Spacers

Spacers are intended to hold bundle phase conductors of OTL and outdoor switchyard in a spaced relationship, and also for lowering suboscillations level of wires in the subspans.

Spacers range РГ, 3РГ, 4РГ, 5РГ, 8РГ, Р, РУ, РГІФ types. Spacers (except for blind substation spacers, type Р) consist of aluminum retainers which are uniform for all types of spacers and rods (for РГ, РУ, РГІФ) or a welded frame (for other types). Using retainers made of non-magnetic alloys allows to reduce of the hysteresis losses. Spacers, type РГ come in standard sizes 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6 which differentiate only by diameter of 2R that is the number of wires in a spacer, and seven lengths (300, 400, 485, 500, 600, 850, 970). Spacers of all types, except type Р, have openings at the end of a rod that provide knuckle joint of the rod to the retainers in case of longitudinal movement of wires/conductors. For installation on OTL 750 kV and higher, planar holes are used that provide knuckle joint of the rod to the retainers in case of longitudinal movement of wires/conductors. Planar spacers combined with the sets of twin spacers are applied on OTL 750 kV and higher. Spacers withstand compression and tensile force along tension axis of at least 2kN.

The spacer displacement limit shall be at least 2kN. When putting phase conductor on the ground, any of the clamps contacting ground surface shall withstand the load perpendicular to it and equal, kN: for spacers:

3РГ-3-400 – 0,55;

3РГ-5-1 – 0,39;

4РГ-3-400/600 – 1,1;

4РГ-4-400/600 – 2,35;

4РГ-6-400 – 1,1;

5РГ-2-300/400 – 1,32;

5РГ-3-400 – 1,65;

5РГ-5-600А – 3,37;

8РГ-2-400(Б,Г) – 1,76.

The blind spacer, type РГ-5 is used on the hollow wires grade ПA-500 for substation busbars. For OTL with the bundle phase of three, four or five conductors it is possible to install one three-beam, four-beam, or five-beam spacer of types 3РГ, 4РГ, 5РГ instead of three, five, seven twin spacers. Also a mixed spacer installation diagram is possible (alternation of planar spacers and twin sets). Spacers type РГ and planar spacers are supplied with captive bolts tightening retainers with the steel plates which protect them from wear during movement. For prevention of bolts loosening, spacers are supplied with locking plate washers.

Spacers, type Р can be of three types. These spacers have no hinges and consist of two aluminum retainers tightened by two bolts. Heavy-weight spacers, type РУ are used for installation in jumper loops to reduce their swinging. Heavy-weight spacers, type РУ are available only for 400 mm conductor spacing. They are blind spacers with the three cast weights on each rod. Standoff insulator spacers, type РГІФ with a protective cover of an insulating element are installed on the bundle ground wires which are used for power line communication. In some cases spacers of РГІФ type are used on OTL, for example, for ice melting. In terms of applicability range they are similar to the spacers, type РГ. Application of the spacers complete with an insulating element with protective cover and steel end terminal instead of aluminum significantly increases reliability of their operation.