2018 IEEE International Autumn Meeting on Power, Electronics and Computing (ROPEC 2018).

Ixtapa, Mexico

Development of a Rain Simulator for a HV

Laboratory
Juan Ochoa C., Jonathan Macas S., Flavio Quizhpi P., Mateo Quizhpi C. and Francisco Gómez J.
Universidad Politécnica Salesiana
Grupo de Investigación en Energías (GIE)
Cuenca, Ecuador
{jochoac, jmacas}@est.ups.edu.ec, fquizhpi@ups.edu.ec, {fquizhpic, fgomezj}@est.ups.edu.ec

Abstract—Tests in rainy conditions are mostly used to
determine the behavior of the dielectric elements against
moisture. This project presents the development and
construction of a sprinkler type rain chamber, which was
designed according to the needs and dimensions of the high
voltage laboratory of the “Universidad Politécnica Salesiana Sede
Cuenca”. The guidelines established by the IEEE Std. 4-2013 are
followed for both flow rates, pressures and water treatment to
achieve the resistivity value of the normalized liquid for the
different tests. The camera is built with fiberglass and tempered
glass, with the respective hydraulic circuits to produce the
precipitation. The project is complemented with a table of
simulator prices and a behavior test of a pin type insulator in dry
and wet conditions.
Keywords: Rain Simulator, aspersion, precipitation, high
voltage laboratory, pin type insulator.
I. INTRODUCTION
The design of insulation systems, since the development of
electric power systems in the last century, is a subject of
complex analysis, because these must withstand atmospheric
adverse conditions and contamination [1-2], so that the
operating characteristics of each varies. It is important to
analyze previously by means of laboratory tests the dielectric
materials, which will allow to obtain electrical systems with
greater reliability and stability. [3-4]
The importance of a rain simulator comes from the need to
study certain simulated weather conditions in laboratory
scenarios (wet conditions), quantitatively analyze the
distribution of water that falls on the insulator, analyze and
identify the effects that occur when the humidity caused due to
precipitation of the rain, it comes into contact with a dielectric
subjected to a high voltage, aging of insulators, variation of
leakage current characteristics, etc. [2], [5]. Tests in wet
conditions allow to determine the effects of partial discharges,
discharge voltages, BIL and different research topics
(semiconductor materials, glass-ceramic, etc.) Adjusted to rain
situations. [6-7]
Keeping in mind that a rain simulator allows controlling
several parameters of water precipitation, it is necessary to
comply with international standard such as IEEE Std. 4-2013,
which indicates flow values, duration, resistivity and angle of
water fall, etc. Established for this type of tests. [8]
This article describes the construction and operation of a
rain chamber in the High Voltage Laboratory of the
“Universidad Politécnica Salesiana”, the simulator adapts to
the functional characteristics of the laboratory (size, voltage
level, etc.)
The paper is organized as follows. The types of rain
simulators are discussed in section II, section III discusses test
conditions for objects in a dry and wet environment. The
manufacturing process of the camera rain proposal is disclosed
in section IV. In Section V the economic analysis of the project
is carried out. To demonstrate the functioning of the chamber,
industrial frequency discharge tests are carried out on a pin
type insulator in dry and wet conditions, the details are
described in section VI. Finally, section VII draws conclusions
and recommendations on the development and functionality of
the prototype.
II. RAIN SIMULATORS
Rainfall simulators are divided into two groups according
to the way of obtaining the precipitation; the first includes
those simulators of rain by dripping, and the second one to
simulators of rain by means of sprinklers. [9]
ƒ Drip rain simulators: consists of producing drops
individually, which by the gravitational effect fall at
different heights. [9]
ƒ Spray simulators: is a system made up of nozzles
(sprinklers) and water pumps, which produce drops
under pressure, leaving aside the need for high
heights to produce the kinetic energy of the water
needed to simulate natural rain. [9]
III. STANDARD FOR THE PREPARATION OF RAIN PRECIPITATION
A. Standard for the preparation of rain precipitation
The IEEE Standard 4-2013 provides parameters to follow
to perform tests in different environmental conditions,
pollution, atmospheric corrections, etc. Therefore, reference
values will be taken for tests in different environmental
conditions.

