Evaluation of the Damage Caused by Bird Pecking

Activity along Composite High Voltage Insulators

N.C. Mavrikakis and P.N. Mikropoulos K. Siderakis, I. Pellas and E. Thalassinakis
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, A.U.Th Islands Network Operations Department, HEDNO S.A
Egnatia Str., Thessaloniki, Greece Katsabas, Heraklion, Greece
nmavrika@auth.gr

Abstract: Bird pecking is one of the causes for deterioration of as the impact of the deformed housing on the surface electric
composite insulators. It concerns the removal of parts of the field distribution are investigated. It is shown the electric field
polymeric housing due to the attack by large birds. Such damages
on the insulator housing rise questions concerning the efficiency stress on the deformed area is greatly enhanced, depending on
and reliability of the bird-pecked insulators. This study evaluates the position of the deformed shed along the housing and the
the damages due to bird pecking activity detected on the housing existence of additional installation features, such as corona
of two 150 kV liquid silicone rubber tension insulators. Both rings and arcing horns, on the composite insulator.
insulators were operated for 15 years without experiencing faults
in an overhead transmission line of Crete crossing an area highly II. DAMAGE EVALUATION OF BIRD-PECKED INSULATORS
populated by the griffon vulture. The impact of the deformed
sheds on the electric field distribution along the housing surface is Bird pecking damages on two 150 kV composite tension
assessed through electrostatic simulations. The surface electric insulators are evaluated; the damages were visually detected
field is locally enhanced; this is of great concern when damages during the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator
due to bird-pecking activity are detected along the high electric annual maintenance program. The insulators were operated for
field areas of the insulator. fifteen years without experiencing faults in the overhead
I. INTRODUCTION transmission line of Crete crossing the area of Selinari, which
is highly populated by the griffon vulture (Fig. 1) [7].
Animal activity is considered as one of the most common
Both insulators comprised an epoxy fibre glass rod covered
causes of power outages in outdoor power systems. In an IEEE
by a polymeric housing made of liquid silicone rubber (LSR)
survey [1] conducted among 114 power utilities, the birds are
and hot dip galvanized cast iron fittings. One insulator was
listed second in rank of the most known sources of animal-
additionally equipped with an arcing horn and a corona ring
related outages. Both small and large birds can cause problems
installed on the ground and high voltage end fittings,
on the electrical equipment resulting in power outages. The
respectively. Fig. 2 shows the bird-pecked insulators as well as
recorded bird-related power outages were caused by bird
their basic geometrical characteristics.
electrocution, collisions, streamer, contamination and nesting
Based on visual observations (Fig. 3), damage due to bird-
activity [2].
pecking activity was extensive throughout many sheds along
In recent years, a new form of deterioration of composite
the polymeric housing and certainly more intense along the
insulators due to bird pecking has been recorded [3- 6]. Bird
upper parts of the sheds, since these insulators (tension) were
pecking damage on composite insulators concerns the removal
horizontally mounted on the tower crossarm. As can also be
of parts of the housing due to the attack by large birds. It may
deduced from Fig. 3, large birds by pecking the housing sheds,
affect the performance of the composite insulator in service by
slice and pull away quite large parts of them; this is favored by
increasing the probability of intense surface partial discharge
the low tear strength of the housing material (LSR) of the
activity. This together with the associated reduction of the
investigated insulators.
insulator leakage distance may even result in flashover.
Another destructive effect of bird pecking on insulator
reliability is the brittle fracture or the fibre glass rod due to its
exposure on service conditions.
Bird pecking activity on 150 kV composite tension
insulators has been currently detected in the transmission
system of Crete. As this kind of insulator damage was never
recorded in the past, due to the use of ceramic insulators,
preventive replacement of the bird-pecked composite insulators
with new ones was decided. However, this raised questions
about the efficiency and reliability of bird-pecked insulators
still in service. In this study, the morphological changes of the Figure 1: Distribution of griffon vulture in Crete (1996-2002) [7],
polymeric housing of bird-pecked composite insulators as well yellow dot: location of bird-pecked composite insulators.

