2011 Electrical Insulation Conference, Annapolis, Maryland, 5 to 8 June 2011
Effect of Insulator Configuration on Ageing
Deterioration of Polymer Insulators
Taeko Tanahashi, Syoichi Ishikawa,
Masahito Imai,Tomoyasu Sasaki,
Hiroyuki Shinokubo, Ryosuke Matsuoka
Department of Electrical Engineering
Chubu University
Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, 487-8501 Japan
matsuoka@isc.chubu.ac.jp
Abstract—According to our accelerated ageing test results of
275-kV full scale insulator strings coated with the same silicone
rubber, conventional porcelain long-rod insulators showed better
anti-ageing performance compared with transmission line
polymer insulators. As the reason for such results two factors are
considered. One is difference in core diameter, and the other is
difference in shed shape.
In order to clarify the reason for such results, we started
comparative accelerated ageing tests on five different specimens,
coated with the same room temperature vulcanized silicone
rubber, with almost the same shed shapes but three different core
diameters and with almost the same core diameters but three
different shed shapes.
As of 380 cycles of accelerated ageing test, any discernible
deterioration was not observed on any specimens, although
partial discharges had been observed at the energized end core
surface of the transmission line polymer insulator after 200 cycles.
It takes so long to get any significant deterioration by the
accelerated ageing test. Since it is considered that the main cause
of surface deterioration of polymer insulators is partial
discharges, we investigated the partial discharge inception
voltages of these specimens under contaminated and wet
conditions.
The transmission line polymer insulator showed the lowest
partial discharge inception voltage. Very large ratio of shed to
core diameter is considered to be the cause of easy occurrence of
partial discharges due to concentrated voltages allotted at the
core surfaces.
We prepared three specimens to improve the voltage
distribution of the transmission line polymer insulator and
evaluated. Promising results were obtained.
Keywords-insulator; polymer; partial discharge; artificial
accelerated ageing test; deterioration
I. INTRODUCTION
Polymer insulators with silicone rubber weathersheds show
excellent flashover voltage characteristics under contaminated
and wet conditions owing to surface hydrophobicity. But due to
organic material of weathersheds, long-term ageing
deterioration of weathersheds is worried about.
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Masayoshi Suzuki, Masanori Isozaki
Transmission & Substation Technology Group,
R&D Center
TEPCO
Egasaki 4-1, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa,
230-8510, Japan
suzuki.masayoshi@tepco.co.jp
We got the results that a porcelain long-rod insulator coated
with silicone rubber was less deteriorated compared with a
transmission line polymer insulator coated with the same
silicone rubber [1]. In order to investigate the effects of both
core diameter and shed shape on ageing deterioration, we
prepared five specimen insulators coated with the same silicone
rubber but different in core diameter or in shed shape. Then we
made 380 cycles of artificial accelerated ageing tests and
investigated the effect of specimen configuration on ageing
deterioration. As of 380 cycles of accelerated ageing test, any
discernible deterioration was not observed on any specimens.
The partial discharge is considered as the main cause of surface
ageing deterioration. So we investigated the voltages at which
any partial discharges started to occur under contaminated and
wet conditions on these specimen insulators.
Based on the above investigation results, we prepared and
evaluated three specimens for improving the anti-ageing
deterioration.
II. TEST METHODS
A. Artificial Accelerated Ageing Test
Artificial accelerated ageing test sequence is shown in Fig.1.
Test voltage is applied for 24 hours, salt fog for 6 hours, steam
fog for 5 hours and 50 minutes, artificial rain for 10 minutes
and ultraviolet radiation for 12 hours per one day.
Time, h
Stress 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Voltage
Salt Fog
Steam Fog
Rain
UV
Figure 1. Artificial accelerated ageing test sequence
 Conditions of artificial accelerated ageing test are shown in III. EFFECT OF SPECIMEN CONFIGURATION
TABLE I. The voltage of 160 kV is line to ground voltage of ON AGEING DETERIORATION
275-kV system voltage.
A. Specimens
TABLE I. CONDITIONS OF ARTIFICIAL ACCELERATED AGEING TEST In order to clearly find out the effect of specimen
configuration, avoiding the effect of kind of silicone rubber, on
Voltage AC 160 kV (Line to Ground)
the ageing deterioration, we applied the same silicone rubber to
Salt Fog Salinity:6.0 mS/cm, Input Rate:0.5 l/h/m3 the whole surfaces of all the specimen insulators shown in
TABLE II. Three polymer insulators have almost the same
Steam Fog Input Rate:0.1 kg/m3/h
shed shapes but different core diameters, 26, 73 and 320 mm.
Rain Precipitation:3±2 mm/min The other two kinds of porcelain long-rod insulators have
almost the same core diameters, 75 and 80 mm with the
UV Intensity:2.4±0.5 mW/cm2 polymer station post (SP) insulator but different shed shapes
from the polymer insulators.

