Inspeção de linhas de transmissão de alta tensão em locais de dificil acesso: um estudo comparativo entre o método terrestre e aéreo por meio de VANT

Abstract

The present work aims to broaden the debate on inspection techniques in transmission lines using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The purpose of electric power systems is to have efficiency, it makes the transmission of electric energy seek to reduce the occurrences of disturbance and avoid transmission interruptions. Currently, through the auctions carried out by ANEEL, the company that holds the concession of a transmission line is responsible for the assets, só care and guarantee the operation are fundamental points. The maintenance of these assets is a legal requirement, in the case of transmission lines, inspection is mandatory for concessionaires or permissionaires to carry out. In this sense, the improvement of techniques can guarantee more efficiency. Through UAV, energy companies can reduce the risk of accidents at work, improve man-hour performance per inspection and increase the quality of information collected in the activity, especially when dealing with difficult access place, where they are most transmission lines. In this research, through a theoretical analysis, it was possible to compare foot patrol and UAV based patrol, presenting the strengths and difficulties of each method in three dimensions: human, technical-economic and environmental. Finally, through field research, a questionnaire was applied to transmission line professionals. And the result ratified the theoretical study, reinforcing the potential of inspection of transmission lines by UAV (reduction of accidents, reduction in inspection time, improvement in the quality of inspections). But the questionnaire also brought up points that make it difficult to inspect using UAVs, such as the low autonomy of drone batteries and the difficulty in processing information (mainly images) in the post-inspection period.