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External insulation problems on the outdoor switchgear

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 Combating of severe pollution problems on transmission lines
without the need for composite insulators
RafiqMathersa AB,Asaithambi V,Gobinath G, Dr.Vasudev N
Central Power Research Institute,Bangalore,INDIA

Abstract Today it is commonly understood that heavy or very heavy pollution problems of
transmission lines are managed by using polymer insulators instead of Traditional porcelain
or toughened glass insulators.Many problems encountered in the site , the uncertainties with
respect to stability, inspection, maintenance and live line work of composite insulators has
now opened new directions among which RTV silicone coated porcelain or glass insulators.
This paper presents the use of protective coatings to external HV insulators which
significantly improve their performance.

Keywords: Insulator, Pollution, Porcelain,Composite,RTV)

1 Introduction While it is important to have the best

Among the various options to fight
pollution problems on transmission lines
the choice today lies between using higher
leakage distances on the insulators, and
using silicone rubber housing materials or
both. The latter solution can be achieved
through a RTV silicone housing covering a
ceramic (glass or porcelain) insulator.
The failures encountered by quite a
number of utilities with composite
insulators have considerably impacted the
self-belief in the technology while actually
frequently used to solve pollution
problems. The ageing mechanisms
reported in the last decade are also an
indication of the impact of harsh
conditions on a component specifically
installed there to sustain these very severe
conditions.
On the present study laboratory tests on
performance of RTV silicone coated
porcelain insulators and detailed results are
presented in this paper.
2. Laboratory tests and selection of silicone
coatings
possible tracking and erosion performance,
it must be noted that the degradation of a
coating over porcelain will never lead to
the same catastrophic failure modes than
for a composite insulator which (FRP)
fiberglass reinforced plastic rod and
interfaces have to remain protected at all
period from moisture ingress. Exposed
porcelain under a RTV silicone coating
will have no adverse effect.
In more recent work initiated the
development of silicone coated porcelain
insulators where only the bottom side of
the insulator was coated . This was
suggested to produce favorable conditions
of handling and installation, preventing
damages which can occur on the surface of
the coating during transportation or by the
crews at the time of installation.
Qualification tests such as the 1000h cycle
described below are considered to be a
good screening tool for the selection of
coatings.
An accelerated-ageing test [4] was
conducted on un coated, half RTV coated
and full RTV coated Cap and Pin porcelain
insulators in a salt-fog-ageing test chamber
as shown in figure 2. The test chamber is
of dimensions 2.0m x 2.0m x 2.5m. An
nozzles confirming to IEC 60507
specifications combined with a salt water
pumping and air compressor provide the
required salt fog [3]. The power supply to
the chamber is from the 30 kV high
voltage transformer. The high voltage is
applied to the one end of the insulator, and
another end is grounded. The test
conducted was in general accordance with
IEC 62217, 1000 hours test, with reduced
setup parameters. Two numbers of
insulators each of uncoated, half coated
Figure 2 Photograph of test chamber with
and full coated were considered. The
porcelain insulators uncoated, half RTV
insulators were of 640 mm creepage
coated, full RTV coated.
distance. The maximum applied voltage is
19 kV (640/34.6). The result shows the
hydrophobicity of the surface of these
insulators were good. The electrical
properties were studied by monitoring of
the leakage current. The leakage current
was measured across the shunt for about
100 ms at the end of the 1000 hours ageing
using the Picoscope (Model 4424). The
protection circuit was connected to the
shunt in order to protect from the scope.
Hydrophobicity test was conducted after
the ageing test in order to evaluate the Figure.3 comparison of leakage current
effectiveness of the coating. patterns for the porcelain string Cap and
Pin insulators uncoated, half RTV coated,
full RTV coated at the end of 1000 hours
ageing testing.
From these, the magnitude of the leakage
current is higher in uncoated insulators
which is 1.95 mA compared to half-coated
insulator and full-coated insulator read as
0.144 mA and 0.140 mA respectively.
Here we get the comparatively less
differences in the magnitude of leakage of
Figure 1. HC2 recovery of hydrophobicity half coated and fully coated insulator.
after 1000 hours ageing test in full RTV Hence, half coated Cap and Pin insulator
coated insulator will be useful for the site conditions to
avoid the pollution flashover phenomenon.
It can be seen that the hydrophobicity falls
in HC2 category as per the STRI 3. Artificial Salt fog pollution test
(Swedish Transmission Research Institute)
To assess the Performance of the RTV
guidelines [2] as shown in figure 1.
coated insulators over ceramic insulators
and composite insulators, Salt fog tests
have been conducted with the highest
severity as per IEC 60507[1].Although, the
standard is not for ceramic insulators
coated with RTV, it has been adopted for
testing insulators coated with highly
hydrophobic materials. The test has been
conducted on samples of 400 kV Cap and
Pin insulators as given below.
 With un coated porcelain Cap and
Pin insulator.
 With half coated porcelain Cap and
Pin insulator.
 With full coated porcelain Cap and
Pin insulator.
Figure 6. 400 kV Porcelain string insulator
The test chamber has dimensions of 12m x
12m x 12m. A column of nozzles full coated with RTV
confirming to IEC 60507 terms combined
with a salt water pumping and air
compressor provide the required salt fog.
The power supply to the chamber is taken
from the first stage of a 600kV unit of the
1800kV cascade transformer. This test
source meets requirements stipulated by
the IEC standard. High voltage is applied
to the one end of the insulator, and another
end is grounded. The figures 4, 5, 6 show
the 400 kV (23 no’s) Cap and Pin Figure 7. Graph for the comparision of
insulators un coated, half coated, fully uncoated ,half coated and full coated
coated porcelain Cap and Pin insulators. insulator.
The evaluation of the performance of fully
coated versus under-coated insulators was
made. Salt fog withstand test were also
performed on both options and the results
show an equivalent (if not better)
performance of under-coated porcelain
insulators.
4. Conclusions
Figure 4 .400 kV Porcelain string insulator
Hence RTV half and full silicone coated
without coating
porcelain insulator solution in substitution
to traditional composite insulators for
highly contaminated environments. While
RTV coated insulators more expensive
than composite insulators, this solution is
more and more the preferred choice of
utilities sensitive to full cost of ownership,
reliability, inspection and live line work.
The benefits of using half coated insulators
are the cost effective one compared to full
coated insulators.
Figure 5 .400 kV Porcelain string insulator
half of the creepage coated with RTV
 5. References

[1] IEC 60507 “Artificial pollution test on

high voltage ceramic and glass
insulators to be used on a.c. systems ”.
[2] “Hydrophobicity Classification
guide”,STRI guide 92-1,1992.
[3] D. Devendranath, K.A. Aravind, A.
Ramulu and A.K. Tripathy,”
Accelerated-ageing test for RTV-
coated insulators analysis of electrical
and material properties” IEEE Proc.
Generation, Transmission, distribution,
Vol. 152, No.5,September 2005
definitions, test methods and acceptance
criteria”.
[4] IEC 62217,” Polymeric insulators for
indoor and outdoor use with a nominal
voltage >1 000 V – General
definitions, test methods and
acceptance criteria”

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