TABLE II. SPECIMEN INSULATORS

B. Partial Discharge Inception Voltage Test Polymer Porcelain
As shown in Fig.2, a specimen insulator was hung at the Trans- Aero Normal
Bushing
mission SP Long- Long-
center of artificial fog chamber and salt fog was sprayed Line
Shell
rod rod
directly towards the specimen insulator from the nozzles
installed both sides. Test procedure is shown in Fig.3. Salt fog Shed
was sprayed for 10 minutes, and then stopped. 2 minutes later, Configuration
test voltage of 50 kV was applied for 2 minutes and at the same
time steam fog was injected into the chamber from the nozzles Core Diameter,
on the floor. Test voltage was increased by 10 kV step by step 26 73 320 75 80
D, mm
as shown in Fig.3 until confirming any partial discharges with Shed Pitch,
60(30) 60(30) 65(30) 65(35.5) 40
naked eyes and ears. P1(P2), mm
Shed Overhang,
40(25) 49(32.5) 40(25) 70(50) 40
a1(a2), mm
Note1: Leakage distance is the same (2140mm).
Note2: Corona rings are installed at the energized ends of all the specimen
Nozzles for insulators.
Salt Fog Nozzles
Specimen Bushing for Salt Fog Bushing
B. Test Results
1) Accelerated Ageing Test
Specimen After 380 cycles of accelerated ageing test, specimen
4 Nozzles
for Steam 4 Nozzles for insulator surface were carefully observed. Any significant
Steam Fog
deterioration was not found on any specimens. But black
contaminant was deposited on the energized end shed surface
Figure 2. Test arrangement
of the transmission line polymer insulator as shown in Fig.4,
which is considered to be caused by partial discharges.
Actually continuous partial discharges were observed as shown
in Fig.5 after 200 cycles. The contaminant could be, however,
wiped off easily. Slight reduction in hydrophobicity was
Salt Fog Steam Fog
observed on the wiped shed surface.
Applied Voltage, kV

10kV

Time, min.
(a)Shed surface (b)Core surface
Figure 3. Test procedure
Figure 4. Appearance of transmission line polymer insulator
after 380 cycles of ageing test

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 IV. IMPROVEMENT OF ANTI-AGEING PERFORMANCE OF
TRANSMISSION LINE POLYMER INSULATOR

A. Specimens
Based on the above investigation results, we proposed three
specimens shown in TABLE IV for improving the anti-ageing
performance of transmission line polymer insulator, and
evaluated their partial discharge inception voltages. As the 1st
candidate specimen, in order to alleviate the voltage
concentration at the core surfaces, we coated all the core
Figure 5. Discharge activities of TL polymer insulator
after 300 cycles of accelerated ageing test
surfaces of the transmission line polymer insulator with
semiconducting paint. As the 2nd candidate, in order to reduce
the ratio of leakage current density on the core surface against
the shed tips, core diameter was enlarged to 46 mm by 20 mm
at the 5 pitches of sheds from the energized end of the
2) Partial Discharge Inception Voltage Test
transmission line polymer insulator. As the 3rd candidate,
Partial discharge inception voltage test results are shown in
smaller shed specimen was prepared. The ratio of core diameter
TABLE III. In the case of the transmission line polymer
to shed diameter is about one third while in the case of standard
insulator with 26mm of core diameter, continuous partial
transmission line polymer insulator it is about one fourth. So,
discharges were observed along the core surface as shown in
this specimen is expected to lower the current density at core
Fig.6 (a). In the case of the other specimens, only streamer
surfaces. Leakage distance is the same (2140mm) for all the
corona discharges were observed at the tips of water drops as
specimens and the same silicone rubber was coated on the
shown in Fig. 6 (b). But the magnitudes of leakage currents of
whole surface of all the specimens.
these streamer corona discharges were very small, and they
occurred only intermittently. In the case of the transmission
line polymer insulator partial discharges started at the very low TABLE IV. SPECIMEN INSULATORS
voltage of 40-kV. But in the case of the other specimen Conventional Semi-
insulators, partial discharges started at much higher voltages Smaller
TL Polymer conducting Enlarged
Shed
and only streamer corona discharges. Insulator Glazed Core
Diameter
(For Reference) Core

