of telecommunication persons,
relay protection persons and transmission persons. The paper also discusses the maintenance
organizational structures and responsibility and basic requirement, and mainly discusses the
concrete content of daily maintenance and disfigurement maintenance.

Key words: special power optic fiber cable, operation management, operation maintenance

1. Introduction

With the development and blending of electric and telecommunication, the power network has
obtained extensive application and development. As one of the three pillars to ensure the safety
operation of power grids, the power telecommunication system plays an important role in the
operation of power industry. The telecommunication carries electricity power communications,
dispatching, security, automation, line protection etc, which is directly related to the power grid and
other production information security. Electric power communication network must have high
reliability, real-time and strong resistance to "shock", so protecting safe and stable operation of
electric power communication is the goal of the telecommunication. Now the special power optic
fiber cable set up with the transmission line, at least a few kilometers, up to hundreds of thousands
of kilometers, along the topography, geomorphology, environment, and weather conditions are very
complex, so we must improve the operation management, the standardization of the operation and
maintenance. However the power industry hasn’t yet developed the detailed and feasible unity of
operation management and maintenance policy of the special power optic fiber cable. So the paper
tries to explore on this point.

2. The Operation Management of the Special Power Optic Fiber Cable

(1) Organization of Operation Management

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Our country’s power telecommunication network has formatted five communication networks on the
basis of management level, detailed as follows:

1) First level communication network: carries communications from State Grid Corporation to
the regional power grid companies, as well as communications between the regional power
grid operations;

2) Second level communication network: carries communications from regional power Grid
Corporation to every province, as well as the communications between the provinces.

3) Third level communication network: carries communications from provincial power

companies to provincial cities owned electricity company, the province transferred
straightening of power plants, substations communications business;

4) Forth level communication network: carries communication of the city county area supply
companies, the company under the jurisdiction of the county, the power company
substation.

5) Fifth level communication network: carries communication of county power company to

supply the township, the substation under the jurisdiction of the communication services.

So our country’s power communication network is divided into five levels communication
management department: National grid, regional grid, the provincial power grid, municipal and
county-level power grid, which can manage the operation of all levels special power cable network,
maintenance the unusual incidents.

(2) Operational Management Mode

Special power optic fiber cable from the power of the electricity transmission network formation is
dependent on the electricity grid, it is necessary to adopt special measures to ensure the operation
and management of power grids, telecommunications access safe and reliable operation. On the
communications network itself, the actual current of electric power communication mode of
operation and management is divided into: communication power station management and
management of power communication lines. The power communication station management is the
unit of the mature of power communication, the key to manage the special power optic fiber cable is
the management of the power communication lines.

The special power optic fiber cable (OPGW / ADSS) is set up on power lines, which transfers optical
transmission communication signal as well as relays and controls signals. Therefore, the
management of the operation of the special power optic fiber cable involved in communications,

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protective relaying, power automation, electric power transmission line scheduling these five related
majors.

For the transmission, the main function is to ensure that the machinery, electrical characteristics of
special power optic fiber cable are safe and reliable. OPGW transmission system itself is the
overhead ground wire, the ADSS hung on the tower monitors (such as transmission lines, towers,
etc.) the effect on the transmission system. Therefore, the special power optic fiber cable lines can
be run entirely on the management of a very sound and mature sector of the transmission line mode
of operation and management.

As power communications, protective relaying, power automation, and electric power dispatching
these four professional major lines use fiber channels within optic fiber cable as a means of
communication at both ends. To ensure the transmission and operation of the signal, attenuation
optic fiber transmission line, line attenuation of optic fiber connector, terminal connector attenuation
and dispersion indicator line should be monitored. These indicators of optical communication can be
monitored by the communications, and operational management department and the model of
communication professionals are complete and mature.

Therefore, the special power optic fiber cable should be co-operationally managed by the power
transmission lines sector (professional) and communications sector (professional), as well as relay
protection sector (professional).

However, due to the special power optic fiber cable (OPGW / ADSS) are unique, which still brought
about multi-disciplinary technical barriers to management and maintenance of the operation of the
relevant sectors. Management personnel and line management staff who maintain the interface
cable must be responsible for the management of power operation lines, the responsibilities of the
professional sector must be clear, to achieve seamless management in all aspects of
communication networks, management shouldn’t be carried out of touch.

For the OPGW power communication network, OPGW cable station in the plant architecture
connects the metal free optic fiber cable into the room through the framework of terminal connector,
thus putting the terminal connector of the OPGW cable as a cut-off point between the operation
management and the maintenance. For the power communication network, because ADSS belongs
to mental free cable, generalily to introduce it from the station inside the cable trench box to enter
the indoor terminal connector, therefore putting the indoor substation communication station or
terminal connector box room as a cut-off point of running management and maintenance.

