In high-voltage transmission networks, transmission towers serve as the core facilities for supporting and protecting power lines, and their safe operation is directly related to the stability of the power grid. However, interactions between birds and transmission towers often trigger(This Chinese word means “hidden dangers.” In English, it can be translated as “potential risks”) such as line short circuits and equipment damage. Traditional bird deterrence methods are constrained by power supply modes and ecological impacts, making it difficult to achieve long-term governance. With its cleanliness, independence, and intelligence, the solar power supply system is gradually becoming the technological cornerstone for analyzing bird activities around high-voltage transmission towers, driving the protection of power facilities towards precision and eco-friendliness.
I. Technical Architecture: A Closed-Loop Design from Energy Capture to Behavior Perception
The application of solar power supply systems in analyzing bird activities around high-voltage transmission towers requires the construction of a complete chain of “energy collection-storage-distribution-application” to support the continuous operation of multi-modal sensors and intelligent analysis equipment. Its core architecture consists of four major modules:
Photovoltaic Power Generation Module
High-weather-resistant monocrystalline silicon solar panels are employed to adapt to outdoor environments with strong ultraviolet radiation, salt spray, and temperature variations. Through the photovoltaic effect, they convert solar energy into direct current, providing basic energy for the system. The panels are covered with low-iron tempered frosted glass with a light transmittance exceeding 91%, ensuring efficient energy capture.
Energy Storage Management Module
Centered around lithium iron phosphate batteries and equipped with an intelligent battery management system (BMS), this module achieves overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, and temperature compensation. During consecutive overcast and rainy days, the energy storage unit can independently support the operation of monitoring equipment, preventing data interruptions caused by insufficient light.
Intelligent Control Module
Integrating light control and time control functions, this module automatically adjusts the operating mode of the equipment based on light intensity. For example, when sunlight is abundant, it prioritizes supplying power to the monitoring equipment and replenishing energy storage; during nighttime or low-light conditions, it automatically switches to the energy storage power supply mode while reducing energy consumption through low-power design.
Behavior Analysis Module
Combining microwave radar, infrared thermal imaging, and high-definition cameras, this module collects real-time data on bird activities. Microwave radar can detect the movement trajectories of birds within a 50-meter range, infrared thermal imaging identifies concealed perching birds through temperature differences, and high-definition cameras record bird species, behavior patterns, and nesting locations. All data is transmitted to a cloud platform via 4G/5G or Beidou satellites, providing a basis for subsequent analysis.
II. Core Advantages: Solving Three Major Challenges in Bird Governance Around High-Voltage Transmission Towers
Breaking Through Power Supply Limitations and Achieving Full Coverage
Traditional bird deterrence equipment relies on grid expansion or diesel generators, making deployment in remote mountainous areas, wetland reserves, and other regions without grid coverage extremely costly. The solar power supply system, operating in an “off-grid” mode, completely breaks free from geographical constraints, enabling flexible deployment of monitoring equipment on any transmission tower and forming an “air-ground” integrated monitoring network. For example, in cross-river large-span projects, solar-powered monitoring stations can remain suspended in the air for long periods, capturing the migration paths and habitat patterns of birds in real time.
Reducing Ecological Interference and Enhancing Governance Precision
Traditional bird deterrence methods, such as chemical agents and physical culling, can cause irreversible harm to bird populations and disrupt ecological balance. The solar power supply system supports the large-scale application of non-lethal bird deterrence technologies, such as ultrasonic bird repellent, audio bird repellent, and intense light flashing bird repellent. Ultrasonic waves stimulate the nervous systems of birds by simulating the calls of natural predators or high-frequency sound waves; audio bird repellent plays sounds that birds fear, such as wolf howls and eagle screams; intense light flashing uses alternating red and blue bursts to interfere with the visual systems of birds. These technologies operate continuously through solar power and cause no substantial harm to birds, adhering to the principles of ecological protection.
Intelligent Integrated Analysis Driving Decision Optimization
The solar power supply system provides stable power support for edge computing and artificial intelligence technologies, enabling bird activity analysis to shift from “passive monitoring” to “active prediction.” For example, by training historical data with deep learning algorithms, the system can identify high-risk periods and areas for bird nesting and trigger bird deterrence mechanisms in advance; by combining meteorological data with bird migration models, the system can predict peak periods of bird activity and dynamically adjust the operating parameters of monitoring equipment. This intelligent analysis model significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of power facility protection.
III. Application Scenarios: Extending from Single Monitoring to Comprehensive Governance
Dynamic Monitoring and Early Warning of Bird Activities
Solar-powered monitoring terminals are deployed on high-voltage transmission towers to collect real-time data on bird species, quantities, and behavior patterns. Through the cloud platform, managers can visually observe the spatiotemporal changes in bird activities and promptly detect abnormal aggregations or nesting behaviors. For example, when the bird density in a certain area exceeds a threshold, the system can automatically trigger an early warning and initiate on-site verification by drones or ground inspection personnel.
Formulating Eco-Friendly Bird Deterrence Strategies
The solar power supply system supports the collaborative application of multi-modal bird deterrence technologies, allowing for customized bird deterrence plans based on bird species and behavior characteristics. For example, for group-living birds like magpies, a combination of ultrasonic and audio bird repellent strategies can be adopted; for nocturnal birds like owls, infrared-triggered intense light flashing can be employed. This differentiated governance model not only reduces bird deterrence costs but also minimizes interference with non-target species.
Safety Risk Assessment of Power Facilities
Combining bird activity data with the structural parameters of transmission towers, the solar power supply system can assess the potential impact of bird nesting on line safety. For example, by analyzing the distance between bird nests and conductors, the system can predict the risk level of short circuits caused by nesting materials; by incorporating historical fault data, the system can identify high-risk transmission towers and provide a scientific basis for line reconstruction or reinforcement.
IV. Future Prospects: Technological Integration Driving the Innovation of Governance Paradigms
With the deep integration of the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence technologies, the application of solar power supply systems in analyzing bird activities around high-voltage transmission towers will advance to a higher stage. For example, virtual tower models can be constructed using digital twin technology to simulate the impact of bird activities on power lines; blockchain technology can ensure the immutability of data and enhance the credibility of governance decisions; drone swarms can be utilized to achieve automatic deployment and maintenance of bird deterrence equipment, reducing the costs of manual inspections. It can be foreseen that the solar power supply system will become a key infrastructure for the ecological governance of power facilities.
