A case study on the appropriate selection of optical ground wire

Optical ground wire (OPGW) which combines the functions of grounding and data communications is being widely introduced throughout the national electricity network. The appropriate selection of OPGW depends on the conductors capability to meet the normal functions of typical overhead ground wires, such as protection against lightning and conduction of fault currents, as well as ensuring that the optical communications is not degraded by any system events. This paper presents some of the various electrical considerations fundamental to the appropriate selection of OPGW and provides a case study on the short circuit behavior of an OPGW for a typical high-voltage parallel circuit modeled using ATP/EMTP software.