Lukmanier Powerline
Encyclopedia
The Mettlen–Lavorgo powerline, also called the Lukmanier powerline, is the 400 kV three-phase alternating current
high voltage electric power transmission
line over the Lukmanier Pass
in Switzerland
, from Mettlen to Lavorgo. Trees falling on the line in 2003 caused a major blackout
in Italy
.
s between Sisikon
and Ingenbohl
and in 2008, 28 transmission towers between Arth
and Küssnacht am Rigi were replaced.
On 28 September 2003, during a storm two trees hit the powerline causing a major blackout in Italy
.
The loss of power affected most of that country; nearly 50 million people were without electricity for up to 18 hours.
On the section between Mettlen and Amsteg 160 pylons
are used with two level and three level arrangements of the conductors. For the 53 kilometres (32.9 mi) long section between Amsteg and Lavorgo over the Lukmanier Pass 145 pylons for one circuit with one level arrangement of the three conductors are used. The mean height of the used pylons is 30 metres (98.4 ft).
A unique aspect of this line is the 75-metre-high anchor pylon, which stands on 28-metre-high feet of concrete in the artificial lake of Santa Maria, canton Graubünden
. This pylon was built in 1949 as a normal pylon. At the construction of the Santa María Dam it was replaced in 1957 by the existing pylon on concrete feet to protect the steel construction from the water and at wintertime from ice on the lake. This pylon carries one crossarm for one circuit.
The mean span width of the line is 350 metres (1,148.3 ft), the biggest span width between two pylons is 890 metres (2,919.9 ft). As conductors bundles of two and three conductors of Aldrey with a cross section of 550 square millimetre (0.85250170500341 sq in) are used. The diameter of each single conductor is 30.5 millimetres (1.2 in). As ground wire two steel ropes with a cross section of 80 square millimetre (0.124000248000496 sq in) are used.
In the Mittelplatten area the powerline consists of the highest transmission tower
in the Swiss power grid, stationed 2490 metres (8,169.3 ft) above sea level. The steel lattice mast is 43.5 metres (142.7 ft) tall.
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
high voltage electric power transmission
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
line over the Lukmanier Pass
Lukmanier Pass
Lukmanier Pass is a pass in the Swiss Alps.The road from Disentis/Mustér in the canton of Graubünden leads through the Val Medel across the pass to the Blenio valley and Biasca in the canton of Ticino.The Pass is kept opened during the winter.-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe*...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, from Mettlen to Lavorgo. Trees falling on the line in 2003 caused a major blackout
2003 Italy blackout
The 2003 Italy blackout was a serious power outage that affected all of Italy—except the islands of Sardinia and Capri—for 12 hours and part of Switzerland near Geneva for 3 hours on 28 September 2003. It was the largest blackout in the series of blackouts in 2003, affecting a total of...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
History
The powerline was built in 1948–1949. In 2006, 17 transmission towerTransmission tower
A transmission tower is a tall structure, usually a steel lattice tower, used to support an overhead power line. They are used in high-voltage AC and DC systems, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes...
s between Sisikon
Sisikon
Sisikon is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-Geography:Sisikon has an area, , of . Of this area, 30.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 44% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.2% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
and Ingenbohl
Ingenbohl
Ingenbohl is a municipality in Schwyz District in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.-Geography:Ingenbohl has an area, , of . Of this area, 31% is used for agricultural purposes, while 49.1% is forested...
and in 2008, 28 transmission towers between Arth
Arth
Arth is a municipality in Schwyz District in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.-Geography:Arth has an area, , of . Of this area, 40.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 46.3% is forested...
and Küssnacht am Rigi were replaced.
On 28 September 2003, during a storm two trees hit the powerline causing a major blackout in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The loss of power affected most of that country; nearly 50 million people were without electricity for up to 18 hours.
Description
On the 52 kilometres (32.3 mi) long section from Mettlen to Amsteg it shares the pylons with the Gotthard Powerline. After Amsteg the Lukmanier Powerline runs on its own track.On the section between Mettlen and Amsteg 160 pylons
Transmission tower
A transmission tower is a tall structure, usually a steel lattice tower, used to support an overhead power line. They are used in high-voltage AC and DC systems, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes...
are used with two level and three level arrangements of the conductors. For the 53 kilometres (32.9 mi) long section between Amsteg and Lavorgo over the Lukmanier Pass 145 pylons for one circuit with one level arrangement of the three conductors are used. The mean height of the used pylons is 30 metres (98.4 ft).
A unique aspect of this line is the 75-metre-high anchor pylon, which stands on 28-metre-high feet of concrete in the artificial lake of Santa Maria, canton Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
. This pylon was built in 1949 as a normal pylon. At the construction of the Santa María Dam it was replaced in 1957 by the existing pylon on concrete feet to protect the steel construction from the water and at wintertime from ice on the lake. This pylon carries one crossarm for one circuit.
The mean span width of the line is 350 metres (1,148.3 ft), the biggest span width between two pylons is 890 metres (2,919.9 ft). As conductors bundles of two and three conductors of Aldrey with a cross section of 550 square millimetre (0.85250170500341 sq in) are used. The diameter of each single conductor is 30.5 millimetres (1.2 in). As ground wire two steel ropes with a cross section of 80 square millimetre (0.124000248000496 sq in) are used.
In the Mittelplatten area the powerline consists of the highest transmission tower
Transmission tower
A transmission tower is a tall structure, usually a steel lattice tower, used to support an overhead power line. They are used in high-voltage AC and DC systems, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes...
in the Swiss power grid, stationed 2490 metres (8,169.3 ft) above sea level. The steel lattice mast is 43.5 metres (142.7 ft) tall.
Sources
- Elektro-Energietechnik 2, Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. sc. techn. Gerhard Schwickaardi, AT Verlag Aarau, 1979, pages 218–220
- Gerhard Schwickardi, Elektro-Energietechnik. Energie-Übertragung, Netze, Energieverteilung, Freileitungen, Kabelleitungen, Schaltgeräte, Schaltanlagen, Energie-Umformung, Messwandler, Transformatorenstationen, Unterwerke, Automatisierung von Schaltwarten, Band 2, Aarau, Stuttgart 1979 ISBN 3-85502-032-9