Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
com/c/brainamplifier
2017
TRANSMISSION LINE INSULATOR
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SR. CONTENT PG
NO. NO.
1. Introduction 4
2. Definitions 5
2.1 Tracking 5
2.2 Treeing 5
2.3 Erosion 5
2.4 Chalking 5
2.5 Crazing 5
2.6 Cracking 5
2.7 Hydrolysis 5
2.8 Puncture 5
2.9 Specified mechanical load (s.m.l) 5
2.10 Tensile load 5
2.11 Routine test load (r.t.l.) 5
2.12 Cantilever load 5
2.13 Compressive load 6
2.14 Maximum working combined loads 6
2.15 Working cantilever load (w.c. L.) 6
2.16 Maximum design rating (mdr) 6
2.17 Proof-test load 6
2.18 Delamination 6
4. Insulating material 7
4.1 Properties of insulating material 7
4.2 Porcelain insulator 7
4.3 Glass insulator 8
4.3.1 Advantages of glass insulator 8
4.3.2 Disadvantages of glass insulator 8
4.4 Polymer insulator 9
4.4.1 Core 9
4.4.2 Housing 9
4.4.3 Weathersheds 9
4.4.4 End fitting 9
4.4.5 Coupling zone 9
4.4.6 Interface 9
4.4.7 Characteristics 10
4.4.8 Advantages of polymer insulator 10
4.4.9 Disadvantages of polymer insulator 10
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INTRODUCTION
In the case of a power system joined together by overhead transmission lines, the transmission
conductors are required to carry the current between the source and the receiver and the
insulators are required to insulate the mechanical supports from the current carrying lines.
Traditionally, the line insulators were made out of ceramics and glass. These materials were readily
available and had the advantage of being cheap, having excellent insulating and dielectric
properties and ease of construction. On the other hand, however, these insulators had the
disadvantage of being heavy, easily broken and suffering from disintegration when subjected to
polluted and exposed atmospheric conditions.
Thus, the need was felt to develop new type of insulators and new type of insulating material that,
while carrying all the advantages of the traditional insulators, overcame the disadvantages. In the
nineteen thirties and forties, new organic insulators were developed as a possible replacement for
the conventional organic insulators; however, these insulators suffered from the problems of
vulnerability from exposure to atmosphere and thus were deemed to be unfit for outdoor
applications.
Later in the nineteen fifties, epoxy resin insulators were developed; these were heavy, susceptible
to degradation from exposure to ultraviolet radiations and thus were never fully integrated into the
power systems.
Since the advent of nineteen eighties, silicone rubber has been widely used in manufacturing of line
insulators because of its resistance to weather conditions and the hydrophobic characteristics of
rubber, which are permanent and allow advancement in the capacity of voltage of pollution the
insulator can withstand. As a result of the above stated properties, the use of the composite
polymers has increased tremendously in power system applications.
Generally, a basic insulator comprises of a core that bears the mechanical stress, a housing to
protect the core from the weather and end fitting to transfer the tensile load. A mixture of glass
with epoxy resin is for the formation of matrix inside the core that imparts the mechanical strength
to the structure. The end fittings that are used to transfer the mechanical tension of the line and
the supports are made from aluminium, cast iron, forged steel, etc. The use of rubber housing is to
introduce insulation and isolation and also shield the core from atmospheric elements.
As a result of the hydrophobic properties of the silicone rubber composite, the new generation
insulators can be designed to be more compact and lighter.
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DEFINITIONS
TRACKING
Tracking is an irreversible deterioration by the formation of paths starting and developing on the surface of
an insulating material. These paths are conductive even under dry condition. Tracking can occur on surface
in contact with air and also on the interfaces between different insulating materials.
TREEING
Treeing is the formation of micro-channels within the material. The micro-channels can be either conducting
or non-conducting and can progress through the bulk of the material until electrical failure occurs.
EROSION
Erosion is an irreversible and non-conducting deterioration of the surface of the insulator that occurs by loss
of material. This can be uniform, localized or tree-shaped.
CHALKING
Chalking is a surface condition where in some particles of the filler become apparent during weathering,
forming a powdery surface.
