BR102015019612A2 - process of using an aerostat on transmission lines - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of Using an Aerostat on Transmission Lines The present invention relates to a process using as an input an aerostat, more specifically, a manned airship with an aerial platform to solve current problems in power transmission system. These problems are related to complex operational processes, which have high costs and high execution time of construction, operation, inspection and maintenance services, improving their productivity. This process takes place by overflowing the transmission lines and by accessing the work points downwards using a load transfer structure. The invention has very relevant economic, social and environmental advantages when compared to the processes used today, as it defines a new logistics of access to the transmission system.

Description

[001] The present invention relates to a process which utilizes an aerostat (lighter-than-air aircraft) to solve current problems. related to the complex operational processes involving the construction, maintenance, inspection and operation of transmission lines of electric power systems More specifically the present invention utilizes an airship adapted to accomplish the missions described herein.

[002] Description of the Prior Art [003] In electrical systems with predominance of hydraulic power transformation, as is the case of the Brazilian system, the generating sources (about 80% of the electric power generation) are located far from the major centers of loads. To carry the energy, long transmission lines are built, made up of towers and power conductors, which flow the electricity from the plants to the residential and industrial consumption centers. The transmission lines are hundreds of kilometers long and operate at high and extra-high voltage levels. In fact, the transmission lines are the links between the generating sources and the various energy consuming markets and play a high role as they enable interconnections between various load centers as well as energy exchanges between various power plants. A reliable transmission system is a guarantee of power continuity for consumers and, therefore, requires a maintenance system with high efficiency and quality.

[004] Electricity transmission lines are responsible for the connection between the producing center and the consuming center. They are basically made up of the following components: transmission line range; structure; insulator chain; conductor cables and accessories; lightning conductor cables and gaps.

[005] The structures are the supports of the conductor cables of the transmission lines and constitute the most expensive part of them because they are composed of dozens of very resistant and durable components. Said transmission lines can be divided basically into two groups: Self-supporting or cable-stayed.

[006] These are the structures that transmit all efforts directly to their foundations, behaving like true crushed beams, ie they do not need to stay to stand. As a result, they are heavy structures or made of special steel profiles and require large foundations. They are the most used in transmission lines in Brazil.

Among the self-supporting, there are several basic types: self-supporting delta type; self-supporting candle type; and compact self-supporting;

Cable-stayed structures are usually flexible or mixed structures that are stiffened through clicks. The stalks absorb part of the horizontal efforts, transmitting them directly to the ground through anchors. The other part of the efforts is transmitted axially by the structure. The use of stays allows to obtain low weight structures, resisting the same loading conditions of the self supporting structures. The cable-stayed structures had limited use to lines with wood or concrete structure at voltages up to 230 kV. Currently the use of these structures is being widespread and applied to lines up to 750 kV.

[009] The structures can also be made of other materials such as wood, mastic, ipe, carnauba, faveiro, eucalyptus and parana pine, concrete, prestressed concrete “tensioned reinforcement”; concrete with conventional reinforcement and metals.

[010] Metal structures are widely used. Its main advantage is the manufacture of serial parts and ease of transportation of parts in standard cargo vehicles. They feature high durability and strength if properly protected with paint or galvanization. The most common protection is hot dip galvanizing in a zinc bath, whose maintenance-free durability can be up to 30 years, depending on the region's atmospheric aggressiveness.

[011] Cable attachment structures are classified as suspension structures (they are named because the conductor cables are suspended through the insulator and accessory chains and are not interrupted, ie they are suspended by the structure); anchor structure (the conductor cables are anchored to them through the insulator and accessory chains and generally they are sectioned); phase transposition or rotation structures (sized to allow phase transposition or rotation to ensure electrical symmetry of the line); branch structures (structures suitable for branching transmission lines).

[012] The main dimensions of the structures are mainly determined by the expected operating voltage and overvoltages.

[013] As secondary factors we have the conductor arrow and the conductor support.

[014] Depending on the above elements, the rules of the various countries set out how to determine the distances between conductors, the height of their suspension points and their distances to the grounded parts of the structure. These dimensions vary greatly from country to country, depending on the standards adopted. In Brazil, these elements are set in standard by ABNT.

[015] In the transmission line structures, the following loads act: vertical loads; horizontal transverse loads and longitudinal horizontal loads.

[016] Vertical loads are the vertical components of the tensile stresses of the conductor and lightning conductor, the weight of the cable fixing accessories (tools and insulators), the frame's own weight and any vertical loads due to the staging, mounting overloads. , etc. On the other hand, horizontal loads are caused by the wind action on the cables and their fastening accessories, wind action on the structure, in the transverse direction of the line, transverse horizontal components of the tensile stresses of the cables and eventual horizontal forces introduced by the tensioning.

[017] Longitudinal horizontal loads are caused by the tensile stresses of the cables, the action of the wind on the structure in the direction of the line, and any stresses introduced by the stretch. The loads listed above may be considered normal, overlap with abnormal or exceptional loads which, under certain conditions, structures must withstand. They are loads caused by the breaking of one or more cables.

[018] The construction of transmission lines requires some specific procedures and techniques. The first step is a topographic survey, from which the terrain profile comes out for the designer to locate the towers. Once the transmission line has been traced, it is necessary to clear the vegetation to form the line corridors (easement lane), which will also be the access areas for the line maintenance teams. In these corridors of passage is not allowed to build houses, corrals, among others, and the vegetation can not have large trees. The width of the easement range is defined by ABNT / NBR number 5422.

[019] To begin construction, the construction sites and their facilities are dimensioned and built, taking into account the volume of works and services to be performed, according to the construction and assembly schedule of the lines. The internal circulation areas of the flower beds are made with drainage, lighting and leisure places for the employees.

[020] In the project the location of the towers is defined, precision instruments are used to mark them and the soil is sequentially probed to define the type of foundation to be used in that identified location. To define the type and amount of grounding of each tower, the soil resistivity is measured.

[021] To process the foundation of the tower feet, excavations are made manually or mechanically, the second being the most widely applied. The foundation process is carried out with hardware fittings to receive the concrete.

[022] Once the foundation is completed, whether concrete or grid, the installation of the grounding loop is essential for the safety of personnel working on the continuity of tower construction.

[023] Tower assembly requires a process of selecting and organizing parts that are assembled and follows step by step designed logic and proper spaces. The towers are usually made of lattice metal parts designed to support the conductor cables. Mounting is usually done on the ground and the tower is hoisted up by cranes. If cranes cannot be moved along the transmission line, manual part-by-part assembly is used. The towers vary in height according to the relief of the region and the operating voltage class of the transmission line.

[024] Cable installation (lightning rod, OPGW, conductor) requires area selection compatible with the number of cable reels and secure access to the transport wagons. Subsequently, in the regulation stage, which consists in carrying out the process of stretching the energy conductors in each section of adjacent towers, the cables are positioned as defined in the project and the stapling is performed, which makes the cable fixing stretched on the insulator chains. For this, precision instruments and specialized teams are required.

[025] During the construction phase many temporary grounds are installed, so a final inspection is required, which is usually the search for one that has been forgotten and then the transmission line energized.

[026] The maintenance service is performed by specialized teams who begin their processes by performing ground inspections, traversing various paths in transmission line corridors, monitoring various points such as insulator chains, lightning conductor cables. , the state of the towers, the grounding system and the surrounding vegetation. The detailed ground inspection process is done by climbing the tower by the maintainer where it checks cables, loose, corroded, damaged or missing parts, and observes grounding mesh and possible erosion in the right of way. The aerial inspection is performed using a helicopter and occurs in two ways, visual or instrumented to identify defects before they generate unexpected shutdowns or, in emergencies, to find the defects that caused the shutdown. The instruments used are basically the corona effect analyzer, thermal imager and high resolution video camera.

