Int. Journal of Applied Sciences and Engineering Research, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2012 www.ijaser.

com
2012 by the authors Licensee IJASER- Under Creative Commons License 3.0 editorial@ijaser.com
Research article ISSN 2277 9442

Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high

voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition
Mohammad Bagher Asadpoor, Mohammad Mirzaie
Babol University of Technology, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, P. O. Box 484,
Babol, Iran
doi:10.6088/ijaser.0020101017

Abstract: Satisfactory operation of suspension insulator strings is intimately related to the voltage
distribution of the string. At operational voltage, the voltage distribution along insulator string is affected
by stray capacitances, which causes a non-uniform voltage distribution. In addition, the performance of
insulator changes by the accumulation of environmental pollution over its surface that will deteriorate by
absorption of moisture sharply. In order to explain this dilemma clearly, a full equivalent circuit, which
takes into account the insulator material properties and the stray capacitances, is derived from the Finite
Element Method Based Software, which is implemented in the EMTP-ATP package to calculate the
voltage distribution, power loss and the leakage current, flowing through the string with and without
pollution under power frequency voltage. Finally, the simulation results of voltage distribution have
been compared with experimental results, which were obtained in the High Voltage Laboratory. In
experimental procedure, an attempt to form the pollution on the surface of the insulator has been carried
out. For this investigation the dry pollutant on the insulator surface has been approached according to
IEC60507, which has led to the resistance of pollutants. Then, the voltage distribution of clean and
polluted insulator strings has been measured by sphere gap method.

Keywords: Insulator, Pollution, FEM, EMTP-ATP, Sphere Gap.

Nomenclature
C Capacitance
EMTP-ATP Electromagnetic transient modeling software for power systems- Alternative
transients program
FEM Finite element method
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
Megger Mega ohm meter
Pi Percentage of voltage across the i-insulator unit
Rp Pollution resistance
Ud Breakdown voltage of sphere gap
Uti Applied voltage to the insulator string for i-insulator
Electric charge density
Dielectric constant

1. Introduction
Insulators capability to insulate the power lines as well as their function in bearing the weight of
the line conductor, makes it to be of significant importance in the overhead transmission lines. The
knowledge of the voltage distribution and electric field within and around high voltage insulators is of
165
*Corresponding author (e-mail: mirzaie@nit.ac.ir)
Received on, Feb, 2012; Accepted on Feb. 2012; Published on Feb 24, 2012
Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

paramount importance for the engineer involved in the design of power lines insulation. For instance,
voltage distribution is helpful for the detection of punctured insulators in the string. Corona, radio/TV
interference and premature aging of insulation are the results of high level electric fields. Ideally, the
potential distribution along the insulator string should be uniform. The capacitance of each insulator can
be determined approximately by the geometry and permittivity of each consisting element, while
neglecting the impact of stray fields. However, for a more accurate computation of the potential
distribution, a finite-element package is required to compute the insulator string capacitances (including
stray capacitances).
Contamination level and the design of the fittings, conductors and tower are eminent facts that
influence the voltage distribution over an insulator string. The line insulators are often covered with
contaminations, especially in industrial and coastal regions due to the long time exposure in the air. In a
condition of high humidity, the salt in the contamination will be dissolved by the moisture because of
rain, fog or dew. Therefore, the conductivity of the surface pollution increases, leading to a possible
flashover accident.
To compute the electric fields and potentials along a polluted insulator, numerous methods have
been used such as boundary element method (QueW, 2002; Rasolonjanahary, 1992), finite difference
method (Morales et al, 2001) and finite element method (Asenjo, 1997; Ashouri et al, 2010; Faisal,
2011). Potential distribution along a suspension insulator string have been determined by FEM
(Kontargyri et al, 2005) and theoretical model which considered the contamination effect in (Dhalaan
2003 a; Dhalaan 2003 b). In experimental part, reference (Pattanadech, 2004) have been measured the
voltage distribution along three insulators string by sphere gaps method. Also, this method is used as a
reliable method in (Kontargyri et al, 2005) to calculate the voltage distribution on glass insulator string.
However, no remarkable endeavor regarding the polluted condition and its impacts upon the voltage
distribution in test procedure has been made so far.
In the present paper, a full electric circuit of insulator string, considering the insulation geometry,
permittivity and stray capacitances, which were derived from a FEM-based software, have been
presented. The circuit was simulated in ATP-EMTP in order to calculate the voltage distribution and
leakage current following throw the string under various pollution levels. To verify the simulation results,
insulators are subjected to the pollution of different severity, according to IEC 60507 and the simulation
results of voltage distribution for clean and polluted insulators, have been compared with experimental
results using sphere gap method which have an acceptable accordance.

