Selection of line insulation

2020
Insulator type selection
 Influence types on insulation:

1. Industrial, farming, coastal contamination(ESDD, NSDD). Туре of Flashover Number (%)

2. Natural pollutions – birds, animals, moss. Lightning 415 46,73
3. Contaminations of big cities. Bird dropping 250 28,15
4. Extreme temperature Contamination 53 5,97
Rain 5 0,56
5. Solar radiation
lcing 27 3,05
6. Dew, condensate Strong wind/breeze 12 1,35
7. Coal smut, soot Unexplained causes 131 14,75
Total 888 100
Contaminations have the different nature, differ by content, *Presumed Cause of Flashover & Туре of Damage
but equally negatively influence on Transmission Line Reported (end of 2006)
insulation and electrical equipment.

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Detection of a damaged insulator

In glass insulators string any damage is easily visually determined, as a result,

periodic stress tests are not required.
For porcelain and composite insulators it is necessary to involve special equipment to
detect damaging.

Cost for
Covered
inspection Glass Porcelain Composite
Glass
(labour)
Inspection USD
10 10 152,5 240
per km

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Internal puncture of insulator

Absence of possibility of visual detection of punctured insulator. It takes

additional costs
This condition of refusal is observed in porcelain insulators and first of all is linked
with the problems of raw materials and manufacturing processes.

- Cavities

- Largely granular structure

- Micro-cracks

- Inclusions

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Internal puncture of insulator
High risk of punctures at depressurization
Usually composite insulators are not subjected to the risk of puncture as
electrodes of the different potential are disjointed by a long fiberglass rod.
Nevertheless the punctures in the form of holes in the body are detected in the
constructions, and then they can ensure the access of atmospheric moisture to the
rod and its further damage under the influence of created acids.

Internal tracking along the

rod of the composite
insulator

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Internal puncture of insulator
After internal puncture glass part damages, glass residue doesn’t split
When insulator is damaged, the residue (+ cap rod) withstands up to 80% of the
mechanical strength of the whole of insulator, there is no drop wires.

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Internal puncture of insulator

The most effective way for screening of toughened glass parts, containing the
inclusions, is the application of the certain thermal shocks for each unit before the
assembly stage. Such test is intended for destruction of the glass insulating part
containing the inclusions.

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Mechanical split of insulator

Only for porcelain and polymer insulators. Not typical for glass insulators.
Operation data testifies that the frequency of mechanical failures of the toughened
glass insulators for the last 50 years is extremely small - such as 1 on 10 million.
This situation, as a rule, is connected with the exclusive cases, such as the repeated
arcs fusing fittings or uncontrollable vibration of the phase conductors spreading to
insulating strings and leading to «de - capping».

The number of line failures due to puncture of porcelain insulators.

One of the largest power companies in India

YEAR 2015 2016 2017

PORCELAIN DISC INSULATOR FAILURE LEADING

45 43 39
TO GROUNDING OF CONDUCTOR

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Mechanical split of insulator

For porcelain insulator there

is the possibility of a vapor
bomb with the following
separation of the insulator
and the fall of the wire.

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Mechanical split of insulator

Mechanical failure of composite insulators can be caused by the fragile damage or

collapse, as a break.
In case of a brittle fracture there is the possibility of tearing off a part and
dropping the wire to the ground.

Failure occurred in the transmission line: PALITAL–FURRIAL Nº1 400kV

(Venezuela)
* photo, Cristian H. Gutiérrez Aguirre
Experience of composite insulation used on transmission lines to 115, 230 and 400 kV in Venezuela,

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 Fractional damages and breakage of dielectric material

Only for porcelain and polymer insulators. Not for glass insulators.
This type of failure is observed mostly for porcelain insulators and usually called by
vandalism or irregular transportation, storage and mounting.
Unlike the toughened glass insulators, only some part of a porcelain disc is broken off
and the internal cracking cannot be easily detected.

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

QUESTIONS ?

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GLOBAL INSULATOR GROUP/ Selection of line insulation in severe conditions of operation