CRAZING
Crazing is the formation of surface micro- fractures of depths up to 0.1 mm.
CRACKING
Cracking is any surface fracture of a depth greater than 0.1mm.
HYDROLYSIS
Hydrolysis is a chemical process involving the reaction of a material with water in liquid or vapour form. It
can lead to electrical or mechanical degradation.
PUNCTURE
Puncture can be characterized by a disruptive discharge occurring through a solid dielectric (e.g., shed,
housing, or core) causing permanent loss of dielectric strength.
TENSILE LOAD
Tensile load is the load applied in- line with the longitudinal axis of the insulator rod and away from the end
metal fitting.
CANTILEVER LOAD
Cantilever load is a load applied at the conductor position on the insulator, perpendicular to the conductor,
and perpendicular to the rod of the insulator. This load is also called bending.
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COMPRESSIVE LOAD
Compressive Load is applied in- line with the longitudinal axis of the insulator rod and towards the base
end.
PROOF-TEST LOAD
The routine mechanical load that is applied to an insulator at the time of its manufacture.
DELAMINATION
Delamination is the loss of bonding of fibers to matrix.
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INSULATING MATERIAL
The main cause of failure of overhead line insulator, is flash over, occurs in between line and earth
during abnormal over voltage in the system. During this flash over, the huge heat produced by
arcing, causes puncher in insulator body. Viewing this phenomenon the materials used for electrical
insulator, has to possess some specific properties.
PORCELAIN INSULATOR
The porcelain is aluminium silicate. The aluminium silicate is mixed with plastic kaolin, feldspar and
quartz to obtain final hard and glazed porcelain insulator material. The surface of the insulator
should be glazed enough so that water should not be traced on it. Porcelain also should be free
from porosity since porosity is the main cause of deterioration of its dielectric property. It must also
be free from any impurity and air bubble inside the material which may affect the insulator
properties.
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PROPERTY VALUE(APPROXIMATE)
Dielectric 60 KV / cm
Strength
Compressive 70,000 Kg / cm2
Strength
Tensile 500 Kg / cm2
Strength
GLASS INSULATOR
Now a days glass insulator has become popular in transmission and distribution system. Annealed
tough glass is used for insulating purpose. Glass insulator has numbers of advantages over
conventional porcelain insulator.
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PROPERTY VALUE(APPROXIMATE)
Dielectric 140 KV / cm
Straingth
Compressive 16,000 Kg / cm2
Strength
Tensile 35,000 Kg / cm2
Strength
POLYMER INSULATOR
CORE
The core is the internal insulating part of a composite insulator. It is intended to carry the
mechanical load. It consists mainly of glass fibres positioned in a resin matrix so as to achieve
maximum tensile strength.
HOUSING
The housing is external to the core and protects it from the weather. It may be equipped with
weather sheds. Some designs of composite insulators employ a sheath made of insulating material
between the weathersheds and the core. This sheath is part of the housing.
WEATHERSHEDS
Weathersheds are insulating parts, projecting from the housing or sheath, intended to increase the
leakage distance and to provide an interrupted path for water drainage.
Basic polymer shed materials used are silicone rubber, EPM, EPDM, CE, and polytetrafluorethylene
(PTFE or Teflon). To obtain desired electrical and mechanical properties these basic material are
combined with various fillers, including aluminium trihydrate.
END FITTING
End fitting transmit the mechanical load to the core. They are usually made out of metal.
COUPLING ZONE
The coupling zone is the part of the end fitting that transmits the load to the line, to the tower, or
to another insulator. It does not include the interface between the core and the fitting.
INTERFACE
An interface is the surface between different materials.
Examples of interface in composite insulators are as follows:
Glass fibre/impregnating resin
Filler/polymer
Core/housing
Housing/weathersheds
Housing/end fitting
Core/end fittings
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CHARACTERISTICS
whole moulding and whole injection
crimped end fittings
artistic looking
small volume
high bending and torsion strength
good anti-explosive performance
Light weight (65-80% less than ceramic insulator)
Silicon rubber sheds provide perfect hydrophobic performance
good resistance to ageing, tracking and erosion
Stable behaviour at extreme climatic conditions
Long term surface hydrophobicity
Suitable for polluted environment, salty atmospheres etc.