[027] Ground inspections are made by maintainer displacements over the passage corridors along the transmission system, section by section, that is, teams travel hundreds of kilometers, ending inspections when the last section ends. Due to the flooded areas that prevent vehicle traffic, many routes are on foot or by boat.

[028] Maintenance services originate from transmission line inspections. An example of scheduled maintenance is the switching of insulators with the energized line, performed by electricians climbing the towers with conductive clothing, potential equalizing rod, tools and communication devices. There are several safety factors involved, such as field work, in the open, at heights ranging from 20 to over 100 meters, with uncomfortable ambient temperature (non-standard 15 ° C to 30 ° C), and usually far from towns or villages. The process involves climbing structures, blocking electrical circuits, online voice communication with operating centers requiring care of tools, electrical fields and safety distances to the rated line voltage.

[029] Climbing the structures is done with the use of carabiner, safety rope and fall arrest, keeping the electrician always connected to some point of the structure. The line crew pre-assembles the tools to the ground, arranging them along with the materials on a tarp in order of lifting to the tower top work site, analyzing how best to perform the maneuver. Electricians begin climbing the structures to the workplace, bringing the safety and service ropes to the insulating chair suspension that will take them to potential with the rods and the tail rope. Another electrician who climbed the tower, next to the one who will access the potential, is near the point of entry of the first and assists him in the passage to the chair of potential entry and performance of the service. The function of the auxiliary electrician is to pass the lanyard into the structure and hold the chair so that the worker in conductive clothing can sit and be carried to the power cable. In this way, the others pull the electrician sitting on the chair to the live cable and expect it to equalize (stay at the same potential as the electrical circuit) and anchor the live cable, passing the chair back to the structure. . With the potential electrician, the material required for maneuvering is suspended to the place of service. Then specific tools such as yoke, stick and other accessories are used. The process is completed when all electricians are on the floor and with the tools and materials collected.

[030] Among the problems that arise for performing this type of service we can mention the difficulty of climbing the structures, the displacement of insulator chains that vary in weight (hundreds of kg) depending on the tension class and the handling of the chair. of the electrician's transfer to the potential. The degree of difficulty increases further when services are performed in places within the forest and in a flooded region that prevent vehicle traffic, forcing the manual loading of materials, tools and equipment or by helicopter to leave the electricians and materials needed for the maintenance. Thus, the helicopter is properly transported leaving people in one of the side phases of the power circuits. However, there is an inconvenience, because the helicopter, after the placement of people and materials, withdraws from the area and only returns at the scheduled time for completion of services, leaving the team isolated at the maintenance site. This inconvenience is due to the helicopter's low flight range and the few viable landing areas near the transmission lines, preventing it from remaining in place. Another disadvantage is the impossibility of using helicopters for services to be performed in the central phase of the tower as it is a high-risk accident operation for this type of aircraft. [031] More difficulties arise when transmission lines travel long distances with no nearby roads. This is often the case in northern Brazil, where inspection and maintenance services by electricians are difficult, as they are regions that are difficult to access because they have flooded or flooded areas throughout the project. To perform these services, a logistics is required for the movement of people and materials, using helicopters or boats, generating an additional cost in the maintenance process due to not allowing openings of access roads, as it implies environmental impacts and disruption of previously established conditions. by government agencies at the time of licensing [032] In this context, there are cases of claims such as a tower or cable fall. If this occurs at points without access by land vehicles, the recovery time of the damaged transmission system increases by an average of 12 hours per day, as services are stopped during the night due to team safety, given the lack of lighting. due to the impossibility of transporting and installing emergency generators.

[033] The process of washing insulators on transmission lines running through high salinity areas or other pollution is carried out with high pressure jet of treated water by the maintainers who are in the towers secured with seat belts to perform the service. Washing depends on the access of the tanker truck to the tower base.

Finally, it is noteworthy that the activities of transmission line electricians require a lot of physical efforts. They have to climb high towers, lift equipment and tools, contributing to the average working life of these electricians is 48 years, that is, after this age, they are removed from this activity, implying the need to relocate them in other areas or turning them into supervisors, inspectors or instructors.

[035] In constructing a new transmission system, the biggest challenges are environmental constraints and difficulties in obtaining new transmission corridors.

[036] There is regulation (in Brazil NBR 5422) that establishes the basic conditions for the design of electricity transmission lines in order to guarantee minimum safety levels and limit disturbances in nearby installations.

[037] Such regulation requires that, where necessary, a clean strip of sufficient width should be provided to permit the deployment, operation and maintenance of the line.

[038] It is stipulated that strip deforestation should be reduced to the minimum strictly necessary to ensure satisfactory construction, operation and maintenance of the line. The existing vegetal covering in the strip should be cleaned according to the criteria established in the standard. In other words, conventional transmission line construction, operation, maintenance and inspection systems are subject to difficulties imposed not only by the environment but also by existing regulations.

[039] Studies are conducted that show various aspects, including social and environmental impacts. These are critical in line corridors, where the greatest complexities for the deployment of transmission facilities are identified, and this reflects an increasing cost increase. As the vegetation cuts occur, there is a risk that archaeological sites will be found implying construction stoppages, new demands and delays in the project, potentially reducing the return rate to shareholders.

[040] In a broad analysis of the literature in order to establish the current state of the art regarding the process for construction, operation, inspection and maintenance of transmission lines, object of the present patent, documents that relate specific process of what was not disclosed. It is being claimed, however some documents have been referenced which, while not impeding the present patent, depict tools for maintenance and operation of the electrical system.

[041] In US Patent 4,818,990 it has been proposed to use a remotely piloted aerial robot which is adapted for flight close to the transmission lines, as well as the ability to hover to detect abnormal conditions along the lines. The robot has equipment capable of observing and recording information related to the situation of the surrounding lines and regions. A ground station controls the operation of the aerial robot, and also stores the information obtained. However, for transmission systems that do not have close access roads, the robot's range becomes a major constraint. In addition, there is a risk of a loss of communication signal between the transmitting station and the robot causing it to fall over the power grid, triggering a permanent defect in the transmission system, interrupting the continuity of the power flow in the transmission lines. until damage from falling robot is repaired. It is noteworthy that the robot can only perform inspection activities due to the limited weight and size of the paid load.

Already in US Patent 3,176,795 there is the use of elevated workstation for high voltage lines where it is supported by a helicopter, or a balloon, in addition to a parachute in an intermediate position between the workstation. And the helicopter. In addition, grounded anchor lines are intended to keep the workstation suspended in a relatively fixed position. The configuration proposed in this document for the use of the helicopter for transmission line maintenance in addition to flight limitations may be hazardous and pose high risks to operational safety, as this document describes that the helicopter may be released for another service. replaced by an unmanned balloon and / or a parachute as shown in his illustrations, this modeling can destabilize and fall onto the tower. US 3,196,980 designates the use of ladders raised from the ground through a vehicle with provisions for electrical isolation from ground and electrical potential equivalence with respect to conductor for access, inspection and maintenance of high voltage lines. However, the use of the ladder has a height limitation and requires handling and transportation of the vehicle to the Transmission Line.

[043] US 4,478,312 and US 4,422,528 use a helicopter-loaded basket-type overhead structure for the transportation of high-voltage line inspection and maintenance technicians, as well as temporary coupling on the line. The line and cable maintenance described in these documents refers to the use of only a "car seat" type structure where the line operators are left by a helicopter at the point of maintenance. Due to weather conditions, weather and flight limitations of the helicopter, the service may be canceled, another issue that involves safety is the helicopter orientation, cable wind displacement, and the development of uncontrollable aircraft maneuvers.