978-1-5386-5086-8/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE

 Housing Arcing Leakage
material distance distance
(mm) (mm)
LSR 1405 5416
Figure 2: Bird-pecked 150 kV tension composite insulators.
Figure 3: Bird-pecked housing of composite insulator A.
Fig. 4 shows the distribution of damages caused by bird-
pecking along the housing of the insulators. In this figure, the
shed No 1 is located nearest to the high voltage end fitting of
the insulator. For insulator A, damages are distributed along
almost the full length of the polymeric housing; the sheds close
to the high voltage end fitting were not attacked. For insulator
B, damages were mainly concentrated on the sheds closer to
the ground end fitting; this is probably related to an easier
approach to the insulator by the birds from the tower side. The
damaged sheds of insulator B, were less in number, however,
generally higher in material loss when compared to those of
insulator A. The average percentage material loss of the
housing due bird pecking was calculated approximately 7.4%
Number of Total for insulator A and 5.5% for insulator B; these material losses
sheds length result in ~2.7% and ~2.3%, respectively, average reductions in
(large/ (mm) the leakage distance of the insulators. Such reductions in
small)
leakage distance are not considered as crucial for the reliability
37 (19/18) 1695
of insulators in service. However, it is important that the
maximum reduction in the leakage distance could be
significantly higher; this is because the housing is attacked by
birds mainly along its upper part in the case of tension
insulators.
The absence of damages caused by bird pecking on the
housing sheath classifies the insulators to maintenance priority
rate “B” according to EPRI visual inspection guide [8], that is,
their immediate replacement is not necessary. However, there
is still a need to evaluate the condition and reliability of the
bird-pecked insulators. The local electric field enhancement in
the surface of a bird-pecked housing increases the probability
of intense surface discharge activity, which, together with the
associated reduction of the leakage distance of the insulator,
may eventually cause flashover. In this direction, FEM
simulations were conducted to investigate the electric field
distribution along the deformed polymeric housings.
III. ELECTROSTATIC SIMULATIONS
The electric field distribution along four 150 kV composite
insulator configurations (Fig. 5), most commonly utilized in
the coastal transmission network of Crete, was investigated
through electrostatic simulations with the aid of COMSOL
Multiphysics software. The 3D models were designed based on
the original dimensions of the investigated insulators, including
their additional installation features (Fig. 6). Simulations were
1. Typical 150 kV LSR
tension insulator
2. With corona ring
(HV end fitting) &
arcing horn (ground
end fitting)
3. With corona rings on
both end fittings

70
INS A 4. With arcing horns on
INS B both end fittings
60

50 Figure 5: 3D models of typical composite insulator configurations.

Material loss (%)

40
Φ 20 mm
Φ 30 mm
30
Φ 40 mm Φ 20 mm

20 Φ 60 mm
75 mm

10

0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37
No of Shed 150 mm 1405 mm 140 mm

Figure 4: Material loss per shed along the LSR housing. Figure 6: Geometrical characteristics of the evaluated LSR insulators.
conducted for the phase voltage stressing the insulators under 1.0
0.10 Configuration 1
normal operating conditions; the material relative permittivity 0.9 Configuration 2

Electric field (MV/m)

0.08
of the insulator components was taken as 7 for the fibre glass 0.8 Configuration 3
Configuration 4
rod and 3.5 for the LSR housing.

Electric field (MV/m)

0.7 0.06

To investigate the effects of a deformed shed on the electric 0.6 0.04

field distribution along the insulator housing, a small circular 0.5
0.02
sector was removed from a shed and the electric field intensity 0.4
along a cutline 30 mm from the central axis of the insulator 0.3
0.00
750 800 850 900 950
was computed (Fig. 7). These simulations were performed for 0.2
Distance (mm)

all composite insulator configurations shown in Fig. 5 and by 0.1

considering several sheds along the polymeric housing as 0.0
deformed (1st, 9th, 19th, 29th and 37th). Results are presented by 150 350 550 750 950 1150 1350 1550
Distance (mm)
considering the electric field distribution along an undamaged 0.9
insulator housing as reference. It must be noted the various Configuration 1
0.8
structures near to the insulators, such as, line conductors, tower Configuration 2

0.7 Configuration 3
arms e.t.c., which may affect the electric field distribution Configuration 4

Electric field (MV/m)

along the housing, were not considered in simulations. 0.6

0.5
A. Electric field distribution along the housing of insulators
Fig. 8 shows the electric field distribution along a cutline 30 0.4

mm from the central axis of the insulator for all evaluated 0.3

configurations. The installation of corona rings and/or arcing 0.2

horns on the composite insulators reduces the electric field 0.1
intensity near the metal end fittings, resulting in a more
0.0
uniform electric field distribution along the housing. This 150 200 250 300 350
effect is more pronounced when corona rings than arcing horns Distance (mm)
0.9
are installed on the insulator (configuration 3). Configuration 1
0.8
Configuration 2

0.7 Configuration 3
Configuration 4
Electric field (MV/m)

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2
cutline
0.1

0.0
1355 1405 1455 1505 1555
Distance (mm)
(a) Figure 8: Electric field distribution along a cutline 30 mm from the
central axis of the insulator; configurations according to Fig. 5.

