PMU-Driven Non-Preemptive Disconnection of Overhead Lines at the Approach or Break-Out of Forest Fires

The number and intensity of forest fires in the United States have been steadily increasing causing massive economic ecological damage. Overhead transmission distribution lines are typically disconnected preemptively near fires, a practice that causes high social cost. Deployment Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) their ability for synchronized real-time measurement voltage current inspire here proposed method just-in-time disconnection overhead at ignition or approach fires. PMUs can detect ambient temperature changes caused by through change line resistance. An model vicinity fire seat dynamic heat exchange IEEE 738 rating standard bare conductors used MATLAB Simulink to assess performance control method. Extensive testing shows that, under various conditions, technique approaching an line, while avoiding, almost completely, any false alarms.