M.Sc.

Electrical Power
Engineering Thesis
Presentation
@ Kijitonyama Campus
Date: 09-09-2010
Time: 10h00

University of Dar es Salaam 1

Tuesday 7 December 2021
 Title of the Thesis

Non-ceramic Insulators In Coastal

Tropical Climates:
The Case Study of Tanzania Field
Performance of Polymeric Insulators and
Dielectric Characteristics of Silicone
Rubber and Epoxy Resin Formulations

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 2

 Presenter

Aviti Thadei
B.Sc. (Hons) Electrical Engineering
M.Sc. (Student) By Research and Thesis
Alone
Supervised by Dr. A. L. Kyaruzi

University of Dar es Salaam 3

Tuesday 7 December 2021
 Presentation Content

1. Introduction
2. Problem Statement
3. Objectives
4. Work Carried Out
5. Results
6. Conclusions and Recommendations

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 4

 Introduction

Polymer Insulators began to be used around

1970’s but suffered several problems.
They were thought to be a solution to
traditional ceramic insulators.
In Tanzania these insulators were first
installed at Ruvu Chini Water Pump
Station in 1974.
Till today, comparing with ceramics, NCIs
are still very young.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 5

 Introduction

Issues with polymeric insulators

• They offer better pollution performance
than ceramics, but it changes with time
• They are lightweight and compact
• Susceptible to arcing damage due to FO
• Susceptible to aging

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 6

 Problem Statement

1. Limited study of NCIs aging and

oxidation in Tanzania despite their
increasing applicability
2. Limited information about dielectric
properties of silicone rubber and epoxy
resin formulations when joined

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 7

 Objectives

The study addressed the mentioned

problems above, by:
1. Evaluating aging
2. Evaluating oxidation and chalking
indices
3. Characterising: surface, volume and
dielectric loss

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 8

 Work Carried Out

1. Reviewing many of past works on NCIs in

Tanzania
2. Quantification of HC, contamination,
aging and oxidation of field installed
insulators
3. Measurements of surface, volume
resistivity and dielectric loss of
polymeric formulations

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 9

 Results

Satisfactory field performance of Local

utility insulators: the insulators are
heavily contaminated. Some were eaten
by rodents when stored in a warehouse
before installation.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 10

 Results

Test polymeric insulators

Kimara feeder: a class I pollution level site.
Dust and colour changes are visible on all
insulators. 1 (K3) insulator has good HC,
others have HC up to 7. however, they are
serving the line.
Tazara feeder: class II pollution level site.
Insulators contaminated, otherwise serving
the line with no reported problems.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 11

 Results

Ohio Street distribution line: insulators are in

good condition serving the line.
Masaki substation: a site with marine salt
contamination problems. An NCI flashed over
in 2008 and was replaced with porcelain.
Insulators are dust coated. This insulator had
clear signs of deterioration. FTIR spectra
revealed reduction of functional groups from
parts with burn marks to those without.
There is increase of oxidation and hydroxil
groups.
Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 12
 Results

Wazo hill substation: area is impacted by

marine winds and cement dust. The
insulators are washed regularly, as a result
no reported problems on the line.
Ruvu chini water pump station: where the
oldest NCIs are found functioning though with
shed fringes broken at points. All showed
good HC.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 13

 Results

Ras Kiromoni Marine cable link to Zanzibar:

there are few polymer cable terminations.
All types of insulation suffer from salt
contamination.
High voltage yard at UDSM: clean site, where
stored insulators were hanged to sunlight.
They accumulated dust in various degrees.
Some exhibited changes of HC from those
values before installation. FTIR results
showed decrease of functional groups from
bulk of one of the insulator.
Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 14
 Results

Reduction of more than 15% on one insulator

qualify for its condemnation. Another
showed increase of functional groups with a
lot of silica. Another showed little changes
with lots of virgin hydrocarbons and alky-
silicone.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 15

 Results

Oxidation and Chalking Indices

OI varies linearly with CI.
Conductivity of insulator surfaces
Insulator from Masaki showed higher
conductivity than others.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 16

 Results

Ruvu Chini insulator with damaged shed

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 Results

Masaki substation failed insulator

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 18
 Results

Resistivity results are affected by

preparation and manufacturing method
and duration of application of voltage
Surface resistivity measurements were
problematic due to: inconsistencies in
humidity, temperature, electrode
contact points on the surface.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 19

 Results

Dielectric measurements: values dependent

on manufacturing technique. Mixed
relaxations for SIR and epoxy.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 20

 Conclusion

Severe pollution accumulation occurs on lower

surface of insulator shed close to live end.
NCIs performance on the lines is satisfactory with
exception of the one failed. Oxidation and
Chalking is evident on test insulators.
Dielectric propersties of polymeric formulations is
dependent on manufacturing method and
ambient factors. There is observed mixed
relaxations within the materials at ambient
temperature.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 21

 Recommendations

Insulation upgrading will achieve reduced

total life cylce cost of transmission and
distribution lines, by allowing
compactness, less ROW, less
maintenence/replacement, etc.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 22

 Future works

Further research works can be done on:

1. Online monitoring of service stresses
2. Quantification of charging, memory,
and fringing effects on polymeric
materials during measurements.
3. Characterising dielectric properties of
tropical field aged insulators of
Tanzania.
Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 23
 THANK
YOU

Tuesday 7 December 2021 University of Dar es Salaam 24