Development and Implementation of Accelerated Weathering Standard and Facility for High Voltage Insulators /

Abstract

Efficiency of electrical power systems highly depends on the longer life and degradation of insulators. High voltage insulators degrade due to environmental stresses with time. Quality and manufacturing process of these insulators must be improved to get much longer life and efficient results in power system in terms of transmission losses. Different standards have been made in the past to test and improve these insulators. Polymeric insulators are much better than ceramic insulators in all expects but the environmental degradation of polymeric insulators needs to be addressed. There is a need of specific standard for the environmental parameters of Pakistan. In this study, a standard for polymeric high voltage insulators has been made for the weather environment of Pakistan. This standard will help in improving the life estimation and resistance to environmental stresses. All environmental parameters which degrade insulator surfaces are calculated as per data provided by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The standard has been designed in a lab environment at an accelerated rate as compared to the usual field environment which takes decades to show the effect of degradation. Laboratory environment gives long time results at much quicker rate which makes it easy for study of all degradation effects. Hardware implementation has been done as per required design. Multistress chamber for high voltage insulator testing has been implemented for all calculated values. Error analysis between calculated values and the experimental values has been done which shows very little differences between the designed standard and hardware implementation. This standard for Pakistan will be proposed for industry to have better insulator manufacturing which will have longer life and high resistance to environmental stresses.