1) Cut-off point to the line side OPGW / ADSS are managed and maintained by transmission lines
(professional), which are generally submitted by Transmission and Distribution Engineering or
line to manage the maintenance of work area;

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2) Cut-off point to station side optic fiber cable, indoor room terminal connector box, pigtail
(connector activities) and optical distribution frame (with adapter), all of the outdoor circuit cable
connectors and the cable box of Fiber Channel are managed and maintained by the
communications sector (professional) or relay protection sector (professional).

The protection communication channel refers to the use of shared transmission circuits or optic fiber
cable transmission of relay protection, automatic safety device communication circuit. With the
extensive application of the distance protection and fiber protection, the impact of the management
of the protection on the safe and stable operation of power grids is becoming more and more
prominent, communication and relay protection staff should be clear about the management and
maintenance interface of optic fiber cable. After special power optic fiber cable arrives in (or room)
terminal box, some areas use the difference of protection and communication to introduce the optic
fiber cable; some places use the same protection and the introduction of optic fiber communications
pigtail jumper by different branches in order to facilitate the protection, management and
maintenance of communications. Therefore, where the boundaries of protection and communication
are designed of optic fiber, the interface cable is clear for communication and relay protection staffs
to manage and maintenance.

3. Operation and Maintenance of the Electric Optic Fiber Cable

(1) Organize of Operation and the Responsibility

As special power optic fiber cable is in joint-management of the transmission line departments
(professional) and the relay protection sector (professional), then the operation and maintenance
organization of special power optic fiber cable is set up by the two departments, which is operated
and maintained according to the cut-off point of the power of special optical fiber communications
network.

The primary responsibilities for the Cable Communications Team: The maintenance and testing of
optic fiber cable lines, obstacles testing; responsible for the concentration maintenance of machine
line equipment, the inspection and maintenance of vrious types of instrument and appratus,
management and type-in of new station in the region and line equipment.

(2) The Basic Requirement of the Operation and the Maintenance

(1)Technical information

Technical information is the main basis for the management and guidance for its operation and

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maintenance, At all levels, all types of maintenance of the district team should have possession of
all the cable lines and equipment, technical data, mainly include the following:

①Information on optic fiber cable: Optic fiber cable route maps, schedules tower, sectional
drawing, optic fiber cable with a configuration set and the schedule change cable routing and
equipment records;

② Information on optic fiber cable and other equipment: Cable Technology Agreement (cable
model specifications, technical parameters, optic fiber cable drums, fittings allocation list and fittings
assembly drawing), factory test and open test data, manuals for optic fiber cable and equipment;

③ Completion information: Engineering design data, information and acceptance of completion

documents, the project dealt with the views of the remaining issues, optic fiber cable drum list and
location of connector, optic fiber transmission line test data (the fiber channel attenuation, connector
attenuation, the total attenuation and the backscattering direction of the curve and event schedule),
optic fiber drum list;

④Other information: Optic fiber cable line tour report, work records, maintenance logs, optic fiber
cable line fault record, analysis, processing data, special instrumentation, tools registration card,
spare parts list.

(2) Instrumentation and tools to configure

All levels, all types of teams should be equipped with necessary instrumentation and portable,
lightweight instrumentation tool for the project-based, but its test accuracy is low.

Main maintenance equipment including optic fiber lines: Light source and optical power machines,
Optical Time Domain Reflectometor (OTDR) or optic fiber fault identification device, optic fiber fusion
splicer, the standard test optic fiber, light phones, walkie-talkie, special tools and conventional tools,
vehicles, gasoline generators, etc.

(3) Spare parts

For the day-to-day maintenance and replacement of defects arising, maintenance operation must be
equipped with necessary spare parts. When OPGW / ADSS running defects occur, the general
requirements for model specifications with the same cable (in particular, require the same optical
fiber) to replace a length of tension-resistance. Therefore, consideration should be given to projects
in the important specifications for each type OPGW / ADSS for the maximum length of
tension-resistant plate and the preparation of the annex to the corresponding payment.

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(3) Basic Standards of Operation and Maintenance

The basic standards of operation and maintenance of the special power cable can refer to <<Power
Optic Fiber Communication Engineering Acceptance Specification (review)>> optic fiber cable
transmission line can be accepted in accordance with the relevant provisions, optic fiber
communication lines in a direct impact on the quality of some of the optical communication
according to the following criteria:

(1) Optic fiber attenuation of the hop should not be more than engineering design value 5dB ;

(2) Hop-ray scattering curves compared with data of the completion , changes in light
attenuation should not be more than 0.1dB/km

(3) One-way loss of the value of a single point of welding should not be more than 0.05dB。

4. Daily Operation and Maintenance of Special Power Optic Fiber Cable

The daily operation and maintenance on special power optic fiber cable system, the most important
thing is to carry out inspection of optic fiber lines and optic fiber test system. In day-to-day operation
and maintenance, problems should be in timely maintenance, such as earthquake hammer (whip)
off, box joints loose, relaxed and so more than cable.