cutline B. Electric field distribution along deformed housing of insulators

Fibre glass rod (εr=7) The electric field strength on the surface of a deformed shed
Φ20 mm
is shown in Fig. 9a; as expected the electric field attains the
highest values at the edges (material-air interface) formed by
the removal of the circular sector. Fig. 9b shows the electric
field strength along the cutline 30 mm from the central axis of
the insulator, before (black line) and after (red line) the
LSR shed (εr=3.5) removal of the small circular sector from the 29th shed of the
Φ 160 mm
housing. This cutline is tangential to the material-air interface
formed by the removal of the sector (Fig. 7b). There is a local
electric field enhancement at the surface of sliced shed,
(b) especially at the material-air interfaces. Fig. 9b also includes
Figure 7: 3D model of an LSR housing (yellow), showing also the the electric field strength along cutline 29 mm and 31 mm from
circular sector (green) removed from a shed and the cutline (red) the central axis of the insulator, that is, 1 mm below (material,
along which the electric field strength distribution was evaluated. green line) and 1 mm above (air, blue line) the material-air
 (a) fittings of the insulator, the enhancement of the electric field is
highest in the part of the housing closest to the ground end
fitting. It must be noted that the above computed results on the
enhancement of the surface electric field due to the removal of
a small circular sector from a shed of the insulator housing
50 would also certainly depend on sector dimensions.
45 IV. CONCLUSIONS
Electric field strength (kV/m)

40 Bird pecking activity on 150 kV composite tension

35 insulators has been detected in the transmission system of
Crete. This raised questions about the efficiency and the
30
reliability of the bird-pecked insulators still in service. Thus, an
25 evaluation of the damage due to bird pecking along the LSR
20 housing of two tension insulators has been made. Possible
effects of the deformed housing sheds on the surface electric
15
field distribution along typical 150 kV composite insulator
10 configurations have been assessed.
1214 1216 1218 1220 1222 1224 1226 1228 1230
(b) Distance (mm) Based on visual inspection, the damage was extensive in
Figure 9: Electric field along a cutline 30 mm from the central axis parts of many sheds, however mainly concentrated along the
of the insulator before (black) and after (red) the removal of the upper side of the housing since these insulators (tension) were
circular sector according to Fig. 7. Green and blue lines show the horizontally mounted on the tower crossarm. The loss of large
electric field along cutlines 29 and 31 mm from the central axis of the
shed parts is attributed to the low tear strength of the housing
insulator after the removal of the circular sector according to Fig. 7.
material (LSR). The shed material loss varied depending on
shed position and insulator configuration, that is, equipped or
interface formed by the removal of the circular sector. It is
not with corona rings or arcing horns.
obvious that the intensity of the electric field enhancement at
Electrostatic simulations showed that there is a local electric
the insulator housing due to a deformed shed depends on the
field enhancement at the surface of a sliced shed, between 9%
distance from the formed material-air interface. In addition, it
and 27% depending on the position of shed along the housing
depends on the position of the deformed shed along the
and insulator configuration. Such increases in the electric field
insulator housing. This is demonstrated in Fig. 10 showing the
strength along the surface of a bird-pecked housing of a
maximum increase in the electric field strength due to a
composite insulator may affect its performance in service, by
deformed shed at several positions, normalized with respect to
increasing the probability of intense surface partial discharge
the electric field values obtained for an undamaged insulator.
activity. Great concern should be given when damages due to
From this figure it can be seen that the electric field
bird-pecking activity are detected on the high electric field
enhancement due to a deformed shed varies approximately
areas of the insulator, that is, on the sheds closest to the end
between 9% and 27%, depending on shed position and
fittings or sheath. The increased probability of intense surface
insulator configuration. The effects of a sliced shed on the
partial discharge activity together with the associated reduction
electric field strength along the housing surface are less intense
in the leakage distance of the insulator, both caused by bird-
in the middle part of the housing. With the exception of
pecking activity, decrease the withstand voltage level of the
configuration 3, where corona rings are installed on both end
insulator, thus also affect the reliability of the overhead
1.30
transmission line; this is subject of further work in progress.
Configuration 1
Configuration 2 REFERENCES
Enhancement of electric field (p.u)

1.25 Configuration 3
Configuration 4 [1] IEEE Std 1264-2015, “IEEE Guide for Animal Deterrents for Electric
Power Supply Substations,” IEEE Power and Energy Society, February
1.20
2015.
[2] IEEE Std 1651-2010, “IEEE Guide for Reducing Bird-Related Outages,”
1.15 IEEE Power and Energy Society, February 2011.
[3] L. Xidong, “Bird damage of silicone insulators: A still unresolved issue”,
INMR, 2014.
1.10
[4] L. Ying, Z. Chenlong, and W. Liming, “Analysis of mechanical
properties of insulators pecked by birds,” in IEEE Electrical Insulation
1.05 Conference, Baltimore, USA, 11-14 June 2017.
[5] “12 Examples of insulator failure,” INMR, 2015.
[6] “A Look to the Future of Composite Insulator Technology,” INMR, 2018.
1.00
Shed 1 (H.V) Shed 9 Shed 19 Shed 29 Shed 37 (Gnd) [7] S. M. Xirouchakis, and M. Mylonas, “Griffon vulture (gyps fulvus)
distribution and density in Crete,”, Isr. J. Zool., vol. 50, pp. 341-354,
Figure 10: Maximum electric field enhancement at the material-air
2004.
interface formed by the removal of a small circular sector from a [8] EPRI, “Field guide : visual inspection of polymer insulators,” 2006.
shed according to Fig. 7; insulator configurations according to Fig. 5.

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