978-1-5386-5935-9/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE

 2018 IEEE International Autumn Meeting on Power, Electronics and Computing (ROPEC 2018). Ixtapa, Mexico

This standard provides a reference point to perform the IV. DEVELOPMENT

tests in wet conditions, the specifications for performing
various procedures for the tests are shown in Table I., where A. Prototype proposal to be designed.
three precipitation rates and two values of resistivity are Keeping in mind the parameters for the implementation of
specified, the use of these procedures is limited to agreements a rain simulator established in the IEEE Std. 4-2013, a
between manufacturer and client. It should be noted that the prototype is developed which aims to replicate the precipitation
test conditions according to European standard and in U.S.A. conditions by means of a sprinkler or spray type chamber. For
They are from previous tests, and these are recommended only the prototype design and implementation of the work area (2x4
when a direct comparison is required. Currently the tests m²) and the maximum voltage level of laboratory work high
referred to the standard test procedure. [8] voltage (100 kV) is kept in mind. The chamber is constructed
mainly of fiberglass and tempered glass (insulating material)
TABLE I. PRECIPITATION CONDITIONS (STANDARD AND and has a net workspace 1x1x2 m³, leaving the valves, pumps,
CONVENTIONAL PROCEDURES) [8] pipes and other elements of hydraulic work outside the Faraday
Standard Previous Previous cage of the high voltage laboratory.
Procedure test European practice
procedure practice in USA
Vertical 1.0 to 2.0 3 ± 0.3 5 ± 0.5
Precipitation Horizontal 1.0 to 2.0 - -
rate (mm/min)
± 0.5 from
Limits 3 ± 0.75 5 ± 1.25
average
Temp. Ambient ± Ambient Ambient
Water (ºC) 15 ± 15 ± 15
parameters Resistivity
100±15 100±15 100±15
·m
t (s) 60 60 10

For the development of the system, the parameters of Fig. 1. Rain simulator prototype: a) simulated, b) elaborated.
Table II are used. This is due to the elements and materials
that are held in the High Voltage Laboratory of the
"Universidad Politécnica Salesiana Sede Cuenca". B. Main system elements
The prototype consists of several elements, Table III.
TABLE II. CONDITIONS OF PRECIPITATION AND WATER RESISTIVITY shows some of the parts that make up the system as such.
FOR ELECTRICAL TESTS.
Standard test procedure TABLE III. SYSTEM ELEMENTS.
Precipitation rate Resistivity Test time (s)
(mm/min) (·m) Element Description
1 mm/min in 1m² 100 ± 5 60 Cabin base Fiberglass 5 mm thick. (1x1x0.15 m³)

B. Dry test Cabin Tempered glass (1x1.6 m²)

The test in dry environment, must be performed under Pipes PVC pipes and hoses (3/4 ")
ambient temperature conditions, in addition, the object under Gates and valves Blocks/Allows and regulates water flow (3/4 ")
analysis must be completely dry, as well as clean, for the
application of the test voltage. [8] Water tank Treated water supply (Capacity: 220 l.)

Filter Avoid impurities in the circulation of water.

C. Wet test
To perform the test in wet conditions, the object under
analysis must meet the cleaning parameters included in the
IEEE Standard 4-2013. The object should be cleaned with
water and a neutral detergent (Na3PO3), and hand contact
should be avoided. It is important to mention that for the
testing procedure performed in wet conditions, it must be the
same for the procedure under dry conditions, unless otherwise
specified due to a test. [8]
Flow meter Measuring the amount of water in the system.
Pressure gauge Check the necessary pressure in the system
Sprinklers Simulated precipitation water.
Pump Spray pumps and drainage (½ HP engine)
C. Water Resistivity
According to the standard referential, water parameter for
the test is the resistivity of this, the value should be ± 100  ·
m. [8] The water in its entirety was obtained from the public
service network of the university, through a filtering
equipment the water is distilled and transported to the storage
tank, for a minimum of three days.
 2018 IEEE International Autumn Meeting on Power, Electronics and Computing (ROPEC 2018). Ixtapa, Mexico