[044] US Patent Document 4,637,575 utilizes a fixed helicopter ski platform for transport and support of a high voltage line inspection and maintenance technician. The platform-supported technician is able to perform inspection and repair by the fact that the helicopter hovers adjacent to the high voltage line with the platform near the work region. The maintenance and inspection process described in this patent document poses operational safety risks, as the aircraft described for this type of service will be very close to the cables and any instability will cause flight swing. Maintenance services for this application must be extremely fast as the autonomy of the aircraft may compromise the quality and termination of service. US 4,673,059 employs an air support means such as a helicopter to position a load or an operator on a seat on a high voltage line. The aerial vehicle consists of an ungrounded support that supports an ungrounded aerial platform by means of insulating components, thus enabling contact of the load or operator with the energized transmission line without the occurrence of electrical discharges. The technique described in this document is the same as described above, where an operator and a tool cart are left for said maintenance at that point. The aircraft follows flight and after a certain period returns to remove the operator from the site. US 5,328,133 deals with the use of side-basketed helicopter capable of carrying equipment and an operator supported by elongated beams made of insulating materials along the horizontal transverse axis of the aircraft. The helicopter is capable of hovering to bring the basket with equipment and the operator to a high voltage line. The inspection and maintenance operation can be performed with the basket attached to the helicopter, and thus with the aircraft hovering in a relatively fixed position with the basket sufficiently close to the transmission line. In addition, the basket can be mounted on the transmission line or tower so that the helicopter can move away while inspection and maintenance operations are performed. The described system refers to a platform mounted on the side of the aircraft, which resembles the platform mounted on the helicopter skis, making the aircraft very close to the cable or tower structure where the air displacement generated by the Motor rotors can damage and compromise the cable / tower mounted assembly.

[045] It is important to note that all patents that use helicopters to perform activities fall under the basic problems of limited flight range, high costs, and increased accident risks. The techniques that are presented, having the helicopter present while performing services, do not prevent air displacements promoted by its rotors making it difficult for maintenance teams to perform their work, even if they are in a basket. In addition, task completion times would have to be relatively short due to flight autonomy. Another problem is related to the use of parachutes, which increases the risk of accidents by contact with the Transmission Line and / or by falls. Ground anchoring requires a ground crew and does not enhance productivity increases from existing inspection, maintenance and construction processes.

US 6,231,007 describes a method of positioning on the ground or catching a load using airship. The aircraft approaches the loading or unloading location and lowers a load-bearing structure. This structure releases cables to be fixed to the ground. The cables are stretched and kept under tension by being pulled by winches on the ground and by producing greater support by the airship with the release of ballast. This allows the aircraft to move freely while the load support is in a fixed position. The entire assembly is then pulled down to bring the load support platform closer to the ground. This platform is then fixed to the ground and loading and unloading operations can begin. Once operations are complete, the loading platform can be released, the winches relieve tension on the cables and the aircraft gains altitude. Finally, the cables are released from the ground and the airship can return to flight condition.

[047] In patent application US2012 / 0085864A1 there is a method of positioning a blimp on a wind generator wherein anchor sections of the blimp are coupled to at least one of the wind generator structures such as the nacelle, the hub, a or more blades, the tower, the foundation or a wind generator substation. Anchoring allows loading and unloading operations between the airship and the wind generator as components, equipment or people by means of a hatch at the top of the nacelle. Loading or unloading to the wind generator can be done by winches or crane in the airship. It can also be done using stairs or a platform that connects the airship to the wind generator.

[048] Document US2012 / 0091274A1 proposes a method of moving wind generator components which is loaded to the airship at a location other than that of installation. The components are transported by the airship to the application site. These are unloaded and installed on another wind generator component, or on the ground, at sea, in a land vehicle, on a vessel through one or more extended guide elements.

[049] These existing processes do not fit the needs of having in one place loading and unloading conditions to be moved, greatly delaying construction time and repairing transmission line claims. The system of application of extended guides, discarded in the required patent, constrains the working process of electricians to act on energized lines and does not mitigate accident risks. Every methodology presented configures a movement need focusing on a single action of loading and unloading, preventing the process of launching electrical cables on the structures of the towers continuously, ie, limits logistics for construction, prevents the application to meet falls. towers or cables leading to transmission lines and due to the impossibility of throwing electrical cables into the tower structures does not reduce the environmental impacts with respect to the passageways of these cables between the structures.

[050] Regarding the operation of the transmission lines, the referred operation of the installations in general happens by two ways: assisted or unattended. The governing body for the rules of operation of the Interconnected Electric System in Brazil is the National System Operator (ONS), where we find the following guidelines: [051] Whenever there is maintenance in the LT, an operator will be required at each end. of the line to inhibit the action of automatic reclosers.

[052] Whenever the team is performing maintenance of a LT and having it shut down for any reason, reenergization can only occur after communication with the LT maintenance team.

[053] Inspection on electrical networks and Interventions to eliminate faults and / or defects are maintenance activities on transmission lines subject to approval and clearance by the operation of the electrical system.

[054] Some activities of Operation of a utility company during the maintenance of transmission lines are listed below: 1- Approval and release of document to perform the services; 2- Request for authorization from ONS (National System Operator) to perform the services; 3- Mediation with the ONS of the maintenance request before, during and after the performance of the services; 4- Maneuvers of opening / closing of electrical equipment and locking / unlocking of command, control and protection system; 5- Availability of the electric network, interruption (if necessary) and definition of the period of the performance of the services; and 6- Supervision of safety and operational conditions of the electricity grid and monitoring the execution of activities.

[055] Some necessary and indispensable requirements for maintenance activities on transmission lines are listed below: 1- Existence of specific documentation in the SAP / R3 management system approved and released by the operation of the electrical system for maintenance; 2- Existence of operative and functional media to support the operation and maintenance; 3- Compliance with ONS operational and guidelines for live and / or dead line work.

[056] The types of installations that must be serviced by aerial maintenance platform are: 1- High and extra-high voltage transmission lines with servitude range and without servitude range; 2- Shift-assisted, semi-assisted and unassisted substations.

[057] Live (energized) and dead (de-energized) lines refer to operating conditions of maintenance transmission lines.

[058] Types of maintenance interventions are: scheduled, urgent, emergent and extraordinary.

[059] The operating routine of the electrical system to meet line maintenance demands depends on the type of intervention, this type dictates the processing pace of the intervention request.

[060] The rite currently provides for a scheduled annual inspection across the board to meet the annual maintenance plan. Inspections are scheduled activities and the deadline for consideration and release by the operation is 15 days. If any non-compliance points are identified, a detailed inspection is requested to the operation with a new schedule with new release deadlines.

[061] Inspection activities are handled at the local operation level and regional center of operation, and the participation of the National System Operator (ONS) is not required to authorize and release the activity.

[062] ONS is the agent responsible for coordinating and controlling the operation, generation and transmission of electricity in the National Interconnected System - SIN.

[063] With the exception of inspections, any intervention of transmission line maintenance shall be authorized by ONS and shall follow the guidelines and regulations contained in the document entitled Network Procedures, which covers technical and safety standards and govern the deadlines. for document release.

[064] Objectives of the Invention [065] It is an object of the present invention to perform new processes for constructing, operating, inspecting and maintaining transmission lines by reducing ground access dependency, markedly reducing the physical efforts of teams climbing the structures of the facilities. towers, as well as the lifting of heavy equipment to the top of it and deforestation.

[066] It is an object of the present invention to perform activities on transmission lines in stretches without access, such as high density forests, wetlands and river crossing, by land vehicle.

[067] It is an object of the present invention to reduce costs in the process of construction, operation, inspection and maintenance of transmission lines.

