Condition monitoring system for outdoor insulators

Abstract

High Voltage insulators are vital components in transmission and distribution systems in a power network. Most of the insulators are used in open air applications where they are subjected to different environmental conditions. Exposure to these different weather conditions and contaminations determine their performance as insulators. Condition monitoring of power line insulators is an important requirement for asset management and engineers in a power network in order to maintain a healthy power system. There are several techniques that have been introduced to fulfill this requirement. One of the techniques of measuring surface leakage current is introduced here. In this paper, rainy weather conditions are simulated in an artificial rain making chamber and the performance of insulators are examined at different contamination levels. This paper highlights the concepts of measuring surface leakage current for insulators under contaminated conditions. Results show that the surface leakage current is closely related to the insulator condition.