Resistance to breakage and vandalism, practically unbreakable
Superior anti-tracking properties
High mechanical strength
Ease of installation (easier handling with lighter equipment and labour at the job site)
Resistance to Seismic Shock
Free of cleaning, economical maintenance and suitable for difficult maintenance area
No need of zero value check
easy and economical to transportation and installation
Excellent anti-pollution performance, suitable for high polluted area.
Free of cleaning, economical maintenance and suitable for difficult maintenance area.
No need of zero value check.
Reduce the purchasing quantities for spare parts.
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Not recommended for location near surf beaches due to salt spray.
Let us give a practical example where many difficulties were faced in maintaining a distribution
network in Victoria Australia due to polymeric insulator. There were many Cockatoos, Galahs and
Parrots in that area of Australia, who love to chew on polymeric strain insulators. Here, the 22 KV
network has many of polymeric strain insulators installed and now after a few years of installing
polymeric strain insulators, the authority is now replacing many of them back with Glass disc
insulators. Another disadvantage is that they had post type polymeric insulators melt and bend in
bush fire areas. They have a concrete pole and a steel cross arm that survives a bush fire; however
the polymers in some cases fail. This would not be the case with glass or porcelain insulators. They
have also had polymeric insulators fail in areas close to the ocean coastline where there are high
salt levels in the air.
TYPE B
An insulator or an insulator unit in which the length of the shortest puncture path through solid
insulating material is less than half the length of the shortest flashover path through air outside the
insulator.
Type A insulator are of solid core type.
PIN INSULATOR
Pin Insulator is earliest developed overhead insulator, but still popularly used in power network up
to 33 KV systems. Pin type insulator can be one part, two parts or three parts type, depending upon
application voltage.
In 11 KV system we generally use one part type insulator where whole pin insulator is one piece of
properly shaped porcelain or glass. As the leakage path of insulator is through its surface, it is
desirable to increase the vertical length of the insulator surface area for lengthening leakage path.
STRUCTURE
As the name suggests, the pin type insulator is secured to the cross-arm on the pole with a pin.
There is a groove on the upper end of the insulator for housing the conductor. The conductor
passes through this groove and is bound by the annealed wire of the same material as the
conductor.
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PETTICOATS
In order to obtain lengthy leakage path, one, two or more rain sheds or petticoats are provided on
the insulator body. In addition to that rain shed or petticoats on an insulator serve another purpose.
These rain sheds or petticoats are so designed, that during raining the outer surface of the rain
shed becomes wet but the inner surface remains dry and non-conductive. So there will be
discontinuations of conducting path through the wet pin insulator surface. In higher voltage like
33KV and 66KV manufacturing of one part porcelain pin insulator becomes difficult. Because in
higher voltage, the thickness of the insulator become more and a quite thick single piece porcelain
insulator cannot manufactured practically. In this case we use multiple part pin insulator, where a
number of properly designed porcelain shells are fixed together by Portland cement to form one
complete insulator unit. For 33KV two parts and for 66KV three parts of pin insulators are used.
Insulators are required to withstand both mechanical and electrical stresses. The latter type is
primarily due to line voltage and may cause the breakdown of the insulator. The electrical
breakdown of the insulator can occur either by flash-over or puncture. In flashover, an arc occurs
between the line conductor and insulator pin (i.e., earth) and the discharge jumps across the air
gaps, following shortest distance. Figure shows the arcing distance (i.e. a + b + c) for the insulator.
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In case of flash-over, the insulator will continue to act in its proper capacity unless extreme heat
produced by the arc destroys the insulator. In case of puncture, the discharge occurs from
conductor to pin through the body of the insulator. When such breakdown is involved, the insulator
is permanently destroyed due to excessive heat. In practice, sufficient thickness of porcelain is
provided in the insulator to avoid puncture by the line voltage. The ratio of puncture strength to
flashover voltage is known as safety factor.