[068] It is an object of the present invention to avoid unnecessary hazards due to sudden and unexpected gusts of wind strong enough to move or damage the airship or tower structures.

[069] It is an object of the present invention to avoid the use of guide elements extended between the aerial platform and the tower, or tower elements to be installed, and the ground, which would also pose hazards to the aircraft and its crew in weather conditions. adverse.

[070] It is an object of the present invention to allow the removal of the extended mechanical connection between the aerial platform and the grounding elements, so that a mission can be aborted rapidly upon observing an adverse weather condition, so that the aircraft can quickly acquire altitude. and move away from the ground elements.

[071] It is an object of the present invention to reduce environmental impact and improve working conditions by substantially reducing the risk of accidents.

[072] It is an object of the present invention that the time taken to perform activities on a transmission line is reduced by non-ground dependency through the use of a faster vehicle with greater range and autonomy.

[073] It is an object of the present invention to perform multi-function inspections with only one overflight by the use of various equipment coupled to the platform.

[074] It is an object of the present invention to enable and ensure that communication between local maintenance and remote operation teams is made more broad and flexible with platform support with gains in safety and efficiency of the operation process.

[075] It is an object of the present invention to permit night work on the transmission lines.

[076] It is an object of the present invention to provide for the elimination of the formation of transmission line passage corridors, which generate the greatest environmental impact of the enterprise.

[077] It is an object of the present invention to permit the delivery of materials, persons and equipment to perform the services, ensuring all appropriate safety distances to carry out their work, while maintaining the continuity of the electrical power circuit.

[078] It is an object of the present invention to allow greater speed to access of transmission systems, minimizing the times and risks of equipment shortages, especially when there is a need to repair transmission line claims.

[079] It is an object of the present invention to assist in the choice of transmission line layout by providing the survey of possible obstacles by scanning the ground by means of instruments and visual observation.

[080] It is an object of the present invention for the phases of fencing sectioning and grounding, easement strip cleaning, foundation construction, excavation and excavation backfilling, to facilitate the transportation of staff and materials.

[081] It is an object of the present invention to decrease transmission line repair time and, consequently, increase availability.

[082] It is an object of the present invention to avoid the need for two offsets (one for inspection and one for maintenance) of teams and to have the problem aggravated due to mismatch of inspection time with that of performing maintenance.

[083] Summary of the Invention [084] The process of the present invention aims at the construction of transmission lines and comprises the following steps: providing an aerostat adapted with an aerial platform, said aerostat for use in line service flights transmission fly over with the aerostat the area where the transmission lines will be built to collect data and analyze the feasibility of building transmission lines there; After determining the area, transport with the aerostat a technical team responsible for preparing the area to be used for the installation of the transmission lines and for the assembly of the transmission lines. and to transport, with said airship, materials and equipment necessary for the construction of transmission lines.

[085] The construction process also comprises the following steps: collecting with the aerostat the team and the preparation materials of the chosen area for the installation of the transmission lines; and conduct the laying of conductor cables with the aerostat on towers of transmission lines.

[086] The provision of an adapted airship for use on transmission line service flights refers to the provision of an adapted airship.

[087] The necessary adaptations to the airship are: the presence of a set of propellers with direction control capability and traction magnitude along its main axis, as well as the ability to rotate the main axis of the propellers configuring traction vectorability. thus the aircraft has stable and controlled horizontal flight and hover flight capabilities. Presence of a set of winches with spools and motors attached to the gondola with external load suspension capacity by means of cable connections, which have their length controlled by the winches, thus enabling the positioning control of the suspended external load by the movement of load down and lift, as well as position control in the transverse plane to the down and up direction, this set of winches is called the suspended load positioning system. Presence of radio communication equipment between teams on the ground or suspended with the crew in the airship, and the crew in the airship with remote control and operation centers.

[088] The transport step of the technical team in charge of preparing the area to be used for the installation of the transmission lines comprises the lowering of said team to the ground in a basket by means of a suspended load positioning system. Since there is no mass transfer in the team transport stage. In addition, the transportation of materials and equipment necessary for the construction of transmission lines also includes the delivery of equipment for land preparation.

[089] Delivery of equipment such as tractors, backhoe loaders and related ground preparation equipment takes place with or without load shifting and the equipment delivery stage comprises the transportation and delivery of ballast to the assembly line of the towers of transmission to allow load shifting.

In the process described herein the equipment delivery step comprises the transport of at least one transmission line tower or part thereof and comprises the descent of at least one transmission line tower using part positioning system. suspended loads, with a guide cable resting on tower edges.

[091] A ground crew is provided to secure the guide wire to a ballast positioned at a safe distance from the tower. The possibility of uncoupling the airship by means of the guide cable exists. The guide wire retraction is performed by the suspended load positioning system.

[092] The use of ballast to collect equipment from the transmission line construction site is planned. We will use ballasts that are capable of ensuring the heaviness (operation where the aircraft is heavier than air) and maximum lightness (operation where the aircraft is lighter than air) of the adapted aerostat.

[093] The team and preparation materials for the area chosen for the installation of the transmission lines are collected preferably with no load change and preferably with the airship in hover.

[094] The positioning of staff and materials in the basket takes place without the need to transfer loads. Soon after there is the lifting of the basket and its entry in a gondola.

[095] Laying conductive cables with the aerostat on transmission line towers primarily comprises laying guide cables along the towers and permitting the launching of pilot cables, which in turn allows the laying of conductive cables. Laying guidewires along the towers comprises the step of extending the cable to the ground along the line; and raise them to the top of the towers. Hoisting of the guide ropes is performed by people by pulleys.

[096] The guide wire launching stage is performed by an airship and also includes the transportation of launching equipment. Said guide wire release is performed by an aerostat when flying over a transmission line and progressively releasing the guide cable from a coil.

[097] Coil positioning is performed by means of the suspended load positioning system.

[098] At the end of a branch cable launch, the airship undergoes a speed-to-hover flight transition. The cable end is released from the coil and attached to a support by the ground crew.

[099] The invention further comprises a transmission line inspection process comprising the following steps: overflying the stretch of line to be inspected with an aerostat adapted with an aerial platform; and perform the inspection during the overflight of the previous step.

[100] The inspection also comprises the step of bringing the aerostat closer to the towers to be inspected. By approaching the towers at the correct height in relation to them and at a suitable speed range up to 120 km / h, the aerostat begins the actual inspection mission.

[101] Overflight of the lines is performed with sufficient airship nearby at a distance of 10 m to 100 m to allow inspection equipment to detect possible defects. Maintaining overflight height relative to the top of the towers is virtually constant throughout the inspection mission and overflight is performed at ground speed allowing the measuring equipment to be used.

[102] The inspection process is performed by an airship adapted for use on transmission lines.

[103] Inspection comprises the collection of transmission line situation data by visual inspection by a qualified technician.

[104] Inspection comprises the collection of georeferenced data from the transmission line situation through instrumented inspection to verify: temperature in cable connections via thermal imager, corona effect resulting from possible anomalies through the corona effect analyzer. laser scanning for vegetation and height surveys, cable-to-ground height measurement, erosion along the easement strip, and high-resolution video camera capture.

[105] Inspection steps may occur simultaneously or individually. In addition, multi-function inspections can be performed with just one overflight by the use of various equipment coupled to the adapted airship.

[106] The invention further comprises a transmission line maintenance process with the following steps: overflying the section of line to be maintained with an adapted aerostat; and perform maintenance at the chosen location of the transmission line.

[107] The step of bringing the aerostat closer to the towers in need of maintenance is performed so that maintenance is practicable. In this case, the aerostat remains in hover flight for the accomplishment of said maintenance.

