State Grid Dingxi completes 330-kV line maintenance with ground-air coordination

State Grid Dingxi Power Supply Company has completed maintenance on a 330-kV transmission line in Dingxi's Minxian county, Gansu province. The work included repairing conductors between poles 188 and 189, installing wind-deflection monitoring devices at poles 189 and 220, and eliminating defects to ensure a safe and reliable power supply.

The line section from pole 140 to 263 crosses Minxian county, where complex weather conditions pose operational challenges. To address potential equipment hazards and improve resistance to strong winds and other natural disasters, the company carried out comprehensive maintenance work. Before work began, drones were deployed to inspect each tower in detail.

A staff member inspects power lines in Dingxi's Minxian county, Gansu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

State Grid Dingxi assessed risks from strong winds, low temperatures, rain, and snow, then refined construction plans, safety measures, and emergency responses accordingly. Work permits, on-site supervision, and safety briefings helped ensure the whole process was carried out safely and systematically.

During conductor repairs, technicians followed strict procedures to reinforce broken strands, with special attention being paid to pre-twisted wire wrapping to ensure mechanical strength and electrical performance met requirements. Due to high altitudes, strong winds, and low temperatures, the company strengthened supervision, shortened shift rotations, and optimized tool transfers to protect workers and ensure repairs met minimum quality requirements.

Heavy-lift drones carried repair materials, wind-deflection monitoring devices, and tools, reducing physical burden at height and improving efficiency and safety. Electric lifting systems helped workers ascend and descend towers, lift tools, and position monitoring devices, reducing the workload for personnel and minimizing the time spent working at height.

Staff members replace shattered insulators and add missing pins in Dingxi's Minxian county, Gansu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The maintenance also included replacing shattered insulators and adding missing pins. After completion, the repaired conductors, new monitoring devices, and related facilities were re-inspected and re-tested, and all equipment was confirmed to be operating normally.

State Grid Dingxi will continue monitoring seasonal changes, optimizing resource deployment, strengthening special patrols and protective measures, and advancing closed-loop hazard management. It will also deepen the use of online monitoring data to improve transmission network safety, manage peak electricity during winter and ensure a reliable regional power supply.