2. Simulation process in FEM-based software

2.1. FEM procedure
In electrostatic field problem for isotropic, linear and equalizing dielectric, potential v can be
determined according to the Poisson equation :

2v = (1)

The finite element method is one of numerical process based on the variation approach and has been
widely used in electric and magnetic field analyses which have illustrated widely in (He et al, 2009). In this
investigation electrostatic problem should be solved to compute the voltage distribution of insulator string.
The boundary problem of the electrostatic field, by supposing that the domain under consideration does not
contain any space and surface charges, is turned to evaluate the functional equation:

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Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

1 v 2 v
2
v
2
F(v) = x + y + z dxdydz
D z
(2)

2 x y

In case of isotropic material, dielectric constant distribution is ( x = y = z = ).

Whole domains of the solution divide into many triangles, which equation (2) must be applied to
them. The calculation of the electric potential at every knot in the total network composed of many

triangle elements was carried out by minimizing the functional F(v) , that is,

F(vi )
=0 ; i = 1,2,3,....n (3)
vi
Where n is the total number of knots in the solution region.

2.2. Insulator string simulation

In this study, disk shaped porcelain insulator was selected to simulate potential distributions. The
basic design of this insulator is as follows; porcelainc with the relative dielectric constant of 6, attached
with two alumina with 14 dielectric constant, used as fixing material to the cap and pin. Surrounding of
the insulator string is air having relative dielectric constant 1.0. Also, the numbers of cap and pin type
insulators, in the string are 13 units which are used for 230 kV overhead transmission lines. The
geometrical characteristics of each insulator unit are depicted in figure 1.

Figure 1: Profile of a cap and pin insulator

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Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

2.3 Calculation of the equivalence circuit parameters for insulator string

Experimental investigating the behavior of an insulator, we can see that, when it is clean and has no
pollution on its surface, there is practically no leakage and the insulator behaves as a capacitor. As
pollution is deposited on the insulator surface, without humidity, it behaves as a capacitance in parallel
with a high resistance. When, the humidity level of the pollution on the insulator surface rises because of,
for instance, hoar-frost, mist, drizzle, and frost, and then an electrolytic solution is formed. This results
in reduction of insulator pollution resistance, leading to the development of leakage current. The
equivalent circuit of a polluted insulator is shown in Figure 2, where C and Rp are the capacitance and
pollution resistance of the insulator, respectively.

Figure 2: Simplified equivalent circuit of a polluted insulator

For the simulation of insulator string in different pollution condition, equivalent circuit parameters
shall be determined. In order to calculate the self capacitance of each insulator unit and stray
capacitances between caps and ground, caps and energized conductor and also each insulator cap and
other caps, the insulator string structure is drawn in a FEM-based software. The complete part of a
transmission line; including insulator string, tower and conductor and its equivalent circuit are shown in
Figure 3.

a. b.
Figure 3 a. Complete structure of insulator string in FEM-based software b. Equivalent electric circuit

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Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

First, the voltage and field stress distributions on the insulator string were computed. Then
computed electric field values are used to obtain the electrical energy (We) stored in various parts of the
model. These energies values combine with the computed potentials (V) to allow determination of the
various capacitances of the equivalent circuit. It should be mentioned that, pollution level for all of the

insulators in the string are the same ( Rp = Rp = ... = Rp ). In addition, the pollution resistances are
1 2
measured by Megger test that will be represented in the next section.