One of the tests was carried out with 134.59 liters in the
tank, in order to check the recommended resistivity values, a
sample of 85 ml was taken and by means of a pH-meter the
conductivity of the fluid was measured, which marked a value
of 2.6 mS/cm, the resistivity is the inverse relationship of the
conductivity, so the value is 384.61 ·m, a value well above
what is recommended.
To reduce the resistivity of the water, the fluid is modified
with the insertion of salt (NaCl), this compound increases the
conductivity of the fluid. The process was of empirical type,
gradually increasing the amount of salt in the 85 ml sample,
for a much more uniform mixture a magnetic stirrer was used.
Using a high precision analytical balance, it was concluded
that with 0.012 grams of salt the water sample had a resistivity
value of 105.263 ·m.
By means of a conversion ratio, the amount of salt
necessary to improve the resistivity of the water in the
reservoir of the sprinkler system was established. In total, Fig. 3. Process of circulation and recirculation of treated water.
18.9876 grams of salt were needed for the 134.59 liters of
water, achieving a conductivity of 9.55 mS/cm which gives a E. Pumping and sprinkler system
total resistivity of 104.712 ·m of water in the tank.
The process of water circulation begins in the plastic
deposit (PVC) of smooth internal walls (prevents the
proliferation of bacteria) that has a storage capacity of 220
liters, from which, by means of a pump (single phase engine
127 V - ½ HP) pressurized water is sent through the pipe and
hose systems to the sprinklers.
The flow rate is obtained by a flowmeter located along the
pipeline system. The value of the fluid pressure is obtained by
a pressure gauge located in the outlet pipe of the spray pump,
the pressure is controlled manually by valves and stopcocks.
The pressure and flow in the sprinklers are controlled by
Fig. 2. Conductivity of the treated water tank. these valves, redirecting the fluid to the sprinklers or to the
tank to obtain an optimum pressure of 3h10䈮 Pa to 4h10䈮
Table IV. shows the results of the water, before and after Pa at the system output. Finally, the water that fell and
being treated. simulated the precipitation is drained, collected and sent back
to the reservoir by another pump, where the cycle is restarted.
TABLE IV. RESISTIVITY OF THE WATER BEFORE AND AFTER BEING
TREATED.

Chemical
Resistivity
Resistivity compound that
recommended by
Water is applied to
(·m) the standard IEEE
improve
std4 (100 ·m ± 5)
resistivity
High value of
Compound
resistivity, therefore No compound is
without 384,61 Fig. 4. Piping System: 1.- Pressure gauge. 2.- Pressure regulation valves.
does not meet the applied
improvement
standard.
Compound Value close to that
18,9876 g. of The system meets the requirements of the IEEE Standard 4-
NaCl is applied 2013, with a flow of 8.33×10¯䈮 m³/s that is obtained from 5
with 104,712 recommended by the
to improve
improvement standard. mm/min in 1 m² for the simulation of rain using six sprayers
resistivity.
or sprinklers “CoolNet™ Pro” located at the top of the
chamber and installed 30 degrees of inclination.
D. Circulation Process
Figure 3. shows the flowchart of the water circulation
process from the tank to the test chamber, the water
circulating for the spray is collected and drained storage tank
so that it can be reused during the process.
 2018 IEEE International Autumn Meeting on Power, Electronics and Computing (ROPEC 2018). Ixtapa, Mexico

flashover in the insulator.

Fig. 5. “Coolnet™ Pro” Sprinkler.
F. Measurement of rain precipitation
For the measurement of precipitation, ten samples were
taken in five tests with different pressure values for one
minute each within the rain chamber (1 m²). The results of the
tests are shown in Table V.
According to the ANSI/NEMA C29.1 Standard, it indicates
that the voltage can be raised quickly up to 75% of the
expected value for the discharge and continuing slowly until
the disruption occurs with a time between five and thirty
seconds. The test should be repeated five times and then take
an average of the values obtained during it.
Figure 6. shows the circuit for industrial frequency
discharge test, which has a high voltage source (Uin), a
blocking impedance (Z) that limits the discharge current in the
insulator under test (Ca), and finally a capacitive voltage
divider (Ck) used to obtain the voltage value during the test.

TABLE V. MEASUREMENT OF RAINFALL IN THE AREA OF CABIN.

Pressure (Bars) 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

1. 600 710 925 1000 1035
2. 600 710 900 1000 1030
3. 615 700 890 1010 1015
Number of 4. 640 690 900 975 1050
measurements 5. 600 660 910 990 1040
in the cabin.
6. 610 675 905 980 1045
Precipitation
(ml / min) 7. 600 715 900 1000 1050 Fig. 6. Circuit for industrial frequency discharge test.
8. 600 750 900 990 1030
9. 575 700 910 1005 1050 To perform the test, the insulator must be previously
10. 610 720 910 1000 1050
cleaned with water and a neutral detergent. The results of the
tests under conditions of dry environment and humid
environment are shown in Table VII. The tests were carried
For pressures higher than 2 bar, the precipitation is the out in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador with a height of 2560
same, as shown in Table III. because the compressed spray
meters above sea level, so the atmospheric correction must be
effect occurs, causing the effect of fog in the cabin and
made for the voltage values obtained. Figure 6. shows the test
therefore the test object.
in the high voltage laboratory.
V. ECONOMIC DESCRIPTION
Table VI. shows the general price of each subsystem of the
rain simulator. Both from the hydraulic, electrical and
materials for the construction of the camera, it should be noted
that the simulator was funded by the “Universidad Politécnica
Salesiana”

TABLE VI. DETAIL OF THE TOTAL PRICE OF THE RAIN SIMULATOR.

