Design of Corona Mitigation Device and Application
of ZnO Microvaristor on 66kV Insulators by Finite
Element Method
M.NageswaraRao N.Sumathi
EEE Department EEE Department
UCEK, JNTUK UCEK, JNTUK
Kakinada, India Kakinada, India
nagjntuk@gmail.com eeesuma@gmail.com
Abstract—Insulators play a vital role in electrical power system.
Due to continuous energisation and presence of various
pollutions in the atmosphere, electrical stresses on the surface of
the insulator are becoming high. Insulators will degrade and fail
due to presence of these higher electrical stresses on its surface.
Electrical stresses can be minimized with the placement of corona
rings at end fittings. As per IEC standards corona rings need to
be preferred for above 220kV insulators only. But below 220kV
transmission line insulators like 66kV and 132kV are also
degrading due to high pollution contaminations and high
electrical stresses. Most of the utility companies in India are
recommending corona rings for 66kV and 132kV insulators. But
electrical stresses can also be minimized with usage of
microvaristor component on the surface of the insulator. In this
paper, with the help of FEMM 2D software package corona rings
are designed for 66kV ceramic and polymer insulators and
electric field was analyzed by finite element method. Application
of ZnO microvaristor on the surface of the polymer insulator was
evaluated and results are compared between with and without
microvaristor. Results proved that insulators with ZnO
microvaristor give better field results.
IndexTerms— Ceramic Insulators, Polymer Insulators
Microvaristor, Corona ring, Finite Element Method (FEM).
INTRODUCTION
Conventional ceramic insulators in transmission and sub
transmission system are being replaced with non-ceramic or
polymer insulators due their advantages like better pollution
withstand capacity, light weight and hydrophobicity property
etc., Electric field distribution on the surface of the insulator
affects both short term and long term performance. Unequal
distributions of electric field, high voltage side insulator disc or
shed will experiences higher electrical stresses. Under long run
insulator may fail due to these stresses. These types of
interruptions will degrade the transmission system
performance. Hence more concentration is required to
minimize these electrical stresses. In case of ceramic insulator
first disc at the high voltage end can be replaced but for
polymer insulators it is not possible. Polymer insulator is a
composite structure, hence sheds cannot be replaced. Frequent
changing of discs is also not recommended. [1]. Hence more
concentration is required to minimize the electrical stresses.
V.S.N.K.Chaitanya Abdul Azees
EEE Department EEE Department
UCEK, JNTUK UCEK, JNTUK
Kakinada, India Kakinada, India
chaitu824@gmail.com abdul.azees6@gmail.com
Electric field distribution on the surface of the insulator can
be measured by experimental methods, analytical methods and
numerical methods. Experimental evaluation is not a cost
effective method. Hence numerical analysis methods like
Finite element method, Boundary element method and charge
simulation methods etc., gives accurate electric field results
compared to analytical methods [2-3].
Using boundary element method Electric Field Analysis
(EFA) was carried out on 400kV polymer insulators. The field
results are very less compared to EPRI standard values
[4].Some of the researchers had done electric field analysis for
500 kV HVDC insulator under dry and wet conditions. These
results helped in optimizing the corona ring. HVAC insulators
are analyzed with the help of charge simulation method [5-6].
For different altitude sites EFA has carried for high voltage
ceramic and non-ceramic insulators. Some of the research
scholars have studied aging of the insulators based on surface
characterization techniques [7-9]. Most of the EFA results are
recommending corona ring for minimization of electrical
stresses. As per IEC standards corona ring is mandatory for
above 220kV insulators. But presence of heavy pollutions in
the atmosphere electrical stresses on 66kV and 132kV
insulators also increases [10-13]. Most of the electrical utility
companies in India are recommending corona ring for 66kV
and 132kV insulators. This problem will overcome by, usage
of microvaristor component on the surface of the insulator.
In this paper, using Finite Element Method (FEM) electric
field analysis was carried out on 66kV ceramic and polymer
insulators. Corona rings are designed and EFA results are
compared. Zinc Oxide (ZnO) microvaristor application on
polymer insulator is evaluated and results are compared.
CORONA RING DESIGN FOR 66KV INSULATOR
Electric field analysis and corona rings are designed for both
ceramic and polymer insulators with the help of FEMM 2D
software package. This software package gives field results
based on finite element method.
a. Ceramic Insulators:
Before designing the insulators geometrical configurations
of the insulator are taken and tabulated in Table. I. Electric
Field Analysis (EFA) is carryout for both cases (ie., with and
without corona ring).
TABLE. I GEOMETRICAL CONFIGURATIONS-CERAMIC INSULATOR
S.No Particulars Dimension
1 Sectional length (mm)
2 Dry arcing distance (mm)
assigned as a surrounding medium. After assigning boundary
elements 2D triangular elements are generated throughout the
model. This 2D triangular element gives field results at each
every point of the insulator.Insulator model with 2D triangular
meshes are shown in Fig.2. By running the model electric field
results are taken at critical regions of the insulator. EFA results
are tabulated in Table III.
882
TABLE. III EFA RESULTS-CERAMIC INSULATOR WITHOUT RING
795