2.4 Measuring the insulator resistance in different pollution levels

In order to measure the insulator resistance, the Megger test has been conducted. Relative humidity
during the test was 45-50% (ambient humidity) which provides a dry pollution on insulator surface.

2.5 Insulators contamination

In order to artificially contaminate the surface of insulators, solid layer method has been chosen
(IEC 60507, 1991). This method can produce an approximately uniform contamination layer and can
also be performed rapidly, so that the results will be satisfying. To prepare the contamination solution,
according to the IEC 60507, some kaolin and salt was poured in one liter distilled water and have
sprayed on insulators surface. The amount of salt has a direct effect on the electrical conductance of
contamination slurry, so three different types of solutions was prepared to contaminate the insulators in
different stages of pollution based on Table 1. In the next stage, insulators were suspended vertically to
dry out. Figure 4 shows a contaminated insulator.

Table 1: Electrical conductance and ESDD in 20 oC

Measured electrical
Kaolin /Salt Pollution
Ins. No. Conductance in 20oC Salinity (Sa) ESDD
(gr/lit) level
(S/m)
1 40/10 0.0168 0.089 0.028 Light

2 40/10 0.0155 0.082 0.026 Light

3 40/10 0.0144 0.076 0.024 Light

1 40/40 0.0885 0.494 0.156 Moderate

2 40/40 0.0845 0.471 0.149 Moderate

3 40/40 0.0989 0.554 0.175 Moderate

1 40/70 0.198 1.133 0.358 Heavy

2 40/70 0.181 1.031 0.326 Heavy

3 40/70 0.212 1.215 0.384 Heavy

2.6 Data measurement

In order to measure the conductance of pollution layer for each insulator the value of the leakage
current was recorded in thirty minutes by Megger. For every pollution level three insulators have been

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Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

tested, that the average resistance of them are shown in Figure 5. As it mentioned, the higher pollution
degree exist, the lower pollution resistance occurred. For the simulation, the average value of resistance
in thirtieth minute has been considered.

Figure 4: Contaminated insulator.

4
x 10
7 800
4000 2000
6 750
In su la to r R esista n ce (M o h m )

In su la to r R esista n ce (M o h m )

In su la to r R esista n ce (M o h m )

In su la to r R esista n ce (M o h m )
5 3500 1750 700

4 650
3000
1500
3 600

2 2500 550
1250

1 500
2000
1000
0 450
0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30
Time (min) Time (min) Time (min) Time (min)

a. b. c. d.
Figure 5 Average resistance of Polluted Insulators a. Without pollution b. Moderate pollution c. Light
pollution d. Heavy pollution

3. Simulation results
Since getting the leakage current throw insulator string and lower running time, ATP-EMTP has
been used. The lumped equivalence circuit in Figure 3.b is running in ATP-EMTP and results have been
obtained.
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Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

3.1 Performance of insulator string under clean condition

Figure 6 demonstrates the voltage distribution of insulator string under clean condition. The first
insulator unit in this simulation is placed near the tower and the thirteenth is placed near the energized
conductor. Due to the stray capacitances existing between the discs, conductor and ground, the
distribution of the voltage along the string is not uniform, and the discs around the conductor being more
highly stressed. So the rate of puncture of these insulators is more reported in transmission lines. Also,
the leakage current in this condition is capacitive and its value is very low. The amplitude of the leakage
current is 0.5923 mA.

20
18
Voltage distribution (%)

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Insulator number
Figure 6: Voltage distribution along insulator string under clean condition

3.2 Performance of insulator string under different pollution condition

To investigate the performance of insulator string under pollution condition, as it mentioned, a
resistance with higher value is paralleled with each unit. In Figure 7, voltage distribution of insulator
string in different pollution levels has been represented. As it can be depicted, any significant changes
havent occurred on voltage distribution, since the value of pollution resistance under dry condition isnt
considerable in comparison with the impedance of each unit. The same conclusion can be getting for
leakage current, as is represented in Table. 2. In addition string loss for different pollution levels are
shown in this table.
Table 2: Maximum leakage current passing through insulator string with different pollution levels and
string loss
Pollution level Maximum leakage current (mA) String loss (Watt)
Without pollution 0.5923 0.031
Light pollution 0.5923 0.463
Moderate pollution 0.5924 0.925
Heavy pollution 0.5934 2.467

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Int. Journal of Applied Sciences and Engineering Research, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2012
Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

20 Without pollution
Light pollution
Moderate pollution

Voltage distribution (%)

Heavy pollution
15

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Insulator number
Figure 7: Voltage distribution along insulator string with different pollution levels

4. Experimental procedure
To measure the voltage distribution of an insulator string, sphere gap method has been used in this
paper. The required facilities for the test are shown in Figure 8.

