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Potential transfer is an essential link in equipotential live-line work (EPLW), which has a potential safety hazard. To ensure the safety of the linemen, this paper conducted experimental research on this process. First, to investigate the discharge characteristics of the potential transfer gap in EPLW, this paper developed a simplified experimental platform to examine the relationship between the transfer voltage and gap distance, as well as the electrode structure, during the potential transfer process. Second, to explore the discharge development process of potential transfer, this paper built a discharge observation experimental platform to observe the discharge process and explore the effects of gap distance and type of the floating electrode on the discharge development process and potential transfer current. The research results are valuable for practical projects and linemen safety.

With the increase of both voltage level and the transmission capacity, more attention has been paid to the external insulation of transmission lines. As the main external insulation medium of transmission line, the air gap’s dielectric strength will change when there are floating conductors. In this paper, we established an experiment platform to study the effects of floating conductors, simulated by floating rod electrode, on breakdown voltage, breakdown time, electric field distribution and discharge physical process of long air gaps under lightning impulse. The results showed that the intervention of floating electrode reduced the breakdown voltage and breakdown time of long air gaps, and the position with the longest breakdown time was the same as the position with the lowest breakdown voltage. In addition, the intervention of floating electrode improved the spatial electric field and complexity of discharge physical process.