EFFECT OF HUMIDITY ON BREAKDOWN VOLTAGES OF

GAPS AND INSULATORS

EKRAM HUSS1AN, M. 11. NANDAGOPAL AND B. R. PRABHAKAR
(Department of High Voltage Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012)
-

Received on January 7, 1974 and in revised form on August 25, 1974

ABSTRACT
With the increase in power transmission in tropical countries, the study of the
effect of high humidities on the flashover characteristics of line and station insulation
assumes great importance. In this paper, the study of the variation of breakdown
voltages of gaps and different types of insulators with varying humidity at two constant
temperatures of 20 °C and 27° C, is reported. The range of humidity variation
obtained in a controlled atmosphere rootn was between 9 and 25 gln2 3, corresponding
to a relative humidity range of 60 to 90 per cent. The results point out to the
inaccuracies of the humidity correction factors as presently specified in the standards.
The study points out that no uniform correction factor could be applied to the flashover
voltages of insulators. The characteristics show three regions the first similar to
those of a rod gap, the second, a rapid rising region, and the third, a falling region.
Thorough investigations are proposed for future work.

• Key words: Humidity effect, Breakdown, insulator testing, sphere gap breakdown, rod-gap
breakdown, dielectric breakdown.

INTRODUCTION

The humidity and air-density variations of the atmosphere cause consider-

able deviation in the flashover voltages obtained for any type of line and
station insulation. Considerable work has been done in determining the
effect of these parameters on power frequency voltage breakdown of gaps
and insulators [1, 2, 3] and on impulse voltage breakdown of gaps [4, 5].
Both international and national organizations have evolved, based on the
extensive laboratory work, correction factors for humidity and air-density
in order to refer the values obtained at the prevailing conditions to those
at standard conditions [6, 7, 8]. All these corrections assume that the power
frequency flashover voltage of an insulator increases almost linearly with
the humidity of air by eight to twelve per cent for an increase in moisture
content from four to eleven grams per cubic metre of air.
48
482 EKRAM HUSSIAN et at

I.E.C. and British Standards have adopted the standard conditions of

temperature and humidity as 20° C and 11 gjm 3 respectively. In tropical
countries, the temperature and humidity values . are very high. _ Indian
Standards are 'adopting 27° C and 11 g/m 3 as the standard conditions. To
adopt a different set of standard conditions, it is necessary to have sufficient
knowledge of the behaviour of the insulators under varying conditions. Smee
and Edwards [9] after a limited number of experiments in the humidity range
of 4-12 gims doubted the accuracy of the• humidity corrections provided
by the specifications. . Standring et al. [10] after an extensive - Work have
published quite useful data on humidity effect and have proposed certain
correction curves. Prabhakar et al. [4] studied the influence of high humie
dities on impulse flashover voltages of gaps and insulators. The results
indicated a completely different trend at high humidities and it was thus
found necessary to investigate the effect of high humidities and high tempera.
tures on the flashover voltage of insulators and rod gaps.

2.0 EXPERIMENTAL ARRANGEMENT

Experiments were condated in 6 &controlled atmosphere room. Inside

the room the relative humidity could be controlled over the range of 50 to
100 per cent and the temperature from 00 to 500 C. Assman psychrometer
was u§ed for the measurement of absolute humidity of the air inside the
chamber. An additional set of dry and wet bulb thermometer was used
to note the temperature in and around the test gap or insulator. Sufficient
time was allowed so that the conditions at all the sections of the room attained
stability.
The investigations were carried out on (i) sphere gaps using 25 cm
diameter spheres at gap spacings of 50, 75, 100 and 12. 5 cm, (ii) -} inch
square standard rod-rod gaps horizontally mounted at spacings of 25, 40.
50, 60 and 70 ems, (iii) Porcelain insulators pin type 11, 22 and 33 kV,
post type 11 kV and 22 kV from 1 to 3 units, disc type Ii kV from I to 4
discs. The spheres were arranged according to IS. 1876-I 961. The surfaces
were cleaned with alcohol and well polished. The rods of the rod-gap arrange-.
ment were mounted on a 300 cm high pedestal. The pin, post and disc;
insulators were mounted in accordance with IS 2544-1963.
The 50 Hz test voltage was applied by means of a 350 kV, 1,000 kVA
testing transformer. The applied voltage was measured by a r.m.s. meter •

connected to the voltmeter winding provided in the testing transformer, -

The high voltage lead-in to the controlled atmosphere chamber was through -
a 1 cm hole in a double walled 2.5 m square glass window,
 Effect of Humidity on Breakdown Voltages of Gaps and Insulators 483
The overall arrangement view is shown in Fig. 1.

FiG. L - The overall experimental arrangement in the controlled atmosphere room:

(a) testia-p;----(b) high voltage lead; (c) glass window; (d) air duct.

