New materials. Existing conductors.
Kratos is developing coatings applied to the surface of existing overhead conductors, alongside application tools and a robotic system under development. Wildfire resilience is the first application, with thermal performance also in development.
Applied to the wire, not a replacement for it.
The coating is applied to the surface of an existing conductor. The approach is intended to improve the wire’s performance in place, without replacing the conductor.
Different applications. Different requirements.
Electrical protection, thermal performance, and environmental durability are the functions we design for. Which ones apply depends on the application; not every application is expected to deliver every benefit.
- Electrical protection
- Designed to reduce energy transfer during specified contact events and lower ignition risk.
- Thermal performance
- Intended to improve heat rejection, potentially lowering operating temperature and sag or increasing capacity within a temperature limit.
- Environmental durability
- Developed to remain effective under weathering, moisture, UV, and corrosive exposure.
From initial application to robotic deployment.
Initial application methods are being developed to apply the coating to existing conductor surfaces and evaluate the application process.
A purpose-built robotic system is also under development, intended to support repeatable application across existing overhead infrastructure. Field suitability and deployment performance still require validation.
Four areas of testing.
Our testing program covers electrical, thermal, environmental, and deployment performance.
- Electrical
- Contact-event response and electrical protection.
- Thermal
- Heat rejection and conductor temperature under defined conditions.
- Environmental
- Durability under weathering, moisture, UV, and corrosive exposure.
- Deployment
- Application repeatability, consistency, and compatibility with existing assets.