Study of Hydrophobicity Effect on 220kV Double Tension Insulator String Surface Using Finite Element Method

Authors: M. Nageswara Rao, V. S. N. K. Chaitanya, P. Vijaya Haritha

Abstract:

Insulators are one of the most significant equipment in power system. The insulators’ operation may affect the power flow, line loss and reliability. The electrical parameters that influence the performance of insulator are surface leakage current, corona and dry band arcing. Electric field stresses on the insulator surface will degrade the insulating properties and lead to puncture. Electric filed stresses can be analyzed by numerical methods and experimental evaluation. As per economic aspects, evaluation by numerical methods are best. In outdoor insulation, a hydrophobic surface can facilitate to prevent water film formation on the insulation surface, which is decisive for diminishing leakage currents and partial discharge (PD) under heavy polluted environments and harsh weather conditions. Polymer materials like silicone rubber have an outstanding hydrophobic property among general insulation materials. In this paper, electrical field intensity of 220 kV porcelain and polymer double tension insulator strings at critical regions are analyzed and compared by using Finite Element Method. Hydrophobic conditions of polymer insulator with equal and unequal water molecule conditions are verified by using finite element method.

Keywords: Porcelain insulator, polymer insulator, electric field analysis, EFA, finite element method, FEM, hydrophobicity, FEMM-2D.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/1

References:

[1] Philips AJ, Childs DJ, Schneider H m, “Aging of Non-ceramic Insulators due to Corona from Water Drops’’, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol.14,No,July1999,pp.1801-1089.
[2] J.L. Rasolonjanahary, L. Krahenbuhl, and A. Nicolas, “Computation of electric fields and potential on polluted insulators using a boundary element method’’, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol.38, No.2, pp.1473-1476, March 1992.
[3] Sebestyen, “Electric-field calculation for HV insulators using domain decomposition method’’, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol.38, No.2, pp.1213-1216, March 2002.
[4] X. Liang, S. Wang, J. Fan, and Z. Guan, “Development of composite insulators in China’’, IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul., Vol.6, No.5, pp.586-594, 1999.
[5] T. KIkucho, S. Nishimura, M. Nagao, K. Izumi, Y. Kubota, and M. Sakata, “Survey on use of non-ceramic composite insulators in the world’’, IEEE Trans. Dielctr. Electr. Insul, Vol.6, pp.548-556, 1999.
[6] Wang Shaowu, Liang Xidong, Cheng Zixia, Wang Xun, Lizhi, Zhou Yuanxiang, Yin Yu,Wang Liming, Guan zhicheng Liang Xidong, Wang Shaowu, et al., “Hydrophobicity status of silicone rubber insulators in the field’’, ISH 2001, Bnglorre, India,2001,pp.703-706.
[7] Wang Shaowu, Liang Xidong, et al., “Investigation on Hydrophobicity and Pollution Status of Composite Insulators in Contaminated Areas’’, CEIDP 2001, Canada, pp.628-631.
[8] R. Hackam, “Outdoor HV composite polymeric insulators”, IEEE Trans. Dielectr.electr.Insul., Vol.6, No.5, pp.557-585, 1999.
[9] Sebestyen, “Electric-field calculation for HV insulators using domain decomposition method’’, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol.38, No.2, pp.1213-1216, March 2002.
[10] Sima W., Espino-Cortes F.P., Edward A.C. and Jayaram H.S., Optimization of Corona Ring Design for Long-Rod Insulators Using FEM Based Computational analysis IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation, Indinpolis, in 19-22 September 2004 Page(s):480-483.
[11] Sima W., Wu K., Yang Q., Sun C., Corona Ring Design of +-800kV DC Composite Insulator Based on Computer Analysis, IEEE International Conference on electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, October 2006, Pages(s):457-460.
[12] IEC-61109 “Insulators for Overhead Lines Composite Suspension and Tension Insulators for A.C. Overhead Lines with a Nominal Voltage Greater Than 1 000 V Definitions, Test Methods and Acceptance Criteria,” 2008.
[13] IS -731 “Specification for Porcelain Insulators for Overhead Power Lines With A Nominal Voltage Greater Than 1000 V,” 2001.