Technical Article

Insulation Materials Used in Transformer Bushings

A transformer bushing is an essential

component of high-voltage electrical
systems that provides electrical insulation
and mechanical support for conductors
that pass through the transformer tank. It
is used to safely pass electrical power
from the transformer to the outside world
while providing a barrier between the
high-voltage conductor and the
grounded objects.
Insulation materials are one of the most
Figure 1: Transformer bushings on power transformer
critical components of a transformer
bushing. They are used to electrically insulate the high-voltage (HV) tube/rod from
earth. Internal insulation breakdown is the main cause of transformer bushing failure.
The table below gives an overview of insulation materials used for forming the
condenser core of the bushing.
Types of Bushings
Resin-
Parameter Oil-impregnated Resin-impregnated Resin-impregnated
impregnated
Paper (OIP) Synthetics (RIS) Fiber (RIF)
Paper (RIP)
Electrical grade Electrical grade
Core insulation insulating kraft insulating crepe Synthetic fabrics Fiberglass
paper paper
Impregnating
Transformer oil Epoxy resin Epoxy resin Epoxy resin
material
− Direct
− Direct moulded − Direct moulded
− Porcelain moulded
silicon insulator silicon insulator
Air-end insulator silicon insulator
− Hollow − Hollow
insulator − Composite − Hollow
composite composite
insulator composite
insulator insulator
insulator
− Porcelain − No separate − No separate − No separate
Oil-end
insulator insulator (RIP insulator (RIS insulator (RIF
insulator
− Epoxy insulator core) core) core)

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 Technical Article

The schematics of OIP, RIP, and RIS bushings are displayed in Figure 2, 3, and 4,
respectively.

Figure 2: Schematic diagram of OIP bushing Figure 3: Schematic diagram of RIP bushing

Figure 4: Schematic diagram of RIS bushing

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