Ice-release coating for disconnect switches. Final report

• Main Author: Mundon, J.L.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: 24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION; CIRCUIT BREAKERS; COATINGS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; EHV AC SYSTEMS; SWITCHES; HVAC SYSTEMS; FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS; ICE; POLYURETHANES; SILICONES; TEFLON; URETHANE; AC SYSTEMS; CARBAMATES; CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES; CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS; ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES; HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC POLYMERS; PETROCHEMICALS; PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; PLASTICS; POLYAMIDES; POLYETHYLENES; POLYMERS; POLYOLEFINS; POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE; POWER SYSTEMS; SILOXANES; TESTING; Carbonic acid
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5577849; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5577849; https://doi.org/10.2172/5577849

This project has shown that certain commercially available coatings, when applied to key components of air disconnect switches, reduce switch operational torque requirements under ice conditions by one half or less. Application of coated switch parts in areas subject to icing conditions would decrease switch operation requirements and provide for more reliable switch operation. The specific objectives of the project were to: (1) evaluate several coatings for ice release, heat dissipation, thermal cycling, and outdoor weathering properties, (2) apply the coating having the most desired performance in laboratory tests to full scale switch components, (3) test the full scale switches for ice performance and heat dissipation, and compare the results with those on identical switches with uncoated components. The coating chosen for application to switch components is being installed on several switches for field evaluation during the winter of 1979 and 1980. It will also be offered for commercial application for installation to new and existing switch installations. The coating also exhibited excellent heat dissipation properties and may be used to improve heat dissipation of switch blades and other components. The coating material is unaffected by sunlight; it is a two-component, Teflon-filled polyurethane that is available from two sources. The material is currently used for a variety of purposes, such as: aircraft wing and leading edge areas, hydrofoils, conveyor chutes and many others. Light gray in color, it is an excellent heat dissipator and matches the gray insulators used with most switches.