The icing on overhead transmission lines is one of the largest threats to the safe operation of electric power systems. Compared with other security accidents in the electric industry, a sudden ice disaster could cause the most serious losses to electric power grids. Among the numerous de-icing and anti-icing techniques for application, direct current ice-melting and mechanical de-icing schemes require power cuts and other restrictive conditions. Superhydrophobic coating technology has been widely focused for good anti-icing properties, low cost and wide application range. However, the special structure of curved transmission lines, complicated service environments, and variated electric performance could significantly limit the application of superhydrophobic anti-icing coatings on overhead transmission lines. In particular, superhydrophobic surfaces can be achieved by combining the rough micro-nano structure and modification agents with low surface energy. Compared with superhydrophobic coatings, superhydrophobic surfaces will not increase the weight of the substrate and have good durability and stability in maintaining the robust structure to repeatedly resist aging, abrasion, corrosion and corona damages, etc. Therefore, this review summarizes the theoretical basis of anti-icing behavior and mechanisms, influencing factors of anti-icing properties, potential techniques of superhydrophobic surfaces on transmission lines, and, finally, presents future development challenges and prospects of superhydrophobic surfaces in the anti-icing protection of overhead transmission lines.

A grounding grid plays the role of discharging current and balancing voltage to ensure the safety of the power system. However, soil corrosion can damage the grounding grid, which then can endanger the safe operation of power system. This paper reviewed recent research advances of soil corrosion of grounding grid. The cause, mechanism, types, and influencing factors of soil corrosion of grounding grids were summarized, and the corresponding detection technology and protective measures were also introduced. The paper pointed out that soil corrosion is a serious threat to the grounding grid system. Moreover, the impact mechanism of AC stray current, new corrosion detection technology, and better protective measures still need in-depth research.

The corrosion of grounding grid materials in soil is a prominent factor in power and electrical equipment failure. This paper aims to delve into the corrosion characteristics of grounding grid materials and the corresponding methods of safeguarding against this phenomenon. Firstly, the influencing factors of the soil environment on the corrosion of the grounding grid are introduced, including soil physicochemical properties, microorganisms, and stray currents. Then, the corrosion behavior and durability of common grounding grid materials such as copper, carbon steel, and galvanized steel are discussed in detail and compared comprehensively. In addition, commonly used protective measures in China and outside China, including anti-corrosion coatings, electrochemical protection, and other technologies are introduced. Finally, it summarizes the current research progress and potential future directions of this field of study.

A breakdown caused by the icing of power generation infrastructure is one of the serious disasters occurring in the power system. Slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs), whose ice adhesion strength is extremely low, have a promising application in the anti-icing field. In the present study, we fabricated SLIPSs with low ice adhesion strength by infusing silicone oil into an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) substrate. In addition, the effects of the viscosity of silicone oil on the anti-icing properties and durability of the SLIPSs were investigated. The results show that a lower viscosity silicone oil brings about more slippery surfaces and lower ice adhesion strength. The ice adhesion strength was reduced by 99.3% in comparison with the bare Al alloy. However, low-viscosity silicone oil has worse de-icing resistance and heat resistance. Additionally, the porous films filled with low-viscosity silicone oil possess a better self-healing property after icing/de-icing cycles and followed by exposure to the atmosphere. When the viscosity of silicone oil is 50 mPa·s, the SLIPSs exhibit the best durability for anti-icing. Even after 21 de-icing tests or 168 h of heating at 90 °C, the ice adhesion strength still remains below 10% compared with that of bare Al. This work provides some useful advice for the design and fabrication of anti-icing SLIPSs.