Ameren Fast Tracks 345-kV Repairs

摘要

A quick fix overcomes a bus duct failure and keeps the power flowing until the new cable circuit is installed. THREE YEARS AFTER INHERITING A 30-YEAR-OLD 345-KV SF{sub}6 BUS DUCT installed on a critical transmission line, Ameren Corp. (St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.) engineers faced significant repair challenges. Approximately 1100 ft (335 m) of bus duct has operated in the middle of a 30-mile (48-km) line that runs from the Duck Creek power plant to the Tazewell substation in central Illinois, U.S. Critical to the Ameren system, this line provides stability to the Peoria, Illinois, area and is one of two outlets for Duck Creek. Although the bus duct is located at the Edwards plant, the line does not connect to the plant, it simply passes through the switchyard. Aware this bus duct was nearing the end of its useful life, Ameren was in the process of evaluating replacement options when, on June 22, 2006, the 1100-ft section of 345-kV bus duct failed as a result of a lightning strike on the overhead line.