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POST INSULATOR
Post insulator is more or less similar to pin insulator but former is suitable for higher voltage
application. Post insulator has higher numbers of petticoats and has greater height. This type of
insulator can be mounted on supporting structure horizontally as well as vertically. The insulator is
made of one piece of porcelain but has fixing clamp arrangement in both top and bottom end.
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SUSPENSION INSULATOR
In higher voltage, beyond 33KV, it becomes uneconomical to use pin insulator because size, weight
of the insulator become more. Handling and replacing bigger size single unit insulator are quite
difficult task. For overcoming these difficulties, suspension insulator was developed. In suspension
insulator numbers of insulators are connected in series to form a string and the line conductor is
carried by the bottom most insulator. Each insulator of a suspension string is called disc insulator
because of their disc like shape.
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STRAIN INSULATOR
When suspension string is used to sustain extraordinary tensile load of conductor it is referred as
string insulator. When there is a dead end or there is a sharp corner in transmission line, the line has
to sustain a great tensile load of conductor or strain. A strain insulator must have considerable
mechanical strength as well as the necessary electrical insulating properties.
For low voltage lines (< 11 kV), shackle insulators are used as strain insulators. However, for high
voltage transmission lines, strain insulator consists of an assembly of suspension insulators. The
discs of strain insulators are used in the vertical plane. When the tension in lines is exceedingly
high, at long river spans, two or more strings are used in parallel.
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For low voltage lines, the stays are to be insulated from ground at a height. The insulator used in
the stay wire is called as the stay insulator and is usually of porcelain and is so designed that in
case of breakage of the insulator the guy-wire will not fall to the ground.
The porcelain insulator shall be sound, free from defects, thoroughly verified and smoothly
glazed.
The design of the insulator shall be such that the stresses to expansion and contraction in any
part of the insulator shall not lead to its deterioration.
The glaze, unless otherwise specified, shall be brown in colour.
The glaze shall cover the entire porcelain surface parts except those areas that serve as supports
during firing.
415/240Volt A Type
11KV C Type
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A Type 44 KN
C Type 88 KN
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Mechanical failure Reduction in mechanical strength Single piece hence no such problem
and separation due to pings getting
eroded.
Resistance to flashovers Low High
& punctures
Anti-tracking and Very low - poor tracking resistance Excellent tracking resistance avoids erosion or
erosion resistance tracking of the housing material.
Dielectric strength Lower than polymer Excellent insulation performance
Contamination & Highly affected Not affected and has longer life
pollution
Hydrophobicity Non hydrophobic, porcelain surface The hydrophobicity properties of silicon
forms water film on the surface rubber provide excellent insulating behaviour
making easy path leading to more and resists wetting by forming beads of water
flash overs without the need of washing or greasing even
in humid or polluted climates. Hence low
failure rate combined with low overall
operating and maintenance costs.
Self-cleaning quality No. - dirt, sand, salt & snow are Yes. Due to hydrophobicity recovery
easily attracted characteristic
Tensile strength Good Excellent due to crimping technology.
Maintenance Needs maintenance like cleaning, No maintenance is required
washing and greasing
Design Design flexibility is limited. Requires Polymer insulator design allows for adaption
larger and heavier towers for to suit specific needs such as creepage
installation and more space. distance. Results in space saving and lower
cost
Manufacturing process Porcelain insulators require long Pollution free, safe, short process time leading
manufacturing process leading to to short delivery periods
long delivery time. Manufacturing
process causes pollution & health
risk .
Safety Porcelain insulators are susceptible Composite insulators provide very high level
to explosion & breakages, due to of safety, superior flexibility and strength. Not
high fragile properties , stone susceptible to explosion. No breakages due to
throwing etc. stone throwing etc.
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CRACKING OF INSULATOR
The porcelain insulator mainly consists of three different materials. The main porcelain body, steel
fitting arrangement and cement to fix the steel part with porcelain. Due to changing climate
conditions, these different materials in the insulator expand and contract in different rate. These
unequal expansion and contraction of porcelain, steel and cement are the chief cause of cracking
of insulator.
