Cable car in the sky
15 Mar 2012
The best way to work on a cable is to ride along it in a gondola. This spectacular technique was implemented this week on the 400 kV power line as workers installed "line spacers" between the two conductors of each phase cable.
Spacers are used to keep cables from entering into contact with one another in the case of strong wind. They also help balance the stress placed on the anchor pins that attach the cables to the pylons.
Spacers have to be placed every 50 metres. Since there are six kilometres to cover between the pylon facing the ITER Headquarters and the connexion to the Boutre-Tavel power line ... that will make for a lot of nice gondola riding ahead.