[108] Specialist technicians are positioned close enough to serviceable components. After positioning, the technician descends the aerostat to the tower by means of a basket. That is, the maintenance procedure can be performed in at least two ways: technicians get down from the basket to the tower with their tools, or perform maintenance from inside the basket.

[109] In fact, the maintenance procedure adopted depends on the time required to complete the work and the accessibility of the basket on the tower to be repaired.

[110] In maintenance, the airship can operate at heaviness, and the total discharged mass may be less than the instantaneous heaviness value for technicians and their tools to descend from the basket without having to perform mass transfer.

[111] Maintenance comprises the step of directing water jet at the transmission line components to perform cleaning.

[112] Maintenance is performed by an airship adapted for use on transmission lines.

[113] An operation process is also part of the present invention and comprises the steps of: providing an aerostat adapted for use on transmission line service flights; and position the adapted aerostat in a position that enables communication between inspection and maintenance teams with substations and / or regional operation centers. The operation process is carried out by an airship adapted for use on transmission lines.

[114] Therefore, the process of the present invention defines a new transmission system access logistics, eliminating ground access, markedly reducing the physical efforts of teams climbing the tower structures as well as lifting heavy equipment. to the top, which are usually in hard-to-reach places, such as flooded areas or no roads along the venture. The platform provides easy access, increased security without major environmental impacts while minimizing current costs. In the construction of a transmission system, the platform transports people and equipment, as well as mounted towers, to the installation sites, eliminating environmental impacts to form passageways in the vegetation along the system path, setting only impacts on the base region of the towers, with the advantage of remaining on the site for hours or days.

[115] The present invention is particularly intended to avoid the above drawbacks by introducing new processes.

[116] Further, the required patent does not require aerial platform anchor sections to be rigidly coupled to the transmission line tower, as this may entail unnecessary risks due to sudden and unexpected gusts of wind sufficiently intense that may move or damage the airship or tower structures. Moreover, the construction process does not claim to use guide elements extended between the aerial platform and the tower, or tower elements to be installed, which would also pose risks to the aircraft and its crew in adverse weather conditions. By removing the prolonged mechanical connection between the aerial platform and grounded elements, the mission can be quickly aborted by observing an adverse weather condition so that the aircraft can quickly gain altitude and move away from ground elements.

[117] The proposed patent application reduces the cost of the construction, operation, inspection and maintenance process by its sustainability by reducing soil activities that corroborate the reduction of environmental impact and improving working conditions, substantially reducing the risk. of accidents. In addition, the time taken to perform activities is reduced by non-ground dependency through the use of a faster, longer-range vehicle capable of performing multiple-function inspections with only one overflight by the use of multiple equipment attached to the platform. Likewise, communication is done more broadly, flexibly through the use of equipment installed on the platform, and still has the advantage of communication being above tree tops that can interfere with signal quality. The process, which refers to this patent application, allows night work, through artificial lighting installed along the extensive platform, when required in emergency situations allowing the increased availability of transmission lines.

[118] The present invention provides a process utilizing an aerial work platform for use in the construction, operation, inspection and maintenance services of an energized electric power transmission system which revolutionizes the current form of work by having an inversion of the current work logic, placing gravity in favor of the services that are performed. In the construction process, there is a marked reduction of impacts on the environment by providing the elimination of the formation of transmission line passage corridors, which generates the greatest environmental impact of the project.

[119] Thus, for the application of the new working method using the aerial platform, which allows the delivery of materials, people and equipment to perform the services, ensuring all the necessary safety distances to perform their work, maintaining the continuity of the work. electric power circuit. It also allows greater speed to access the transmission systems, minimizing the times and risks of equipment shortages, especially when there is a need to repair transmission line claims, benefiting society and consumers in the continuity of electricity. This avoids the need for climbing the towers and people for lifting materials to perform the services by land.

[120] The new process changes the current way of working of transmission line electricians, reversing the bottom-up logic by lowering the platform load on the tower, characterizing a downward process from the aerial platform, directly contributing to the motivation and in the safety of the team in the exercise of their activities.

[121] The use of the aerial platform, at the transmission line layout phase, allows for the survey of possible obstacles by scanning the terrain through instruments and visual observation, contributing to the choice and geo-referencing of the probable installation sites. towers in addition to the transportation of personnel and equipment. With the use of the aerial platform the construction of access roads becomes irrelevant.

[122] For fencing sectioning and grounding, easement strip cleaning, foundation construction, excavation and excavation backfilling will facilitate the transportation of staff and materials, saving time and money.

[123] Towers may be assembled piece by piece or by pre-assembled sections or as a complete piece on the ground, then lifted and placed in their final place by using the aerial platform in a short time. The towers will be assembled or sectioned in pre-selected courtyards that facilitate assembly and access, not necessarily at the tower's final installation site.

[124] The cables will be released through the airship, with the coil on the ground or attached to it for later adjustment and stapling by the specialized team.

[125] The use of the platform will result in improved operation due to the ease of overflying the transmission line, checking for possible damage and immediate communication to the operation center for authorization to intervene, reducing repair time and consequently increasing availability.

[126] Using the aerial platform, in addition to visual analysis, inspections will be made along the line through equipment to identify possible defects. Depending on the identified problem, maintenance will be done immediately or scheduled for another opportunity.

[127] Measurement of turret strength and corrosion will be measured by the airship as the inspector descends.

[128] The platform will be equipped with height and vegetation type laser identifiers defining when intervention will be required to remove it.

[129] With the use of the aerial platform there will no longer be a need for two offsets (one for inspection and one for maintenance) and the problem is aggravated due to mismatch of inspection time with that of maintenance.

[130] The cost of maintaining the various accesses to reach the transmission system is eliminated as access becomes air only.

[131] The major obstacle to the expansion of the transmission system is related to the social and environmental problem due to deforestation. With the new process, the cost to mitigate the social and environmental impacts will be minimal and the time to build the project decreases considerably compared to the current one, since the longest time is precisely in the opening of the transmission line corridors and the launching of the cables. .

[132] The aerostat of the present invention will also be very important for the operation of the Electrical System in the rapid and accurate localization of defects that have caused permanent or intermittent shutdowns in the LTs, as overflying the LT will provide precision equipment to assist inspectors in troubleshooting. Once the defect is found, reliable communication will be available on the airship so that the maintainers will take action and the System will be restored in the shortest possible time.

[133] With regard to communication, there will be reliable communication with duplicate equipment in the airship so that maintainers are in permanent contact with the LT substations. This will ensure the safety of the maintainers as well as the electrical system during scheduled maintenance and emergencies.

[134] Therefore, based on the above considerations, we can state that the biggest change in the operation of the electric system operation concerns the deadlines for consideration of requests for maintenance intervention since we must safeguard the technical and safety constraints. In this regard, both local operation and regional and ONS centers should know the inspection schedule in order to anticipate analysis and meet deadlines, which must be revised to meet this new reality, so as to match the inspection schedule with the pace of navigation and operational deadlines, will be the new reality of the operation of the electric power system.

[135] Another significant change in routine operation combines safety and technical aspects as it relates to maintenance team communications systems. This change is a new way of communicating with field teams, now through the aerial platform that will be at the altitude maintenance site that can avoid the difficulties of direct sight communication with the line-end substations and represents safety. in operational maneuvers since it ensures communication with neighboring substations or even with the regional center of operation, in the case of unattended installations.

[136] Brief Description of the Drawings [137] Figure 1 illustrates the transmission line inspection process.

[138] Figure 2 illustrates the transmission line maintenance process.

[139] Figure 3 illustrates the process of transport and positioning with load shifting tower, tower part or equipment.

[140] Figure 4 illustrates the process of transporting, positioning, and gathering teams and / or equipment.

[141] Figure 5 illustrates the process of laying guidewires.

[142] Figure 6 illustrates the communication process for operating transmission lines.

