Performance Evaluation of Insulators Using Flashover Voltage and Leakage Current

Abstract

Every few years, some samples of insulators should be taken from overhead lines to monitor their operational condition. Since most insulators are not installed in standard atmospheric conditions, their performance evaluation using flashover voltage needs a correction factor to obtain the real breakdown voltage from test results. In this article, the validity of IEC spark over atmospheric correction factor for this purpose was studied. Moreover, the effect of pollution on the leakage current of silicone rubber insulators has been evaluated. Finally, the results have been analyzed to find appropriate correction factors and to discover the relationship between insulators' leakage current and their status.

Keywords:

• AC breakdown voltage
• fast Fourier transform
• humidity correction factor
• leakage current