Thin layer effects in capacitive atmospheric icing detection

In cold climate regions, atmospheric icing phenomena of high voltage overhead transmission lines can have severe impact on the power grid stability and can lead to increased financial burden for grid maintenance. Recent research work has been dedicated to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting ice accretion events on transmission lines by means of autonomous sensor systems. In this article we present a study of different icing scenarios and environmental influences for a capacitive icing sensor. We develop a model to predict the sensor response for typical ice loads. The model is also used to quantify the sensor cross-sensitivities with respect to environmental conditions (e.g. water films, condensation layers etc.). The model is validated by means of experimental data obtained during laboratory investigations.