[143] Detailed description of the drawings of the figures [144] Figure 1 is represented by the airship 1 which has an envelope 2 responsible for supporting most of the aircraft's weight, a set of aerodynamic stabilizers 3 that aid in control, a gondola 4 which has the functional compartments, and propellers 5 responsible for propulsion.

[145] The inspection process utilizes over-inspection of an inspection line with the ability to focus on specific transmission line defect detection instruments by collecting georeferenced transmission line situation data for: temperature checks on connections. corona effect thermal imager result of possible anomalies via corona effect analyzer, laser scan for height and vegetation type, cable-to-ground height measurement, erosion along servitude range, and image capture by high-resolution camcorder, or even enable the transport of a technician who can detect defects only by visual means. Line overflight should therefore be performed at an appropriate speed that will allow the instruments to efficiently obtain the images and data needed to map the line situation.

[146] The ground inspection speed is in the range 0 to 120 km / h, more preferably between 60 and 80 km / h.

[147] Still, the airship must be kept at a safe distance from the transmission line, but still allow the collection of images and data by the inspection instruments and even the visual inspection. The distance during the inspection flight should be between 10 m and 100 m, more preferably between 30 and 50 m.

[148] Thus, in Figure 1 one can see the airship 1 flying over the inspection line below composed of towers 8 and conductor cables, OPGW and radius 9. The extension of the transmission line cables is illustrated by 10, as a transmission line spans several kilometers, so the inspection process also takes place over several kilometers of the transmission line.

[149] Overflight is maintained at nearly constant speed with the propeller-powered airship 5. Inspection instruments 6 are positioned on gondola 4 and focused on points to be inspected on the line, represented by the visual and / or instrumented inspection field. 7

[150] The transmission line maintenance process is performed after identifying defects in the transmission line, which have been detected while performing the transmission line inspection process, or even due to periodic line maintenance, ie not necessarily a result. defect detection by inspection.

[151] Figure 2 illustrates the maintenance line maintenance process that can be performed in three ways: technician transferring the airship to the transmission line to perform maintenance on transmission line components with subsequent rescue of the line technicians to the airship, represented by Figures 2.1 to 2.5, 2.10 and 2.11; performing line component maintenance with technicians in basket suspended by the drivable without descending into the transmission line, represented by Figures 2.1, 2.6, 2.7, 2.10 and 2.11; and performing component cleaning with a technician directing water jet from the overhead basket, represented by Figures 2.1,2.8, 2.9, 2.10 and 2.11.

[152] Figure 2.1 illustrates the beginning of any of the three forms of maintenance, where airship 1 is held in hover flight with propellers 5 directed so that traction controls the height of airship 1. Still, technicians with equipment 15 Transmission line maintenance devices are transferred to a basket 14 and lowered by the suspended load positioning system 11 to approximate transmission line tower 8 and / or transmission line cables 9.

[153] Now following the process of maintaining transmission lines with technicians transferring the airship to the transmission line, the next step is that of Figure 2.2. This figure illustrates the descent and positioning above transmission line tower 8 of technicians with maintenance equipment 15 within basket 14 by means of suspended load positioning system 11 while airship 1 is maintained in hover flight. propeller assistance 5.

[154] Next begins the step in Figure 2.3 where technicians and equipment 15 descend from basket 14 to driveline tower 8. Then basket 14 is lifted by suspended load positioning system 11 while airship 1 is maintained in hovered flight with the aid of the propellers 5.

[155] Figure 2.4 then illustrates the initiation of maintenance procedures on transmission line components by technicians with equipment 15. Airship 1 then remains in a hover or performs a standby flight. The basket 14 is then collected by the suspended load positioning system 11.

[156] Upon completion of maintenance procedures by technicians 15 on transmission line tower 8, the airship returns to rescue them, as shown in Figure 2.5. Suspended load positioning system 11 brings basket 14 closer to technicians and equipment 15 so that they then enter basket 14.

[157] The next step is shown in Figure 2.10 where technicians and equipment 15 inside basket 14 are lifted by suspended load positioning system 11 into gondola 4. The airship is then accelerated by propellers 5.

[158] The last step of this transmission line maintenance process is shown in Figure 2.11, where airship 1 proceeds with horizontal flight propelled by propellers 5, with technicians and equipment inside gondola 4.

[159] The second form of driveline maintenance where technicians are held within the basket suspended by the drivable without descending into the driveline is initiated by the step of Figure 2.1 described above.

[160] The next step is illustrated in Figure 2.6 where airship 1 is hovering while technicians with equipment 15 in basket 14 suspended by overhead load positioning system 11 perform maintenance procedures on transmission line components close to transmission line tower 8 and / or transmission line cables (conductors, OPGW, to lightning) 9.

[161] At the completion of maintenance procedures on driveline components at one point, airship 1 may be driven by propeller 5 to another near point where technicians with equipment 15 inside basket 14 are suspended by suspended load positioning system 11, can perform maintenance procedures on transmission line components at a point other than above, near transmission line tower 8 and / or transmission line cables (conductors, OPGW, to lightning) 9. This step is shown in Figure 2.7.

[162] The next step is shown in Figure 2.10, where technicians and equipment 15 inside basket 14 are lifted by suspended load positioning system 11 into gondola 4. The airship is then accelerated by propellers 5.

[163] The last step of this transmission line maintenance process is shown in Figure 2.11, where airship 1 proceeds with horizontal flight propelled by propellers 5, with technicians and equipment inside gondola 4.

[164] The third and last form of driveline maintenance where technicians are kept inside the basket suspended by the drivable without dropping to the driveline and directing water jet to clean driveline components, is initiated by step of Figure 2.1 described above.

[165] Next begins the step of Figure 2.8, where technicians and equipment 15, in basket 14, held suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11, direct water jet 16, with water tank inside the gondola 4 connected by a hose 18 for cleaning transmission line components such as insulators 17, near transmission line tower 8 and / or transmission line cables (conductors, OPGW, to lightning).

[166] The next step shown in Figure 2.9 also shows transmission line component cleaning maintenance procedure, where airship 1 moves by propeller action 5 so that technicians with equipment 15, in basket 14, suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11, can reach a different point with water jet 16, with water tank inside gondola 4 connected by a hose 18, for cleaning transmission line components such as insulators 17 nearby transmission line tower cables and / or transmission line cables (conductors, OPGW, to lightning).

[167] Then goes to the step of Figure 2.10, where technicians and equipment 15 inside the basket 14 are lifted by the suspended load positioning system 11 into the gondola 4. The airship is then accelerated by the propellers 5.

[168] The last step of this transmission line maintenance process is shown in Figure 2.11, where airship 1 proceeds with horizontal flight propelled by propellers 5, with technicians and equipment inside gondola 4.

[169] The process of transporting and positioning, with load shifting, tower, tower part or equipment occurs as a process for building transmission lines, or even rebuilding a transmission line where tower or towers have been damaged and should be replaced.

[170] The complete process is described in Figure 3, beginning with the step of Figure 3.1 where the airship 1 carries the tower, tower part or equipment 19 suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11 and propulsion is due to propellers 5.

[171] The next step is illustrated in Figure 3.2, where as you approach the construction site, the airship 1 with the tower, tower part or equipment 19 suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11 reduces the flight speed to remain in a hover flight, with propeller 5 speed adjustments. Meanwhile, a team of technicians and equipment 15 with ballast 20 await on the ground.

[172] In Figure 3.3, next step, airship 1 remains in hovered flight while the tower, tower part or equipment 19 is held suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11. A load transfer guide cable 21 is secured at one end the suspended load positioning system 11 and the other free end is lowered to the ballast 20 technicians and equipment 15.