3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The effect of humidity on different gaps and insulators was studied by

varying the humidity, holding the temperature. constant first at 20° C, and
next at 27 3 C. Indian Standards specifications have laid down 27° C as the
standard temperature. Previous to the revision, the standard temperature
was 20° C. Thus, for comparison, results at both the temperatures were
taken. The atmospheric pressure during all the experiments was 680 ± 2 mm
of Hg. Thus while studying the effect of humidity, no corrections for air
density were applied as by so applying, they only change all the results uni-
formly by a constant factor. The range of humidity variation at 20° C was
from 11_ gims to 16 g elm 3 corresponding to 65 per cent to 90 per cent relative
484 EICRAM HUSS1AN et al.

humidity. The same at 27n C was from 13 gim 3 to 25 gim 3 corresponding

to 55 per cent to 90 per cent relative humidity. .

---.-- 20ct constant.

(5 _.t.
----e----27°c constant.
25 cms dic spheres.

S=5,75,10,12-5cms
---/

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12-5cm

160
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80

eiC ii
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Humidity absolute (g/m 3 ) —ow
AG. 2. Effect of humidity on breakdown voltage of sphere gap.

3.1. Humidity effect on sphere-gap breakdown yoltage.—The breakdown

voltages obtained as an average of twenty readings for various humidities
at 20° C and at 27° C are plotted in Fig. 2. The mean value of the break-
down voltage has got a maximum standard deviation of 2.2 kV. The scatter
is more at high humidities. It is observed that the breakdown voltage does
 Effeet of Humidity on Breakdown Voltages of Gaps and Insulators 485
not vary significantly and thus, it may be concluded that variation in humidity
does not affect the breakdown voltage of sphere gaps.
• 3.2. Humidity eject on rod-gap breakdown voltage. The breakdown vol-
tage variation with varying humidities for 250, 400, 500, 600 and 700 mm rod-
280
el i p.-
38
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80

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10 11 12 13 14 10 17
HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE
(gin13 )

FIG. 3. Effect of humidity on breakdown voltage of rod gaps at 20°C.

—Os experimentally obtained data; •• • 0 • data corrected by applying standard humidity
correction.
486 EKRAM HUSSIAN et al.

gap spacings at the two temperatures 20° C and 27° C are shown plotted in
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Mean values were calculated after taking twenty readings
at each spacing and the standard deviation was found to be between 0-66—
2.98 kV.

2:

2(

II 13 IS 17 19 21 23 25 V
HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE (girn)

FIG. 4.Effect of humidity on breakdown voltage of rod gaps at 27'C.

—*-- experimentally obtained data. - • • 0 • • • data corrected by applying standard humdtdity
correction.
 Effect of Humidity on Breakdown Voltages of Gaps and Insulators 481
/ 910 e ta f

ZfA'

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r
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11kV 2216/ 33kV

All dimensions in cms

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HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE Of ni3)

FIG. 5. Effect of humidity on flashover voltage of pin insulators at 20° C;
—• — experimentally obtained data; - • 0 • — data corrected by applying standard humidity
correction.

The results indicate that the breakdown voltage rises almost linearly
with the rise in humidity and the effect is more pronounced at larger spacings.
(1) The effect of humidity on the breakdown voltage of rod-gaps is much
dependent on the gap length. Larger the spacing, higher is the
variation.
488 EKRAM HUSSIAN et al.
P xa. I03 Eas, is ROI
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All dimensions in cms

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I 13 IS Iti 19 21 23 25 27
HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE (c/M 3)

FIG. 6.
Effect of humidity on flashover voltage of pin insulators at 27° C.
—• — experimentally obtained data: • • ci • -• data corrected by applying standard.humidity
correction.

(ii) The effect of humidity is different at different temperatures and thus

if 27° C has to be adopted as the standard temperature, the humidity
correction curve, as given in the standards to refer the breakdown
voltage to 20° C, cannot be used. This can also be concluded from
the corrected lines shown dotted in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.
 Effect of Humidity on Breakdown Voltages of Gaps and Insulators 489
28C

26<
A11 dimensions in cms ' ...
..- --II
o
24(
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is— 8 —41.1 ..,-..,.....„. ...
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----__ __ 11 kV
lunit

609,
10 II 12 13 14 IS 16 17
HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE (g/m 3 )

FIG. 7. Flashover voltage variation with humidity for post insulators at 20 .- C. -

—• — experimental curve; • • • o • corrected curve.