Description Price
Materials and manufacture of the cabin. $1065,00
Hydraulic system materials. $900,95
Electrical system materials. $191,86
Total Cost of the Rain Simulator. $2157,81

VI. TEST IN PIN TYPE INSULATOR

To validate the operation of the chamber under high voltage
conditions, the industrial frequency discharge test is carried
out on a Pin type insulator, both in dry and wet conditions. Fig. 7. Insulator into camera.
The test consists of applying an alternating voltage whose rms
value is of low frequency (15-100 Hz), which produces a
 2018 IEEE International Autumn Meeting on Power, Electronics and Computing (ROPEC 2018). Ixtapa, Mexico

TABLE VII. VOLTAGE VALUES IN INDUSTRIAL FREQUENCY DISCHARGE IX. REFERENCES

TEST.

Correction Test Corrected

Condition Average
factor voltage value [1] W. Bretuj, J. Fleszyski and K. Wieczorek, "Test method of
100 kV composite insulators aged in high voltage rain chamber," 2010
International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and
98.4 kV Application, New Orleans, LA, 2010, pp. 341-344.
Dry test Kd/Kh = 0.73 100 kV 99.7 kV 69.84 kV
[2] E. Contreras and R. Boccardo, “Simulador de lluvia para ensayos de
100.1 kV aislantes eléctricos de alta tensión,” Universidad Simón Bolivar, pp.
100 kV 271–278.

62.1 kV [3] W. Bretuj, J. Fleszyski and K. Wieczorek, "Influence of composite

61.1 kV
Wet test Kh=1.026 63.4 kV 62.2 kV 45.25 kV
63.8 kV
60.6 kV
VII. CONCLUSIONS
The chamber was designed according to the dimensions of
the high voltage laboratory of the “Universidad Politécnica
Salesiana”, the size of the simulator is suitable for testing
elements that are used mainly in distribution networks, such as
insulators, disconnectors, lightning rods, etc.
The system showed to be efficient and comply with the
requirements to simulate a rain environment, which could also
be modified to adjust to contamination parameters by
changing the working fluid and sprinklers inside the chamber.
The test of the insulator ratified the functionality of the
chamber showing that the dielectric parameters of the object
under test change in dry and wet conditions.
This type of insulator is used in distribution networks of the
country whose voltage is 22 kV, proving its high reliability for
this type of network.
One of the advantages of the simulator, together with the
high voltage laboratory, is that conditions can be simulated
according to the region (Andean Zone) where the same is
located, allowing to establish operating parameters
(atmospheric pressure, humidity level, etc.) for elements and
devices to be installed in the local electrical system.
insulator inclination on its properties degradation in rain
conditions," 2010 10th IEEE International Conference on Solid
Dielectrics, Potsdam, 2010, pp. 1-4
[4] W. Bretuj and K. Wieczorek, "Influence of composite insulator
operating position on the development of aging process under AC
high voltage and water precipitation," 2010 International
Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, New
Orleans, LA, 2010, pp. 540-543.
[5] A. Syakur and Hermawan, "Leakage current characteristics at
different shed of epoxy resin insulator under rain contaminants,"
2014 The 1st International Conference on Information Technology,
Computer, and Electrical Engineering, Semarang, 2014, pp. 413-
418.
[6] B. Sarang, V. Lakdawala and P. Basappa, "Electric field
calculations on a high voltage insulator under wet conditions," 2009
IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference, Montreal, QC, 2009, pp. 86-
90
[7] D. Pathak, M. Satwani, M. Patel and C. Patel, "The development of
silicone rubber composite insulators in power system," 2009
International Conference on Control, Automation, Communication
and Energy Conservation, Perundurai, Tamilnadu, 2009, pp. 1-4.
[8] IEEE Standard for High-Voltage Testing Techniques - Redline," in
IEEE Std 4-2013 (Revision of IEEE Std 4-1995) - Redline , vol.,
no., pp.1-500, 10 May 2013
[9] D. Machado and S. De la Rosa, “Diseño y construcción de un
simulador de lluvia para estudios hidrológicos,” Univ. Dist. Fr. Jose
Caldas, Bogota, 2015.

VIII. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors thank the “Universidad Politécnica Salesiana”
by support provided during the realization of this research.