[173] Next, shown in Figure 3.4, the load transfer guide cable 21 is secured to ballast 20 by the ground crew of technicians and equipment 15. In addition, the tower, tower part or equipment 19 is lowered and positioned in the suspended loads positioning system, while airship 1 is maintained in hovered flight with the aid of propellers 5.

[174] Once the load transfer guide cable is positioned on the ballast and the tower, tower part or equipment in place, the step in Figure 3.5 can be started. In this step the suspended load positioning system 11 decouples from the tower, tower part or equipment 19, which causes the upward movement of the airship 1 by the resulting lightness condition, caused by the holding force of the envelope 2 above the weight of the aircraft. Propellers 5 may slow up the upward movement by applying traction counterclockwise. The upward movement will be terminated when the airship 1 reaches the height allowed by the maximum extension of the load transfer guide cable 21.

[175] The step in Figure 3.6 shows airship 1 at the height of the upward movement, and has stabilized movement. In this condition the airship 1 is held in position by securing to the ballast 20 by means of the load transfer guide cable 21 and the suspended load positioning system 11. In this condition the airship can start to wind the load transfer guide cable 21 , so as to bring the end of the suspended load positioning system 11 closer to the ballast 20 while bringing the airship 1 downwards.

[176] The step in Figure 3.7 shows the condition in which the load transfer guide cable is completely coiled, with airship 1 lowered, and the suspended load positioning system 11 is coupled to ballast 20 with the help of the technical team. and equipment 15 on the ground.

[177] Next begins the step of Figure 3.8, where airship 1 performs vertical take-off with propeller actuation 5, and ballast 20 is held suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11.0 ballast 20 is then approached from gondola 4 being lifted by the suspended load positioning system 11.

[178] Once the ballast has been lifted, the step in Figure 3.9 begins, where the airship 1 is accelerated by the action of the propellers 5, while the ballast 20 is held suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11.

[179] The final step is shown in Figure 3.10 which illustrates the transport of the ballast 20 by the airship 1 held suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11, whose propulsion is due to the propellers 5.

[180] The process of transporting, positioning, and gathering teams and / or equipment is used in missions where it is necessary to transfer teams and equipment from the airship to the ground, and from the ground to the airship.

[181] The two complete processes are shown in Figure 4. The process of delivering teams and / or equipment to the ground is illustrated by the steps in Figure 4.1 to Figure 4.5, and the process of collecting teams and / or equipment from the ground to The airship is illustrated by the steps from Figure 4.6 to Figure 4.10.

[182] Primarily for the ground and / or equipment delivery process, the start is at the stage in Figure 4.1 where airship 1 hovering over the delivery site initiates the descent of technicians and equipment 15 into the basket 14 by the suspended load positioning system 11.

[183] Figure 4.2 illustrates the next step where basket 14, with technicians and equipment 15, is close to the ground at the lowest point of descent by overhead load positioning system 11, while airship 1 remains in hover flight. .

[184] This is followed by the step in Figure 4.3, where technicians and equipment 15 disembark from basket 14 to the ground, then the suspended load positioning system 11 lifts basket 14, while airship 1 remains in hover flight. .

[185] The next step is shown in Figure 4.4 with the technicians and equipment 15 already on the ground, the basket 14 just being lifted by the suspended load positioning system 11 to get inside the gondola 4. Thus the airship 1 starts accelerating to continue with horizontal propulsive propeller flight 5.

[186] Finally, Figure 4.5 shows the final step of this process, where the basket is inside the gondola 4, and the airship 1 proceeds with horizontal propelled flight due to the propellers 5.

[187] Now the process that involves gathering crews and / or equipment from the ground to the airship is started by the step in Figure 4.6, where the ground crew of technicians and equipment 15 awaits, while the airship 1 in hover flight begins. lowering the basket 14 by means of the suspended load positioning system 11.

[188] Figure 4.7 shows the next step, where the basket 14 suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11 is close to the ground so that technicians and equipment 15 can be boarded while the airship 1 maintains a hover flight.

[189] Next in Figure 4.8, the next step, the basket with the technicians and equipment 15 embedded in the basket 14 is lifted by the suspended load positioning system 11, while the airship 1 is held in hover flight.

[190] The next step in Figure 4.9 shows basket 14 with technicians and equipment just being lifted by overhead load positioning system 11 to enter gondola 4, while airship 1 initiates acceleration for horizontal flight due to propulsive action. of the propellers 5.

[191] Finally, Figure 4.10 illustrates the final step of this process where the basket is inside the gondola 4, and the airship 1 proceeds with horizontal propelled flight due to the propellers 5.

[192] The cable routing process is used during transmission line construction missions after the installation of the towers for subsequent installation of transmission line cables (conductor, OPGW and lightning).

[193] Figure 5 illustrates this process where an airship 1 flying at practically constant ground speed of up to 120 km / h, a transmission line currently composed only of towers 8, progressively releases installation cables from driveline 13 when unwinding guidewire 12 suspended by the suspended load positioning system 11. Extending the positioning of the guidewires over the driveline towers along the line extension is illustrated by 10. This process must be made with airship 1 at a safe distance from transmission line towers 8 of 10 m to 100 m.

[194] In all transmission line operation missions using the airship, it shall be possible for teams to communicate on the ground, suspended in the basket by the suspended load positioning system, or above the transmission line with the crew in the airship, and also communication of the airship crew with transmission line operator control and operation stations.

[195] Thus, Figure 6 illustrates this communication process for operating transmission lines, where the team of technicians and equipment 15 on the ground, or in the basket suspended by the suspended load positioning system, or on top of the transmission line, and the crew in airship 1 have radio communication equipment that allows communication between them, represented by the two-way arrow 22. Also, the crew in airship 1 has radio communication equipment that allows communication, represented by the two-way arrow 23, with personnel at remote control station and operation stations 24 of the transmission line operator.

[196] As can be seen, the present invention describes a method of using an adapted aerostat capable of providing construction, operation, inspection and maintenance services and on transmission lines, which are basically characterized by: I. transporting equipment, cargo and personnel in separate compartments. II. construct or recompose transmission lines by transporting and positioning the entire tower structure or parts III. enable downward construction, operation, inspection and maintenance of the aerial platform from an elevated position to the towers, cables and ground. IV. Perform cable launching directly from the aerial platform to the towers. V. Conduct inspection or monitoring of transmission lines by visual verification and / or by means of inspection equipment coupled to the aerial platform. SAW. perform night services. VII. perform maintenance services on insulator chains, signal balls, spacers, vibration dampers, beacons, cables and towers. Therefore, the preventive and corrective maintenance made possible by the inversion of the current work logic of the transmission line teams and by the change in the logistics of the construction of new projects in electric transmission systems using an aerial platform by means of an airship. proposed in this patent, presents numerous advantages to the used and / or existing models, such as: great operational safety, reliability and agility in the application; safety in application in the energized transmission system, guarantee of low environmental impact in the expansions, great performance in its application due to its general conception; high maintainer comfort, convenience and safety to users and the electrical system; overall cost savings, including cost of maintaining the fully accessible aerial platform for optimum cost effectiveness; practical and safe use by any qualified service technician; wide range; very low and practical general maintenance. It can also be applied to various types of services such as substations and power plants, ensuring the maintenance operational safety compliance, fully meeting the current standards and the basic conditions necessary for their application.

[197] With what has already been described, it is possible to classify the object of this patent as a totally versatile, efficient, practical and safe process to perform the construction, operation, inspection and maintenance of the power transmission system, which regardless of the general characteristics. of the various configurations and the different types of structures existing in the electric sector, making it easy to perform the services, allowing a totally safe handling with the energized network.

[198] Therefore, it should be understood that the process of the present invention and its component parts described above are part of a preferred embodiment and examples of situations which could occur, the actual scope of the object of the invention is defined in the claims.