3.3. Effect of humidity on flashover voltages of line and station itts -ut
ithors.— The mean flashover voltages of pin insulators obtained at different
humidities are shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The maximum standard deviation
is 1 .75 kV. From the results, it can be concluded that the rate of rise of
flashover voltage with humidity is less between the relative humidity range
 EKRAM HUSSIAN et al.
490

281
I 1
All dimensions in cms
261
___J _
..a.. 22 kV
N 3units
\
, AA
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rresrii - i -43-....i~.. 11 kV
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All dimensions in cms . ..
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-- - -- r -

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ilk lust
PO 1.
II 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27
HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE (g/m 3)
FIG. 8. Flashover voltage of variation with humidity for post insulators at 27'C.
—•— experimental curve; • • corrected curve.
• • • •

of 65 to 70 per cent at 20° C and 50 to 65 per cent at 27° C. There is a steep

increase of the flashover voltage in the range 70 to 80 per cent relative humidity
or 13 to 15 g/m 3 absolute humidity at 20°C and 17 to 21 g/m 3 at 27 ° C.
 Effect of Humidity on Breakdowa3Voltages. of Gaps and Insulators 401

II
f - ilk
/4 If GAP St19 5 cms
I_
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Ca

220
..-o- -....,,
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<

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unit
.•

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O 10 II 12 - 13 14 15 16 o
HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE (g/m 3)

Tic. 9. Variation of flashover voltage of suspension disc insulator with humidity at 20 ° C.

—•— experimental data; • • - 0 " • corrected curve.

"
.- The results obtained for post insultaors are shown in Fig. 7 and
Fig. 8. Those for standard suspension disc insulators are shown in Fig. 9
and Fig. 10. The trend of these curves are similar to those of pin insu-
lators.
492 EKRAM HUSSIAN et at

28C

4:1
26C - ikk Sz19-5 cms
/4 5 Clef a
L a
240 I— Fe 25 gi •

..0. ae
. Pa' ..
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. o N 4 units
/ ..
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•

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.
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--..... 2 units
0 ...

80
•
1 unit
o -.0

60L
13 15 17 19 21 25 2;
HUMIDITY ABSOLUTE 0/T113) 23

FIG. 10.
Variation of flashover voltage of suspension disc insulator with humidity at 27°C.
—0— experimental data: • – 0 • • - corrected curve.

With the almost similar results obtained for different types of insulators,
it is possible to conclude generally that the variation in the flashover voltage
of insulators with variation in humidity has significantly three regions. The
first region corresponds to a humidity range of upto 65 per cent. In this
range, the characteristics show a constant slope, and are similar to those of
 Effect of Humidity on Breakdown Voltages of Gaps and Insulators 493
the rod-gap. Between 65 per cent and 75 per cent elative humidity range,
the flashover voltage characteristics have larger slope. Insulator shape has
significant effect on the characteristics in this range. At these humidities,
there is better voltage distribution on the surface of the insulators contributing
to the increased flashover voltage. After reaching a maximum between
70-80 per cent, the third region corresponds to the falling characteristics.
Condensation of moisture on the surface is the main cause for the drop in
the flashover voltage.

4.0. CONCLUSIONS

Some general conclusions that can be drawn from this study are as follows :
(1) The effect of humidity on the breakdown voltage of sphere gap
is not significant.

(ii) Rod-gap breakdown voltage increases linearly with the increase

in the humidity.

(iii) Insulator flashover voltages show three different zones—one corres-

ponding to the lower humidity range in which the flashover voltage
increases slowly with the increase in humidity, the second, a small
region, showing a rapid increase, and the third, at very high humi-
dities, showing a fall in flashover voltages.

(iv) The humidity correction factors proposed in the standards are

neither sufficient nor appropriate as seen by the dotted curves
after applying corrections. They need a thorough revision in
view of the flashover voltage of insulators showing different trends
in different humidity ranges. Further work is envisaged at higher
temperatures.

REFERENCES
[1] Fielder, F. D. .. Humidity effect on flashover of high voltage apparatus. The
Electric Journal, 1935, 32, 543-547.
[2] Gerber, O. .. Effect of air humidity on flashover voltage of insulators.
Tire Brown Bored Review, 1948, pp. 296-305.

[3] Fischer, A. .. Influence of humidity on dc and ac breakdown voltage of

air gaps. Electra, 1969, pp. 65-77.

[4] Prabhakar, B. R., Effect of humidity and temperature on impulse flashover

Nandagopal, M. R. and voltage of air gaps. Proc. IEE (GB) 1971, 118 (6),
Gopalakrishna, H. V. 823-824.
494 8KRAM HUSS1AN et at

(5) Allibone, T. E. and Influence of humidity on the breakdown of sphere and rod-
Dring, D. gaps underi nipulsc voltages of short and long wave fronts.
Proc. IEE (GB), 1972, 119(9), 1417-1422,

[6] High Voltage Test Techniques, International Electrotechnical Commission, Publication,

60, 1962

[7] British Standard Specification : 'Specifications for porcelain and toughened glass insulators
for overhead power lines,' 8$. 137: 1960.

[8] Indian Standard Specification : Specifications for porcelain post insulators,' IS: 2544:
1963.

[9] Smee, J. F., and Edwards, Effect of humidity on the dry flashover voltage of air gaps
F. S. and insulators. J. lEE, 1959, p. 594.

[10] Standring, W. G., Effect of humidity on flashover voltage of air gaps and insula-
Browning, IX H., tors under alternating and impulse voltages. Proc. IEE
Hughes, R. C., (GB), 1963, 110 (6), 1077-1081.
and Roberts, W. J.