Ultrasonic Monitoring Technology of Equivalent Ice Thickness Under Slightly Uneven Ice Cover on Overhead Distribution Lines and Its Device Application

Accurately monitoring the icing status of distribution lines is essential for the safe operation of the power grid. At present, there is a lack of slightly uneven ice cover shape measurement methods and ultrasound-based ice cover thickness detection methods for distribution lines, as well as their on-site applications. In this study, an ultrasonic-based method for measuring equivalent ice thickness under slightly uneven ice cover on overhead distribution lines is proposed and an ultrasonic monitoring device based on this method is developed. After being tested in the artificial climate chamber, the monitoring device was applied in a distribution line section of Bijie City, Guizhou Province, China in January 2024. Compared with the equivalent ice thickness measured manually on site, the maximum relative measurement error of the monitoring device was 7.6%. This study provides a reference for power grid staff to grasp the ice-covered status of on-site distribution lines timely.