[199] Index of Elements in Figures 1 - Airship 2 - Envelope 3 - Stabilizers 4 - Gondola 5 - Propellers 6 - Inspection Instruments 7 - Visual and / or Instrumented Inspection Field 8 - Transmission Line Tower 9 - Line Cables (conductors, OPGW, lightning) 10 - Transmission line cable extension 11 - Suspended Load Positioning System 12 - Guide cable reel 13 - Transmission line cable installation guide 14 - Basket 15 - Technicians and equipment 16 - Water jet 17 - Insulators 18 - Hose 19 - Tower, tower part or equipment 20 - Ballast 21 - Load transfer guide cable 22 - Radio communication between ground and airship technicians 23 - Radio communication between crew in the airship and control and operation station 24 - Remote control and operation station

Claims (51)

Process for the construction of transmission lines, comprising the following steps: providing an aerostat adapted with an aerial platform, said aerostat for use in transmission service lines; fly over with the aerostat the area where the transmission lines will be built to collect data and analyze the feasibility of building transmission lines there; After determining the area, transport with the aerostat a technical team responsible for preparing the area to be used for the installation of the transmission lines and for the assembly of the transmission lines. and to transport, with said airship, materials and equipment necessary for the construction of transmission lines. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps: collecting with the aerostat the team and the preparation materials of the chosen area for installation of the transmission lines; and launch guidewires with the airship on transmission line towers. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of providing an adapted aerostat for use on transmission line service flights comprises more specifically providing an adapted airship. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transporting step of the technical team in charge of preparing the area to be used for the installation of the transmission lines comprises the lowering of said equipment to the ground in a basket by means of of a suspended load positioning system. Process according to Claim 1 or 4, characterized in that no mass transfer occurs at the team transport stage. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that the step of conveying materials and equipment necessary for the construction of the transmission lines further comprises the delivery of equipment for the preparation of the land. Process according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the stage of delivery of equipment such as tractors, backhoes and related equipment for land preparation takes place with or without load shifting. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that the equipment delivery step comprises the transport and delivery of ballast to the transmission line tower assembly area to allow load shifting. Method according to Claim 1 or 8, characterized in that the equipment delivery step comprises the transport of at least one transmission line tower or part thereof. Method according to Claim 1, 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises the lowering of at least one transmission line tower or part thereof using the suspended load positioning system, with a guide cable supported on edges of the tower. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a ground crew for fixing the guide cable to a ballast positioned at a safe distance from the tower. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that it comprises the possibility of uncoupling the airship by means of the guide cable. Method according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it comprises the retraction of the guide cable by the suspended load positioning system. Process according to Claim 2 or 11, characterized in that it comprises the possibility of using ballast to collect equipment from the construction site of the transmission lines. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises the possibility of using ballasts which are capable of guaranteeing the maximum heaviness and lightness of the adapted aerostat. Process according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of collecting the crew and preparation materials from the area chosen for the transmission line installation is preferably carried out without load shifting. Process according to Claim 16, characterized in that the step of collecting the crew and preparation materials from the area chosen for installation of the transmission lines is preferably performed with the airship in hover. Process according to Claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the staff and materials are positioned in the basket without the need to transfer loads. Process according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises lifting the basket and entering it into a gondola. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the step of conducting cable routing comprises firstly laying guide cables along the towers using the aerostat. Method according to Claim 20, characterized in that the step of laying guide ropes along the towers allows the laying of pilot cables in a traditional manner. Method according to Claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the step of traditionally laying pilot cables permits the laying of traditionally conductive cables. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the step of laying the guide ropes along the towers comprises the step of extending the cables on the floor along the line; and lift them up to the top of the towers, or extend them on top of the towers. Method according to Claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the step of lifting the guide rope is carried out by persons by means of pulleys. Method according to Claim 21, characterized in that the step of carrying out guide ropes is carried out by an aerostat and further comprises transporting the launching equipment. Method according to Claim 25, characterized in that the step of carrying out guidewires is made by an aerostat when flying over a transmission line and progressively releasing the guidewire from a coil. Method according to Claim 26, characterized in that it comprises positioning the coil by means of a suspended load positioning system. Method according to Claim 27, characterized in that at the end of the launching of the guide wire of a branch, the aerostat is transitioned from speed to hover flight and the end of the cable is released from the coil and coupled to a support by the team on the ground. 29. Transmission line inspection process comprising the following steps: overflying the section of line to be inspected with an airship adapted with an aerial platform; and perform the inspection during the overflight of the previous step; Method according to claim 29, characterized in that it comprises the step of bringing the aerostat closer to the towers to be inspected. Process according to claim 30, characterized in that the aerostat when approaching the towers at the correct height in relation to them and in a suitable speed range up to 120 km / h, initiates the actual inspection mission. Method according to any one of Claims 29 to 31, characterized in that it comprises the overflight of the lines with the sufficient nearby airship, at a distance between 10 m and 100 m, to enable inspection equipment to detect possible defects. Method according to any one of claims 29 to 32, characterized in that the maintenance of the overflight height relative to the top of the towers is substantially constant throughout the inspection mission. Process according to any one of claims 29 to 33, characterized in that the overflight is performed at ground speed allowing the measuring equipment to be used. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 34, characterized in that it is carried out by an airship adapted for use on transmission lines. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 35, characterized in that the inspection comprises collecting data from the transmission line situation by visual inspection by a qualified technician. Process according to any one of claims 29 to 35, characterized in that the inspection comprises the collection of georeferenced data from the transmission line situation by means of instrumented inspection for temperature checks on cable connections by means of a thermal imager, corona effect resulting from possible anomalies through the corona effect analyzer, laser scanning for height and vegetation type survey, cable-to-ground height measurement, erosion along the easement strip, and Capture images by high resolution camcorder. Process according to claim 36 or 37, characterized in that the inspection steps defined in claim 36 or 37 occur simultaneously or individually. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 38, characterized in that multipurpose inspections can be performed with only one overflight by the use of various equipment coupled to the adapted aerostat. 40. Transmission line maintenance process comprising the following steps: flying over the section of line to be maintained with an adapted aerostat; and perform maintenance at the chosen location of the transmission line. Process according to Claim 40, characterized in that it comprises the step of bringing the aerostat closer to the towers in need of maintenance. Process according to Claim 40, characterized in that the aerostat remains in a hover flight for maintenance purposes. Process according to any one of claims 40 to 42, characterized in that it comprises the step of positioning skilled technicians sufficiently close to the components to be serviced. Process according to Claim 43, characterized in that it comprises the step of descending the aerostat technicians to the tower by means of a basket after positioning. Process according to Claim 40, characterized in that the maintenance procedure can be carried out in at least two ways: the technicians descend from the basket to the tower with their tools, or perform maintenance from within the basket. Process according to Claim 45, characterized in that the maintenance procedure adopted depends on the time required to carry out the work and the accessibility of the basket on the tower to be repaired. Process according to any one of claims 43 to 46, characterized in that the aerostat operates at heaviness, and the total mass discharged is less than the instant heaviness value for technicians and their tools to descend from the basket without having to perform mass transference. Process according to any one of Claims 40 to 47, characterized in that the maintenance comprises the step of directing water jet on the transmission line components to perform the cleaning. A method according to any one of claims 40 to 48, characterized in that it is carried out by an airship adapted for use on transmission lines. 50. Transmission line operation process comprising the steps of: providing an aerostat adapted for use on transmission line service flights; and position the adapted aerostat in a position that enables communication between inspection and maintenance teams with substations and / or regional operation centers. Process according to Claim 50, characterized in that it is carried out by an airship adapted for use on transmission lines.