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INSULATOR DESIGN
BASIC DESIGN CONCEPTS
The basic designs of polymer insulators evolve around three essential components. These are, a
core, a sheath or weathersheds and metal end fittings.
The end fittings are attached to the core in various ways to develop the required mechanical
strength for the intended application.
The core consists of axially aligned glass fibres bonded together by means of an organic resin. The
unprotected core with end fittings by itself is not suitable for outdoor high voltage application, as
moisture, ultraviolet rays, contamination, acid rain, ozone and voltage are conducive to the
degradation of the core material and leading to electrical and mechanical failure. Hence, a
protective sheath or weathersheds made from various polymer materials that have been
compounded for outdoor electrical applications are applied over the core in various ways to protect
the core and to provide maximum electrical insulation between the attachment ends. It is quite
clear that with such a diversity of possible constructions, the performance of polymer insulators
depends on the selection of materials and on the design and construction of the insulators.
MATERIAL SELECTION
CORE
The mechanical strength member of polymer insulator is a fiberglass rod. The rod, normally referred
to as the core of the insulator, consists of between 70 and 75% by weight of axially aligned glass
fibres bonded by an organic resin. The resin system can be either polyester or epoxy and the rod
either cast or protruded.
Todays core is protruded in various diameters with electrical grade E-type glass fibres and polyester
Resin. Two critical process parameters in the protrusion of fiberglass rod for insulators are pulling
speed and temperature of the forming die. An axial crack develops when the outside of the rod
cures more quickly than the centre of the rod. This occurs when either the die temperature is too
high for the pulling speed or outside of the rod sets, shrinkage during curing of the bulk of the rod
and produces an axial crack in the centre of the rod. Bonding of glass fibres to the polyester resin is
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affected by process parameters as well. In pulling glass fibre, the fibre is sized or treated chemically
for protection against mechanical damage during handling. Optimum bonding requires
compatibility of the chemical systems; otherwise, the rod may exhibit porosity and wick moisture by
capillary. The rod may still be acceptable for mechanical applications but not for polymer insulators.
WEATHERSHEDS
weathersheds for polymer insulators are manufactured from materials such as bisphenol or
cycloaliphatic epoxy resins, thermoplastic rubber, and ethylene-propylene diene Monomer (EPDM)
and silicone elastomers. These materials are compounded with various types of inorganic fillers
such as silica and hydrated alumina with concentrations ranging from a few percent to 70% by
weight.
Today, the elastomeric materials of EPDM and silicone containing a minimum of 70% by weight of
hydrated alumina that are in use by most of manufacturers are favoured for weathersheds with
silicone rubber clearly showing the best performance over all other types. Failures of some first
generation polymer insulators with epoxy resin weathersheds have been attributed to
depolymerisation by hydrolysis.
Depolymerisation refers to the destruction of the molecular structure of polymer materials.
Hydrolysis is the result of a chemical reaction, which takes place between the ions of water and the
free ends of polymer chemical chain, which causes depolymerisation to occur.
Also, insulators made from epoxy resins contain locked-in mechanical stresses that develop during
curing of the resin. This occurs when mixing or curing of the resin is uneven. Circumferential cracks
between sheds sometimes develop during storage of the insulator because of the locked- in
stresses.
However, more often the cracks develop in service as the stresses are aggravated by low
temperature and line tension. The cracks extend down to the core, thereby exposing the core to
moisture.
Elastomers are the best weathershed material, as they do not contain locked- in mechanical
stresses from the curing process. Also, elastomers are preferred at low temperatures where impact
resistance is important.
Another problem that surfaced early in the experience of first generation designs were the effect of
outdoor weathering on weathersheds. Weathering affects all polymer materials to some extent and
being a natural phenomenon includes the effects of heat, humidity, rain, wind, contaminants in the
atmosphere and ultraviolet rays of the sun. Under such conditions, the weathersheds of polymer
insulators may be permanently changed, physically by roughening and cracking and chemically by
the loss of soluble components and by the reactions of salts, acids and other impurities deposited
on the surface. Surface become hydrophilic and moisture more easily penetrates into the volume of
the weathersheds.
