Solar Cell Power Supply System for Composite Overhead Ground Wire Telecommunications Systems with Optical Fibers

This paper describes a solar cell power supply system designed for use with the optical repeaters used in ground wire telecommunications for ultra-high voltage overhead power transmission. Since it is difficult to assure commercial power availability for optical repeaters built near transmission towers, local power feeding is necessary. We considered the advantages and disadvantages of the following local power feeding methods finally adopting the solar cell system, it being generally superior in capacity, stability, ease of maintenance, safety, and cost. (1) Solar cell power supply (2) Wind energy power supply (3) Fuel cell power supply (4) Partial pressure in power line capacitors (5) Engine generator (6) Electrostatic induction in ground wires power supply The following items affect the solar cell power supply when it is installed at right under or near high-voltage power lines or transmission towers. (1) Electrostatic induction by power lines (2) Electromagnetic induction by ground-fault current (3) Lightning surge current flowing through transmission towers and ground wires After investigating these conditions, we decided that it was possible to implement the solar cell power supply system. We started verification tests in a 154 kV power transmission system in May 1985, and to date, have had no problems.