Shed
TABLE III. PARTIAL DISCHARGE INCEPTION VOLTAGE TEST RESULTS Configuration
Specimen Partial Discharge Inception
Voltage, kV
Transmission Line Polymer Insulator 40 Core Diameter,
26 26 46(26) 26
D, mm
Polymer SP Insulator 100 Shed Pitch,
60(30) 60(30) 60(30) 30
P1(P2), mm
Polymer Bushing Shell 60 Shed Overhang,
40(25) 40(25) 30(15) 25
a1(a2), mm
Porcelain Aero-shed Long-rod 60
Insulator
Porcelain Normal-shed Long-rod 110
Insulator B. Test Results
Summary of partial discharge inception voltage test results
are shown in TABLE V. Some typical discharge activities are
shown in Fig. 7. As expected, both the specimen coated with
semi-conducting paint at its all the core surfaces and the
specimen with enlarged core diameter at the energized end
show higher partial discharge inception voltages compared
with the conventional transmission line polymer insulator.
Unfortunately, the smaller shed diameter specimen, however,
could not show any improvement for enhancing the partial
discharge inception voltage. In the case of the specimen coated
with semi-conducting paint on all the core surfaces, partial
discharges were observed only at the edges of coated semi-
conducting core surface under the higher voltage of 100 kV as
(a)Transmission Line (b)Bushing Shell at 60 kV shown in Fig. 7 (a). In the case of the specimen with enlarged
Polymer Insulator core diameter at the energized end, partial discharges were
at 40kV observed not at the enlarged core portions but only at the
Figure 6. Discharge activities smaller core portions under the higher voltage of 120 kV as

104
shown in Fig. 7 (b). In the case of smaller shed diameter V. CONCLUSIONS
specimen, as shown in Fig. 7 (c), discharges are observed not Ageing deterioration is the most concerned performance of
only at the energized end but also at the middle and at the polymer insulators. According to our past accelerated ageing
ground end portions even under the lower voltage of 50 kV. test results of 275-kV full scale insulator strings, conventional
porcelain long-rod insulator coated with silicone rubber
TABLE V. PARTIAL DISCHARGE INCEPTION VOLTAGE TEST RESULTS showed better anti-ageing performance compared with a
Specimen Insulator Partial Discharge Inception
normal transmission line polymer insulator coated with the
Voltage, kV same silicone rubber.
Conventional TL polymer Insulator 70
In order to clarify the cause for such results, we prepared
Semi-conducting Glazed Core 100 several specimen insulators coated with the same silicone
rubber ; one group with almost the same shed shapes but with
Enlarged Core 120
three different core diameters, the other group with almost the
Smaller Shed Diameter 50 same core diameters but with three different shed shapes.
Using these specimen insulators, 275-kV full scale
accelerated ageing test and partial discharge inception voltage
test were conducted. From these test results, it was confirmed
that partial discharges occur most easily on the transmission
line polymer insulator and so this type of insulator is
considered to be deteriorated most easily by partial discharges
under contaminated and wetted conditions.
Based on the above investigation results, improvement of
anti-ageing deterioration performance of transmission line
polymer insulators was considered and some specimens were
prepared for evaluation. Significant improvements could be
(a)Semi-conducting glazed core (b)Enlarged core confirmed either by enlarging the energized end core diameter
at 100kV at 120kV or by applying semi-conducting paint to all the core surfaces.
In future, the long-term ageing performance of these
designs shall be evaluated both by accelerated ageing test and
by exposure test in actual fields.

REFERENCES
[1] T. Mizuno, M. Yoshikawa, A. Muto, T. Kawaguchi, and R. Matsuoka,
(c) Smaller shed diameter “Effects of Housing Material and Configuration on Long Term Ageing
at 50kV Deterioration of 275-kV Class Full Scale Polymeric Insulators,”
Proceedings of 2008 International Symposium on Electrical Insulating
Materials, Paper No. MVP 1-3-2, pp. 115-118, September 2008.
Figure 7. Discharge Activities

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