Sensing Method Using Dielectric Loss Factor to Evaluate Surface Conditions on Polluted Porcelain Insulator.

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Insulator diagnostics are crucial for power transmission and distribution systems.
• Environmental factors like moisture and dirt significantly impact insulator performance.
• Accurate methods for assessing insulator condition are needed to prevent failures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of dielectric loss factor and leakage current measurements for diagnosing porcelain insulator pollution.
• To evaluate the influence of varying high voltage levels and frequencies on these diagnostic parameters.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an Omicron MI 600 measuring system to monitor dielectric loss factor and leakage current.
• Applied high voltage levels of 5 kV, 7.5 kV, and 10 kV to a porcelain insulator.
• Conducted measurements across a frequency range of 10 Hz to 1 kHz.

Main Results:

• Both dielectric loss factor and leakage current measurements correlated with insulator contamination levels.
• The dielectric loss factor demonstrated higher sensitivity and reliability in diagnosing pollution compared to leakage current.
• Changes in these parameters were observable under different applied voltages and frequencies.

Conclusions:

• Dielectric loss factor and leakage current are viable parameters for assessing porcelain insulator pollution.
• The dielectric loss factor offers a more promising approach for effective insulator diagnostics.
• This research contributes to improved maintenance strategies for electrical insulation.