The stormproof power line

The forces of hurricanes, tornadoes, and typhoons exceed the energy of many thousands of atomic bombs. Only a fraction of this force, however, actually extends down to the earth´s surface. A practical upper limit of maximum wind velocity at ground level due to storms is 200 mi/h (320 km/h). Most power lines ara built today to withstand less than that. Without increasing the amount of metal in the tower and thus the cost of material, it is possible to make the power line more wind resistant by applying streamlining concets to the design of the structural elements, including the conductors. There are several appraches to this problem that can be adapted to existing structures. A French patent suggests the use of a hose around an aerial conductor that turns to adjust its airfoil shape correctly to the prevailing wind. This is also adaptable to vertical members in the supporting tower. The proposed use of flaglike tapes or small fringed plastic threads that wrap around a conductor or angle iron to streamline it, regardless of wind direction, is another solution to this problem.