Self HV Electrostatic
Transformer Transformer voltmeter

220 v 0-220 v V1 0-100 kv

Figure 8: Experimental set-up used to measure of the voltage distribution

The voltage is measured by using an electrostatic voltmeter, measuring the high voltage in the
secondary part of the transformer (IEC 60060-1, 1989). Distance between two spheres is fixed during
the voltage measurement. The sphere gap is installed parallel with each insulator. The capacitance of the
sphere gap is very small compared to the capacitance of the insulator, so it can be neglected. The applied
voltage to the insulator string is up turned until the spark over of the sphere gap at the critical voltage
(Ud) occurred. Ten tests for each of the insulators has been carried out to obtain the accurate results and
the average of them have been considered as Ut. Then the percentage of voltage across the i-insulator
unit Pi , is calculated by:
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Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

Ud
Pi = 100% (4)
U ti
By moving the sphere gap along the insulator string, rate Pi for every insulator will achieve until
thirteenth. Ut for each insulator varies, since the existence of stray capacitances between the cap and pin
of the insulators, tower and conductor. Totally, the critical voltage of the sphere gap is calculated by the
equation:
13 13
1
Pi = Ud
i =1 i =1 U ti
=1 (5)

As a result, by calculating Ud, the voltage percentage of each insulator will obtain. The
experimental and simulation results for clean and dry insulator string are shown in Figure 9.

20 Simulation Results
18 Exprimental Results
Voltage distribution (%)

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Insulator number
Figure 9: Comparison between simulation and the experimental results for clean and dry insulator string

20 Simulation Results
18 Exprimental Results
Voltage distribution (%)

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Insulator number

Figure 10 Comparison between simulation and the experimental results for heavy pollution level

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Simulation and measurement of the voltage distribution on high voltage suspension Porcelain insulator string under pollution
condition

It shows that there should be more consideration to the insulators near the conductor in
comparison with other insulators in the string. As it can be seen, there is an acceptable concord between
the results. In this comparison the root mean square and maximum value of errors for all units are 2.7
and 5. Also all of the insulators in the string are contaminated according to the IEC60507 and suspended
in the chamber. The same experimental procedure for voltage measurement is conducted in the ambient
humidity and heavy pollution level and results are shown in figure 10. The experimental results admit
the simulation ones that show, dry pollution doesnt affect the voltage distribution of the string.

5. Conclusion
In this work, a full electric circuit of insulator string, which takes into account the insulator material
properties and the stray capacitances, was derived. The capacitances values are calculated using a
finite-element package. The circuit was implemented in the EMTP-ATP package in order to simulate the
voltage distribution and the leakage currents flowing through the insulator string under various scenarios
of pollution. Also, indoor laboratory experiments for the investigation of pollution severity on potential
distribution along a 230 kV I-string insulator have been carried out in low humidity that made a dry
pollution on insulator surface. A very satisfactory agreement has been ascertained when comparing
experimental results with results from simulations. The results show the voltage distribution and leakage
current on pollution condition didnt change remarkably in comparison with the clean condition. As can
be concluded, when pollution level increased to heavy, the electric potential over the unit nearest to the
line conductor decreased from 19.98 % to 19.9 %, which had a reduction of about 0.4%. Although
power loss on insulator string in clean and pollution condition is very low, it changes from 0.031 W in
clean condition to 2.467 W in heavy pollution condition.

6 References
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polluted insulators by means of the finite element method, IEEE Transactions on
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Porcelain Suspension Insulators Based on Finite Element Method, Electric Power
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condition

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