Electrical Power

Transmission Course

Why Line Insulators

are Used in Overhead
Transmission Line ?
By Dr. J. A. Laghari

Power Transmission Made Easy

 Overhead Line Insulators:
Def: “The insulators used to separate the line conductors
from each other & from the supporting structures
electrically are known as Overhead Line Insulators”.

The insulators provide necessary insulation between

line conductors and supports and thus prevent any
leakage current from conductors to earth.

In general, the insulators should

have the following properties:

1. High mechanical strength in order to

withstand conductor load and wind load.
 Overhead Line Insulators:
2. High electrical resistance of insulator material
in order to avoid leakage currents to earth.

3. High relative permittivity of insulator material

in order that dielectric strength is high.

It is necessary so that it can withstand high electrical stresses.

The insulators should be able to withstand the over voltages

due to lightning, switching, or other causes under severe weather
conditions in addition to the normal voltage.
 Overhead Line Insulators:
4. The insulator material should be non-porous, free from
impurities and cracks otherwise the permittivity will be lowered.

5. High ratio of puncture strength to flashover.

All above properties are not found in a single material.

Therefore, while selecting a line support for a

particular case, a compromise is made between
the cost and the required mechanical properties.
 Overhead Line Insulators:
The most commonly used material for insulators of
overhead line is porcelain but glass, steatite, Synthetic
Resin and special composition materials are also
used to a limited extent.

Porcelain is stronger mechanically than glass, gives less trouble

from leakage and is less effected by changes of temperature.
 How Insulation Failure Occurs:
The electric failure of insulation occurs either by puncture or flashover.

In the case of a puncture, the arc passes through the body of the
insulator whereas flashover is caused by an arc discharge between the
conductor and earth through air surrounding the insulator.

It is either due to line surges or due to the formation

of wet conducting layer over the insulator surface.

Normally the insulator is not damaged by a flashover

but it becomes useless after the puncture.
 How Insulation Failure Occurs:
Sufficient thickness of material is provided in the insulator
to prevent the puncture under surges conditions.

Flashover are reduced by increasing the resistance to leakage currents.

The length of the leakage path is made large by

constructing several layers called petticoats or rain sheds.

They keep the inner surfaces relatively dry in wet weather and
thus provide sufficient leakage resistance to prevent a flashover.

For satisfactory operation, the flashover should occur before puncture.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH