Patent ID: 8510075

Claim:
A method of determining the emissivity of overhead electric transmission conductors, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an emissivity test instrument; (b) preparing a test sample for testing by the emissivity test instrument, wherein the test sample is prepared by: (i) removing an inner core of the test sample; (ii) inserting a heater into the test sample; and (iii) banding the test sample to prevent the test sample from expanding; (c) running a test on the test sample; (d) collecting test data; and (e) using the test data to determine the emissivity of the test sample using q r = 0.138 ⁢ ⁢ D ⁢ ⁢ ɛ · [ ( T c + 273 100 ) 4 - ( T a + 273 100 ) 4 ] . where q r is the radiated heat loss, D is the diameter of the test sample in inches, ε is the emissivity of the test sample, T c is the temperature of the test sample in degrees Celsius, and T a is the ambient temperature in degrees Celsius.