END FITTINGS
The end fittings are cast from either aluminium or malleable iron in sand castings.
Some aluminium end fittings are cast in a permanent mould. The strengths of these fittings are
more consistent than the sand-cast ones. Forged and extruded aluminium end fittings have
strengths that are also quite consistent. However, if swaging is the method of attaching the fittings
to the core, both permanent mould and forged aluminium fittings may develop cracks in service.
INSULATOR DESIGN
Elastomeric weathersheds in first generation insulators are individually moulded and glued to the
core and to each other by an epoxy adhesive. In some designs, silicone gel or silicone caulking
sealant is applied. In other designs, silicone gel or grease is used to fill the air space between the
sheds and the core. Although epoxy glue provides some measure of protection against water entry,
there is some uncertainty in the lifetime of such a seal. Insulators constructed from individual sheds
are known to permit water reaching the core and have failed during hot line high-pressure water
washing.
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Most of the insulators are moulded from either EPDM or silicone elastomers, in one-piece having an
aerodynamic design, that is fully vulcanized to the core. The insulators are terminated with end
fittings that are swaged onto the core sealing the insulator from moisture reaching the core. Some
designs or end fittings of the insulators are equipped with power arc interceptors. These serve to
protect against loss of seal during flashover. Aluminium end fittings of a unique design are swaged
onto the core there by effectively sealing the sleeved ends from moisture.
POLLUTION CONSIDERATION
TABLE-1
POLLUTION ENVIRONMENT DESCRIPTION MINIMUM NOMINAL
CATEGORY SPECIFIC LEAKAGE
(MAX. S.D.D.) MM/KV IN/KV
I-light Areas without industrial and with low density 16 0.63
(0.06 mg/cm2) of
Houses equipped with heating plants.
Areas with low density of industries or houses
But subjected to frequent wind and / or
rainfall.
Agricultural areas.
Mountainous areas.
All areas situated 16 km to 20 km from the sea
And not exposed to wind directly from the
sea.
Ii-medium areas with industries not producing 20 0.79
(0.20 mg/cm2) particularly
Polluting smoke and / or with average density
of
Houses equipped with heating plants.
areas with high density of houses and / or but
Subjected to frequent winds and / or rainfall.
areas exposed to winds from the sea but not
too
Close to the coast (at least several kilometers
Distance).
Iii- heavy areas with high density of industries and 25 0.98
(0.60 mg/cm2) Suburbs of large cities with high density of
Heating plants producing pollution.
areas close to the sea or in any case exposed
to
Relatively strong winds from the sea.
IV-very Areas generally of moderate extent, subjected 31 1.22
Heavy to
(>0.60 Conductive dusts and to industrial smoke
mg/cm2) Producing particularly thick conductive
deposits.
Areas generally of moderate extent, very close
to
The coast and exposed to sea-spray or to very
Strong and polluting winds from the sea.
Desert areas, characterized by no rain for long
Periods, exposed to strong winds carrying
sand
And salt, and subjected to regular
condensation.
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1. Regular sheds Dm = D 1 + D2 / 2
2. Alternating sheds Dm = D1 + D2 + 2D 1 / 2
Where:
L is the total creepage distance of the insulator.
D(l) is the value of the diameter at a creepage distance l, measured from one electrode.
Where:
KD is the correction factor due to diameter
If insulators are to be used between phases (phase-spacers for instance), the creepage distance
should Be multiplied by v3 (for a three-phase system).
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INSULATION CONSIDERATION
There are basically three factors to consider when designing the insulators.
The 50/60-Hz power voltage.
Surge voltages caused by lightning.
Surge voltage caused by switching.
Surge voltages provide the most stringent test and the rationale for the standard impulse voltage
wave Form; that is, if the insulator is properly insulated to withstand surges, it can usually
accommodate the Highest expected 50/60 Hz voltage. Insulators are more tolerant of short
duration overvoltage than Sustained values. For the purpose of impulse testing, a standard
waveform is defined, as shown in Figure. The waveform is referred to as T1 X T2, where both values
are conventionally given in Microseconds. The crest value of the waveform V.