1) Inspection of optic fiber cable

Regular inspections should be conducted to check line after the installation of special power optic
fiber cable (110-500kV lines, line patrols in general at least once a month). If there are special
circumstances and the climate, more inspection should be increased, and it should be conducted at
the same time by transmission lines department (professional) and power lines. Line inspection
includes:

(1)Any changes in cable suspension, and other changes in the availability of electric power
facilities spacing;

(2)Whether there is foreign body on the surface, with or without hanging the phenomenon

(3)Whether there is a single wire cut stock in the OPGW cable;

(4)For ADSS optic fiber cable, power should be the focus of monitoring corrosion inspection to
check whether the damage to exports clamp;

(5)Does Kim have deformation, slip phenomenon offline folder, fastening bolts, and pins are
complete;

(6)More cables, more than cable rack, follow-up box is a solid, if damaged, stolen, etc.

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 (7)Check the damper, vibration whip, whip, such as anti-dance whether there is slippage, the
phenomenon of falling.

2) Regular systematic test of optic fiber

Communications maintenance departments should regularly test the use of OTDR Line Optical
Attenuator (General test backup fiber). It is suggested to test every three months in one year after
completion.

The main paragraph of the fiber channel to relay the positive and negative signals to the OTDR
curve inspection, comparing the data of completion of the data or analysis of curves in time.

3) Special operation and maintenance of regional lines

Special power of the special power optic fiber cable generally refers to large across the region, ice
area, dancing area, and more areas are vulnerable to external damage areas, dirty areas, windy
areas, subsidence, such as landslides, these areas may have an impact on mechanical, electrical
and transmission characteristics of the cable. Also vulnerable to pollution, corrosion or metal
sheathed cable wire, but also may damage optic fiber lines and towers. It should be combined with
the power system operation and maintenance requirements of a dedicated team to strengthen the
operation and maintenance of optic fiber cable

5 Defects Maintenance and Operation of Special Power Optic Fiber Cable

Emergence of the special power cable fault ontology quality defects or deficiencies in the
maintenance must be carried out. First of all is to determine optic fiber cable or optical
communication line fault failure. If the communication failure still needs to test the distance and fiber
fault analysis to determine the point of failure, and then carry out temporary maintenance or
emergent repairs on cable defects or failure.

Defects maintenance must be carried out if there are quality defects or any faults on the body of
special power optic fiber cable. First it should be judged whether it is line fault or communication
fault. If communication fault is determined, fault distance of fiber should be confirmed and fault point
should be analyzed. Then temperory maintenance or an accident repair should be performed to the
defects or the faulted optic fiber cable.

1) The program to maintain optical communication failure of OPGW / ADSS

For OPGW / ADSS, the points of failure mainly happen in computer room and on the line.

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 (1) Failure happening in engine room include:

Fiber pigtail is soiled with dust, which impacts the optical signal transmission: swab the head of
pigatail with alcohol cotton ball;

GYFTZY or pigtail was bitten by rats, causing interruption of optical signal: replace the GYFTZY or
pigtail;

Optical transmitter has failure or launched optical power does not match with the optical power of
the line: repair the optical transmitter or rematch the optical power.

(2) Failure happening on the line include:

Failure happens at the fusion point in the optic fiber cable closure: optic fiber connectors’ fracture by
shaking, optic fiber connectors is not solidly fixed; optic fiber connectors have brittle fracture as
longterm in the closure. On the condition that optic fiber cable is reliably grouded and safe, re-fusing
the fiber in the closure.

Fiber attenuation significantly increased: quality defects of the fiber, property incompatibility of fibers
and gel, injury during construction or attenuation increase caused by long-term strain. Release the
strain or replace the cable after failure point is exactly positioned.

Line break: Occasional single fiber break which cannot find the reason may because of the
probablility of strength selection. If two or more fibers break at the same point, it may be casued by
the shortage of designed or manufactured remaining length, “retraction” of the optical unit or
inappropriate construction.Such optical communication failure can only be resolved through
replacing cable.

When optical communication failure happens, system switching or automatic switching should be
carried out on time. If there is circuitous route but without self-healing network or network
management system for SDH, manual circuit scheduling or dispatching is necessary.

