Measurement Of Potential Distribution Across String Insulators

Report by Kiran Kumar Challa (Sr.No: 14013)

Introduction:
It has long been known that when insulators are placed in series in a
string the arc-over voltage is not the sum of the arc-over voltages of the
individual units, but less. This is due to the uneven division of voltage on
the different units. A very high percentage is across the unit nearest the
line. the importance of a consideration of this factor at the higher voltage
is at once seen since the maximum unit stress increases directly with the
voltage. At 100 kv. the operating stress on the line unit is 17.4 kv.; at
220 kv. it is 38 kv., which is higher than is desirable.' It is desirable to
lower the operating stress on the units near the line.

A string of line insulators may be considered as being made up of a

number of capacities in series.There is also capacity from the hardware
and fittings of each unit to ground. This arrangement is is approximate,
but suitable for the purpose of illustration.

It is at once apparent that the capacity currents cause unequal voltage

distribution. If i is the total current through the first insulator, the
capacity current through the second one from the line is i - i1 where i1
is the capacity current to ground; and third from the line i - 2 ii; the
fourth i - 3 i1, etc. The current and, therefore, the drop is greatest on the
line unit; the current decreases successively on each unit from the line by
the current to ground of one unit. Correction of voltage distribution may
be made by eliminating the effect of the ground current or the capacities
to ground, Cl.

This may be done by any one of the following methods:

1. Increasing all of the string capacities without increasing the shunt
capacities so that the effect of the current to ground is relatively less.
2. Increasing the string capacities of the insulators along the string in
proportion to the currents flowing through them. This means highest
string capacitance capacity on then line unit, less on the next unit, etc.
3. Elimination of the ground capacities by means of an antenna shield
from the line.
Experimental Setup:
Experimental setup for measurement of high voltage using sphere gap
and potential divider is as shown in the figure bellow. An alternator with
excitation control is used to create various levels of high voltages. And
that voltage produced by generator is further increased by using a
cascaded transformer. Asphere gap with small rating of 2cm diameter and
4mm spacing is used to measure the percentage of potential distribution
across the insulators.

Suspension insulator used for testing is of 14 disc with 220 kV of voltage

leve..

Insulation

Excitation
control Generator Cascaded Transformer Suspension
Insulators
Observations:
Percentage of potential distribution across the insulator disc in case of
suspension insulators with guard ring.

S.No Voltmeter reading from Average voltage % potential

source level of distribution
1 2 3 breakdown across disc
1 27 28 28 130.65 9.65
2 30 30 31 139.986 9.01
3 35 35 36 165.183 7.63
4 48 48 48 224.91 5.608
5 58 58 59 273.43 4.613
6 65 65 65 303.43 4.158
7 44 44 44 205.97 6.14
8 54 54 54 251.97 5
9 50 50 50 233.31 5.406
10 48 48 48 233.97 5.63
11 44 44 44 205.97 6.14
12 42 40 40 189.75 6.64
13 32 32 33 150.87 8.3
14 31 31 31 144.65 8.72

Percentage of potential distribution across the insulator disc in case of

suspension insulators without guard ring.
S.No Voltmeter reading from Average voltage % potential
source level of distribution
1 2 3 breakdown across disc
1 26 26 26 121.3395 10.44
2 32 32 32 149.3410 8.48
3 38 38 38 177.3424 7.14
4 55 54 54 258.2198 4.99
5 63 63 63 294.0150 4.3
6 68 68 68 317.3495 3.99
7 56 56 56 261.3467 4.84
8 72 72 72 336.0171 3.77
9 66 66 66 308.0157 4.11
10 64 64 62 295.5551 4.28
11 56 56 58 264.4268 4.79
12 50 50 50 233.3452 5.42
13 44 44 44 205.3438 6.17
14 40 40 40 186.6762 6.78
 Potentail Distribution across string insulators

% of potential Distribution across discs

12
Potential distribution with gaurd ring
potential distribution without gaurd ring
10

2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
insulator disc number from line

Conclusions:
It is clearly understood from the graphical representation of percentage
potential distribution across insulators that the insulators near conductor
experience high voltage and insulators near the supporting tower/ground
experience very less voltage when guard ring is absent. But when guard
ring is placed even though same pattern of potential distribution is
repeated but the stress on the disc near the conductor reduced and
potential distribution is relatively uniform.