4/2/2017 DifferentTypeofInsulatorsUsedinPowerSystem|ElectricalConcepts

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The purpose of the insulator or insulation is to insulate the
Non-uniform Scale of electricallychargedpartofanyequipmentormachinefromanother
Electrodynamometer Type chargedpartorunchargedmetalpart.Atlowerutilizationvoltagethe
Instrument insulation also completely covers the live conductor and acts as a
Sulphation and Buckling in barrierandkeepstheliveconductorsunreachablefromhumanbeing
Lead Acid Battery or animals. In case of the high voltage overhead transmission and
distribution the transmission towers or poles support the lines, and
insulators are used to insulate the live conductor from the
transmission towers. The insulators used in transmission and
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distribution system are also required to carry large tensional or

compressiveload.

TheHV/EHVinsulatorsarebroadlydividedintotwotypesbasedon
the material used. One is ceramic and the other is polymer
(composite) insulator. Traditionally ceramic insulators of porcelain
areusedinbothtransmissionanddistributionlines.

Now polymer or composite insulators are increasingly used in high
voltage transmission systems. The polymer insulators have a fibre
rod surrounded by outer sheath of some polymer. Due to the
hydrophobic nature of the polymer insulator surface, dry areas are
formed between wet areas resulting in discontinuities in wet
creepagepath.Thisphenomenonhelpsimprovetheperformanceof
the polymer insulator in polluted and coastal areas. The polymer
insulators have one great advantage that it is quite lighter in
comparison to porcelain insulators. Polymeric insulator surface
degrade faster in comparison to porcelain insulator. One important
disadvantagewithporcelaininsulatoristhattheporcelaininsulators
can bear large compressive force but less tensional force. The
porcelain insulators surface is hydrophilic in nature, which means
affinity for water. Polymer insulators age faster than ceramic
insulators.

DifferenttypesofInsulatorsusedinPowerTransmissionfor
supportingtheconductorsonTowerareasfollows:

PinTypeInsulator:

This is the first developed insulators and being used for overhead
linesforvoltagegradeupto33kV.Theliveconductorisplaceonthe
top of the insulator and the bottom of the insulator in connected to
earth. The insulator has to withstand the potential stress between
conductor and earth. When insulator is wet, its outer surface
becomes almost conducting. Hence the flash over distance of
insulatorisdecreased.Theelectricalinsulatorisdesignedsuchthat
thedecreaseofflashoverdistanceisminimumwhentheinsulatoris
wet. That is why the upper most petticoat of a pin insulator has
umbrella type designed so that it can protect the rest lower part of
the insulator from rain. The upper surface of top most petticoat is
inclinedaslessaspossibletomaintainmaximumflashovervoltage
duringraining.

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PostInsulators:

Postinsulatorissuitableforhighervoltage.Ithashighernumbersof
petticoats and has greater height. This type of insulator can be
mounted on supporting structure horizontally as well as vertically.
The insulator is made of one piece of porcelain and it has fixing
clamp arrangement are in both top and bottom end. For higher
voltage application Two or more insulators can be fixed together to
meettherequirement.

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SuspensionInsulator:

Using post insulator in higher voltage is not economical and
suspension type insulator is evolved. Disc insulators are connected
together in series to make a string which is suspension type
insulators. As per the voltage grade the no of disc isolators are
increased or decreased so that is is suitable for any voltage level.
Whensuspensioninsulatorsareusedaconductorisalwayshanging
/suspendedbelowthemetallictowerlevelanditisalwaysprotected
from lightning. On the other hand in order to maintain minimum
clearancebetweenconductorandground/equipmentthetowerhight
usetobehigher.Theamplitudeoffreeswingofconductorsislarger
in suspension insulator system, hence, more spacing between
conductorsshouldbeprovided.

StringInsulators:

Whensuspensionstringisusedtosustainextraordinarytensileload
of conductor it is referred as string insulator. When there is a dead
end or there is a sharp corner in transmission line, the line has to
sustainagreattensileloadofconductororstrain.Astraininsulator
must have considerable mechanical strength as well as the
necessary electrical insulating properties. In string Insulator,
each porcelaindiscisdesignedfor11kV.Thusfor132kVoverhead
linearound12discwillbeassembled.

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StayInsulators:

Forlowvoltagelines,thestaysaretobeinsulatedfromgroundata
height. The insulator used in the stay wire is called as the stay
insulatorandisusuallyofporcelainandissodesignedthatincase
ofbreakageoftheinsulatorthewirewillnotfalltotheground.

Shackleinsulators:

Itisusuallyusedinlowvoltagedistributionnetwork.Itcanbeused
bothinhorizontalandverticalposition.Theconductorinthegroove
ofshackleinsulatorisfixedwiththehelpofsoftbindingwire.

Thankyou!

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