The value T1 is the rise time to crest, whereas the Value T2 is the fall time to 0.5 V.
A convenient analytical representation of the pulse waveform is the double-exponential expression
Where
T2 = T2 / ln (2) = 1.443T2
T1 = T1 / 5 = 0.2T1
V1 = V exp(T1 / 1.443T2)
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For a given well-defined voltage waveform, under specified test conditions, the following
Terminology is defined:
WITHSTAND VOLTAGE
The crest voltage 3s below the CFO
Both the above-mentioned types of discharge are, to some extent, weather dependent. Water may
Cause droplet discharges while suppressing contact discharges by virtue of its high conductivity
and Permittivity.
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Dry bands are not a fair-weather phenomenon, the existence of which depends on the design of the
insulator and the geometry of the insulators of fittings.
Surface corona, if in fair Weather, for which reason it has long been the practice to specify higher
than normal voltages for Corona inception on insulator.
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INSULATOR SELECTION
MECHANICAL PARAMETERS
The process for selecting the strength rating of composite or ceramic insulators is identical. Based
on strength alone, a composite insulator can directly replace insulators made of porcelain or glass.
Composite insulators strength rating is as defined in the Table-2.
Historically, when selecting an insulators strength rating a two to one safety factor has been
applied because all materials have a time- load characteristic that reduces their residual strength
over time.
Most manufacturer rate composite insulators at a maximum working load equal to 50% of the
Ultimate load rating.
TABLE-2
LOADING RADIAL ICE HORIZONTAL TEMPERATURE CONSTANT
THICKNESS WIND PRESSURE (DEGREE F) (LBS./FT.)
(IN) (LBS./SQ. FT.)
Heavy 0.50 4 (40 mph) 0 0.30
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1. Select ice and wind Determine maximum radial ice thickness and
Parameters wind pressure
From the local standard.
2. Calculate vertical load Conductor and ice weight between insulator
span, including
Spacers and other equipment the conductor
supports.
3. Calculate horizontal load Horizontal wind pressure on the conductor,
radial ice thickness,
Spacers and other equipment the conductor
supports.
4. Calculate combined load Vector sum of the horizontal and vertical
loads.
5. Calculate total conductor load Combine load plus the loading constant
from table 3.
ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS
An insulators electrical parameters should be selected to maintain an economic balance between system
performance and the cost of over insulation. Increasing an insulators electrical parameters will provide
greater system protection at a higher price and, for long power lines the cost can be substantial. Therefore,
insulation requirements for power systems should be considered on an individual basis because of the
uniqueness of power system configurations, grounding techniques, and protection scheme.
CIFO SELECTION
Generally, an acceptable flashover probability is incorporated into the design of a transmission line because
its not economically feasible to protect against all occurrences of lightning overvoltages, These
overvoltages result from shielding failures caused by direct strokes to the conductor, from back-flashover
caused by strokes to the tower and shield wire, and from induced voltages caused by strokes to nearby
grounded objects. When a flashover occurs, an insulator is not normally affected and will recover, unlike
transformer insulation that will be damaged. This ability allows an insulators flashover level to be selected
by a statistical process that gives it an expected flashover probability. The capability of an insulator to resist
flashover caused by lightning strokes relies on the air gap distance (Dry Arc) between its live and ground
end. Therefore, as the system insulation level increases, so must the insulators length.
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The equipment used in a power system comprises items having different breakdown or withstand
Voltages and different voltage time characteristics. In order that all items of the system are
adequately Protected there is a need to consider the situation as a whole and not items of plant in
isolation; i.e.
The insulation protection must be coordinated. To assist this process, standard insulation levels are
recommended and these are summarized in Table-5. Reduced basic insulation impulse levels are
used when considering switching surges and are also summarized in Table-5.
Statistical data has shown that the CIFO should be applied at three standard deviations (s) above
the system BIL; this will provide an acceptable flashover probability. Since the standard deviation is
equal to 3% the required CIFO can be computed directly from the system BIL.
