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Overhead Transmission Line INSULATORS

1) Overhead transmission line insulators support conductors on towers while maintaining electrical insulation. Common types include pin, post, suspension, and strain insulators. 2) The flashover voltage is the highest AC voltage insulators can withstand before electrical breakdown. Insulator design increases creepage distance to withstand higher voltages with a safety factor. 3) Suspension insulators consist of discs connected in series. Higher voltages require more discs. Voltage is distributed non-uniformly across discs due to tower capacitance.

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72 views4 pages

Overhead Transmission Line INSULATORS

1) Overhead transmission line insulators support conductors on towers while maintaining electrical insulation. Common types include pin, post, suspension, and strain insulators. 2) The flashover voltage is the highest AC voltage insulators can withstand before electrical breakdown. Insulator design increases creepage distance to withstand higher voltages with a safety factor. 3) Suspension insulators consist of discs connected in series. Higher voltages require more discs. Voltage is distributed non-uniformly across discs due to tower capacitance.

Uploaded by

zakaly
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Overhead transmission line INSULATORS

The function of insulators is to support the conductor on towers or poles while


keeping safe electrical insulation. Insulators are mounted on cross arms of poles and
towers. Insulators are mechanically strong and electrically nonconducting under
worst whether conditions.

Common Types:-
1- Pin Insulators. (conductor at top, used up to 33 kv)
2- Post Insulators. (used for busbars, switches, etc. in substations)
3- Suspension Insulators. (string insulators)
4- Strain Insulators. (similar to disk at corners or ends)

Electrical strength of insulators: - this is the highest a.c power voltage at which the
insulator material or air surrounding the insulator surface electrically breakdown
or become conductivity causing FLASH OVER.

All insulators have special shapes to increase the creepage distance (or breakdown
path) so that it can with stand higher voltage. The actual working voltage (line
voltage) is less than flashover voltage by a factor of safety.

Flashover voltage under standard conditions


Factor if safety =
Working of voltage (line to earth) across insulator

Suspension type insulators consist of no. of discs each having some standard voltages
ratings.

voltage 66 kv 132 kv 220 kv 400 kv


no. of discs 4-5 9-10 15-16 22-24
conductor is mounted to bottom disc.
Electrically: each disc of suspension insulator can be represented as a capacitance.
Under normal conditions, the string can be represented as a capacitance unites in
series.
The voltage across each similar disc will be uniform. But because of the presence of
tower metal parts in the vicinity, the voltage distribution becomes non uniform.

Calculation of voltage distribution


Let c be the disc capacitance and let kc be the shunt capacitance from link pin joint
to tower metal earth (k) usually 0.1 to 0.2
Applying kirchoff low at junction p

i n+1 = I n + i n
in general

Example on voltage distribution


find the voltage distribution across each units of string of 4 discs used for 66 kv
transmission line. The shunt capacitance of link pin joint to tower metal is 10% of
disk capacitance.
sol.
Total voltage across 4 discs string = kv
Applying kirchoff current low at junction P
i2 = I 1+ i1

v2 = 1.1 v 1 ....................................... (1)


at junction Q
i 3 = I 2 +i 2

v 3 = 1.1 v2 + 0.1 v1 =1.1(1.1 v1 ) +0.1 v1 = 1.31 v1 …………….(2)

at junction R
i 4= I3+ i 3

V4= 1.1v3 +0.1v2 +0.1v1 =1.65 v1 …………………………….(3)


we have v1 +v2 +v3 +v4 = =38.1 kv …………………………….(4)
v1+(1.1) v1 +(1.31)v1 + (1.65) v1 =38.1
v1 = 7.53 kv v2 =8.28 kv v3 = 9.86 kv v4 =12.43 kv
76.6%
String efficiency =

Methods of improving string efficiency


1- Reducing shunt capacitance between link pin and tower. This requires
increasing the length of cross arms. This increase cost and requires more
mechanically strength. The limit of reduction is across 0.1 or 10% of disc
capacitance.
2- Using discs of difference capacitance. Not practical as standard disc.
3- Using of guard ring static shielding.

Use of GUARD RING (static shield):-


A large metal ring is placed around the lowest insulator disc is electrically connected
to the conductor. This introduces additional capacitance and together with the shunt
capacitance to together makes the voltage distribution more uniform. This method
achieves the same effect as unequal capacitance but without requiring non standard
insulators.

Example: - a 3 units insulators string is fitted with a guard ring around the bottom
insulator. The capacitance of link pin to tower metal work and to guard ring are
15% and 5% respectively of disc capacitance. Determine the voltage distribution
and string efficiency.

Sol.: -
Appling kirchoff law at p
i2 =i1 +I1 – ig2
ωcv2 = ωcv1 +0.15 ω c v1 – 0.05(v2+v3)
1.05 v2 = 1.15 v1 - 0.05 v3……………….(1)
At q
ωcv3 = ωcv2 + 0.15 ωc (v1+v2) – 0.05 ωc (v3)
1.05v3 =1.15 v2 + 0.15 v1 ……………………
(2)
Substituting for v3 in (1)
1.05 v2 = 1.15 v1 – 0.05
v2 = (1.0345 )v1 ……………………………………(3)
substituting of (3) in (2)
1.05v3 =1.15 (1.0345v1 ) + 015 v1 = 1.276 ……(4)
Total applied voltages
v1 +v2 +v3 100%
v1 +1.0345v1 +1.276 v1 =100
v1 = 30.3%
v2 = (1.0345) (30.2) = 31.24%
v3 = 1.276 (30.2) = 38.54%

string efficiency =

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