Modelling and analysis of electrical performance outdoor glass insulator under various services and lightning impulse

Abstract

This paper is focus on modelling of glass type insulator with voltage rating of 275 kV. The glass insulators are still widely served in overhead transmission line because of its high dielectric strength capability. However, their outdoor application has resulted in the exposure to the various service conditions such as weather, pollution and lightning conditions. Further, the inclination effect of the insulator under the nominal voltage and lightning impulse is modelling through Finite Elementary Method (FEM). Then, the model of glass insulator is constructed in three different inclination angles by using the Ansys Maxwell 3D for simulation purpose. The results show the inclined insulator due to the wind load effect has the lowest breakdown voltage at most 53.33% compared with the vertical insulator. Under the outdoor environment factors such as humid, wet and contamination, the localized electric field and current density had increased significantly. Consequently, this situation may cause the power losses, localized heating effect also reduces the electrical performance of the insulators.