Study on Local Weather Forecasting Method for Power Transmission Lines
- Construction of the System for Forecasting the Weather in a Given Area -
Electric Power Engineering Research Section
Power transmission lines are installed even in non-flatland places with harsh climate conditions, such as mountainous and coastal areas. As a result, most line faults are attributed to natural disasters such as storm and snow, therefore such damage must be prevented, or if any occurs, located and repaired by proper operations. Electric Power Engineering Research Section conducts a study on useful local weather forecasting methods for power transmission lines that are prone to natural disasters.
This Study has been proceeded under the collaboration of Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry.
Fig-1 Analytic region of MARS and initial value data obtained
Outline of the Study
To forecast the weather, numerical forecasting method is quite effective, based on the numerical calculation on the state of future atmospheric state from current atmosphere and seawater temperature (initial data). This study introduces “Meteorological Application and Research System (MARS)” developed by Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry as a numerical forecasting model. By comparing live weather charts and weather forecasting charts prepared by the Meteorological Agency, and meteorological observation and forecast data from Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System (AMEDAS) and power transmission lines, the accuracy in numerical forecasting was assessed by MARS, and the interface was ameliorated to improve services for users.
Achievements
It was confirmed that when a larger-scale low pressure that could damage power transmission lines (e.g. snow accretion) approaches, a numerical forecasting approach provides high accuracy. By automating the numerical forecasting approach and improving user interface, HEPCO constructed the system for downloading weather information data in a given point through the Internet.
Fig-2 left: Live weather chart, right: Weather forecasting chart
(as of 9 p.m. on February 23, 2008)
Plan for the Future
This study can obtain numerical forecasting information using the Internet. In the future, using the MARS advantage of forecasting weather patterns in higher places, the conventional difficulty in determining the weather (rain or snow) on the ground will be overcome and the warnings against meteorological disasters can be given in a timely manner.