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1. The BIL is usually expressed as a per unit of the peak (crest) value of the normal operating
voltage to earth; e.g.
for a maximum operating voltage of 362 kV.
1 p.u. = v2 X (362 / v3) = 300 kV
so that a BIL of 2.7 p.u. = 816 kV Calculation of using formula:
CONTAMINATION PERFORMANCE
The long term electrical performance of a polymer insulator is contingent upon the weatherability
of the polymer material and the level of electrical stress subjected to the material. If the material
weathers poorly or the electrical stress is too high, the polymer could prematurely degrade and lead
to a shortened service life.
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The weathering of the material is a natural event caused by many factors, some of which are; wind,
rain, heat, cold, humidity, pollutants from factories and automobiles, and ultraviolet rays from the
sun. A polymer material's ability to endure these conditions for an extended period is dependent
upon its chemical composition.
Hydrophobicity is the characteristic of silicone rubber that sets it apart from other commonly used
insulator materials. Since silicone rubber does not readily wet-out, leakage current remains low and
flashover are prevented. Even when the insulators are heavily contaminated, silicone has the unique
ability to impart hydrophobicity to the contaminated layer due to the migration of low molecular
weight silicone polymer molecules into the contaminate. Contamination flashover performance of
silicone is far superior to other insulation materials, and because the contamination layer is
hydrophobic, power washing of silicone insulators is not required. To determine pollution category,
use Table-1.
MAXIMUM RIV
160 mV at 115% of nominal line to ground voltage.
The elevation at which insulator is applied is an important consideration when specifying grading
rings. Tests have shown that corona extinction and inception levels decrease with increasing
altitude; approximately a 1% change for every 1600 feet above sea level. However, the effect is not
as significant below 3000 feet since the bulk of corona tests occur near this level. Therefore,
corona extinction levels must be adjusted for applications above 3000 feet. Grading rings are
selected according to the corona extinction level. A variety of ring shapes and sizes are necessary
to meet the requirements of the different voltage levels and insulator configurations. Generally, by
increasing a corona rings diameter or thickness the inception level increases.
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INSULATOR CHARACTERISTICS
SERVICE CONDITIONS
i) Weather Degree
ii) Pollution Category
iii) Altitude
iv) Insulator Configuration
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
i) Section Length
ii) Dry Arc Distance
iii) Leakage Distance
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
i) Max. System Voltage
ii) System BIL
iii) Insulator CIFO
iv) Min. Dry 60 Hz Flashover
v) Min. Wet 50/60 Hz Flashover
vi) RIV
MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Specified Mechanical Load (S.M.L.) - for Suspension Insulator
Ultimate Cantilever Load - for Line Post or Station Post Insulators
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INSULATOR TESTING
TYPE TESTS
Tests carried out to prove conformity with the specification. These are intended to prove the
general qualities and design of a given type of insulator.
ACCEPTANCE TESTS
Tests carried out on samples taken from the lot for the purpose of acceptance of the lot.
ROUTINE TESTS
Tests carried out on each insulator to check requirements which are likely to vary during
production.
According to the British Standard, the electrical insulator must undergo the following tests
FLASHOVER TEST
There are mainly four types of flashover test performed on insulators-
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This ratio should be approximately 1.4 for pin type insulator and 1.3 for suspension type insulators.
PERFORMANCE TESTS
POROSITY TEST
1. The insulator is first broken into pieces.
2. Then these broken pieces of insulator are immersed in a 0.5 % alcohol solution of fuchsine dye
under pressure of about 140.7 kg cm2 for 24 hours.
3. After that the sample is removed and examined.
The presence of a slight porosity in the material is indicated by a deep penetration of the dye into
it.
ROUTINE TESTS
Each of the insulators must undergo the following routine test before they are recommended for
using at site.
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CORROSION TEST
1. The insulator with its galvanized or steel fittings is suspended into a copper sulphate solution for
one minute.
2. Then the insulator is removed from the solution and wiped, cleaned.
3. Again it is suspended into the copper sulphate solution for one minute.
4. The process is repeated for four times.
Then it should be examined and there should not be any disposition of metal on it.
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