2) The program to maintain failure of OPGW

OPGW line fault is mainly wire breaking. If one breaks, it may be the problem of the material or
metal wire joint; or the strength of the wire is too weak and the property of side pressure resistence
and wear resistence is bad as the diameter of single wire of outer layer is too small; it also may be
caused by improper construction. If several wires break at the same point, it may be caused by
lightening or accident on the pulley or slide during construction, etc. (always accompanied with
deformation of optical unit and breakage of fibers).

(1) On what condition can it be repaired when OPGW suffer wire breaking? Repair for
temperory use or permanent use? There is no unified final conclusion.Because there is no

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 "regulations of operation and maintenance" for OPGW to give determinant conditions. The
author thinks that the repair for permanent use could be carried out if the following
conditions could be fulfilled. The residual tensile strength of unbroken wires should not be
less than 75% RTS.

(2) The injury section of aluminum alloy wires was 25% smaller than the total section of
aluminum alloy wires. The injury of aluminum-clad steel wires was 17% smaller than the
total section of aluminum clad steel wires.

(3) To prove the fiber has no strain and the transmission of optical siginal suffer no impact by
proper methods.

If the above three conditions are not met at the same time, only necessary temperory repair could
be done to keep the OPGW in operation for avoiding futher troube or serious consequence.It is a
very simple quick method to repair the OPGW of breaking wires with pre-stranded repairing rod,
which can do the repairment with or without power-off. The pre-stranded repairing rod likes another
stranded layer, which apply uniform ring hoop pressure around the OPGW. It is very fit for the
strength maintenance of wire broken OPGW as no local stress will be given to the inside fibers and
steel tube.

3) The program to maintain failure of ADSS

The breaking of fibers and cables of ADSS because of the electrical erosion of the sheath is the
commonest failure. There are several electrical erosion modes that damaging the ADSS sheath.
And a comprehensive study and protective measures have been achieved. Except the quality
problem of cable (including material and processing), unreasonable structure design and hanging
point and improper construction, etc., the electrical erosion casused by the material quality of spiral
vibration damper and installing position is the main problem. In high voltage environment, once the
out sheath gets breakdown and has electric tree, it will become an electric conductor. Current
produces extremely high quantity of heat, which will melt and deform the sheath. Meanwhile at the
end of the fitting, arc discharge will burn the optic fiber cable as it is too close to the fitting(equal to
electrode).Now we could use corrosion-resistant spiral vibration damper; anti-corona ring could
increase the corona voltage of the fitting end; improve the way of fitting installation to increase the
distance between spiral vibration damper and fitting end; wrap special corrosion-resistant repairing
tape or use antirot coating at the part of ADSS that is easily to be electrical erosioned or has been
erosioned.

If ADSS has faults, emergency repair or replacement of cable needs to be carried out within a
tensile distance, tensile fitting and suspension fitting and spiral vibration damper. Other accessories
could be used repeatedly if there is no injury.

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4) The program to remove the hanging foreign matters.

As there are fibers inside the OPGW/ ADSS and the outer layer of OPGW is formed by aluminum
alloy wires or aluminum clad steel wires (the strength of ADSS is comparatively weak), it brings the
maintainer a lot of troubles when dealing with the foreign matters with overhead line slides. The
operating bending radius of the cable should not be smaller than the twenty times of the cable
diameter and not smaller than the thirty times of cable diameter during construction (moving state).
Fibers may suffer injury as the bending radius is not enough when dealing with the foreign matters
with traditional overhead line slides. So it is necessary to develop outlet pulley to increase the
bending radius and the side preasure area to the cable.

6 Conclusions

Special power optic fiber cable (OPGW/ADSS) plays an important role of power communication,
relay protection, power automation, power dispatching and line transmission in all electric power
companies. Many companies ask us to have a communication about the maintenance of power
optic fiber cable. Based on its speciality and the intercrossing technical difficulities for the
management and maintenance to the relevant domains, the thesis gives a discussion as below
about the management and maintenance of power optic fiber cable. Hope it can be useful for a good
application of the cable.

(1) Our domestic electrical power teleommunication network has basically become a level five
telecommunication network in terms of management.

(2) Special power cable should be operated and managed by transmission line department (special),
communication department (special) and relay protection department (special) together. Take
frameconstrcution of terminal connector as the separation point of the management and
maintenance of OPGW and terminal joint box in the transformer station or indoor control room of
communication station as the separation point of the management and maintenance of ADSS.

(3) Required technical files, apparatus and meters and spare parts are necessary for the
maintenance.

(4) Patrolling inspection of optical line and systematic fiber test are the most important besides the
daily operating maintenance of the power optic fiber cable system.

(5) The defects maintenance of special power optic fiber cable includes line fault and optic
communication fault, which should be treated with different measures respectively.

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