3 Creepage distance (mm) 1090 Max. Electric field

S.No Critical Regions
(kV/mm)
4 Disc diameter (mm) 256

5 Number of discs 04 1 Creepage Distance 0.680

6 Distance between two discs (mm) 130 2 Arcing Distance 7.420

i. EFA -without corona ring: 3 First disc (HV side) 0.283

As per the geometrical configurations, insulator is designed
by using FEMM 2D package. After designing, insulator
materials like ceramic, steel and cement are assigned to the
model with the help of relative permittivity values. Insulator
design and their material properties are given in Fig.1 and
Table II.
TABLE. II M ATERIAL PROPERTIES-CERAMIC INSULATOR
S.No Materials Relative Permittivity
ii. EFA- with corona ring:
For the above model corona rings are designed and added
to the model at the high voltage end. Corona ring was designed
for two diameters (ie, 130mm and 90mm) as shown in Fig.3
and Fig.4. Corona ring material was assigned as aluminum
with a relative permeability value of 3. Above procedure is
repeated for both diameters of the insulator models and EFA
results are tabulated at the critical regions of the insulator.
Results are tabulated in Table IV.

1 Ceramic 5.9 TABLE. IV EFA R ESULTS-C ERAMIC INSULATOR WITH RING

2 Cement 19.6 Max. Electric field
(kV/mm)
3 Steel 1 S.No Particulars
130mm 90mm
4 Air 1 diameter diameter
1 Creepage Distance 0.541 0.511

2 Arcing distance 0.030 0.064

3 First disc (HV Side) 0.081 0.081

Fig.1 Ceramic Insulator Fig.2 2D Triangular meshes

After assigning material properties to the insulator model

line to ground voltage (ie. 72.5/√3=42kV) is applied to HV end
of the insulator and zero volts are applied to ground end. Air is Fig.3 130mm Diameter Corona ring Fig.4 90mm Diameter Corona ring
b. Polymer Insulators: After assigning material properties to the insulator model
Before designing the insulators geometrical configurations line to ground voltage (ie. 72.5/√3=42kV) is applied to HV end
of the insulator are taken and tabulated in Table. V. Electric of the insulator and zero volts are applied to ground end. Air is
Field Analysis (EFA) is carryout for both cases (ie., with assigned as a surrounding medium. After assigning boundary
without corona ring). elements 2D triangular elements are generated throughout the
model. Insulator model with 2D triangular meshes are shown
TABLE. V GEOMETRICAL CONFIGURATIONS-POLYMER INSULATOR in Fig.6. By running the model electric field results are taken at
critical regions of the insulator. Results are tabulated in Table
S.No Particulars Dimensions VII.
1 Section length (mm) 880
TABLE. VII EFA RESULTS-POLYMER INSULATOR WITHOUT RING
2 Arcing Distance (mm) 795
3 Creepage Distance (mm) 3020 Max. Electric field
S.No Particulars
(kV/mm)
4 Number of bigger sheds 15
5 Number of smaller sheds 14 1 Creepage Distance 0.034

6 Core diameter (mm) 26 2 Arcing Distance 0.041

7 Pitch (mm) 52.5 3 First shed 0.035

4 Inside FRP 0.125
i.EFA-without corona ring:
5 Inside Silicone rubber 0.036
As per the geometrical configurations, insulator is designed
by using FEMM 2D package. After designing, insulator ii.EFA- with corona ring:
materials like polymer, FRP and steel are assigned to the
For the above model corona rings are designed and added
model with the help of relative permittivity values. Insulator
to the model at the high voltage end. Corona ring was designed
design and their material properties are given in Fig.5 and
for two diameters (ie, 130mm and 90mm) as shown in Fig.7
Table VI.
and Fig.8.
TABLE.VI MATERIAL PROPERTIES-POLYMER INSULATOR

Relative
S.No Materials
Permittivity
1 Silicone Rubber 3
2 FRP Rod 5
3 Steel 1
4 Air 1

Fig.7 130mm Diameter Corona ring Fig.8 90mm Diameter Corona ring

Corona ring material was assigned as aluminum with a

Fig.5Polymer Insulator
relative permeability value of 3. Above procedure is repeated
for both diameters of the insulator and EFA results are
tabulated at the critical regions of the insulator. Results are
tabulated in Table VIII. By comparing EFA results for ceramic
and polymer insulators with and without corona rings, polymer
insulators has less electrical stresses compared to ceramic
insulators and usage of corona rings minimized electric fields
Fig.6 2D Triangular meshes stresses.
 TABLE. VIII EFA RESULTS-POLYMER INSULATOR WITH RING EFA RESULTS COMPARISON
Max. Electric field EFA results are compared between with and without
(kV/mm)
S.No Particulars
130mm 90mm
microvaristor. Comparative results are shown in Fig.10.
diameter diameter
1 Creepage Distance 0.032 0.033
2 Arcing distance 0.049 0.056
3 First shed 0.032 0.033
4 Inside FRP 0.095 0.034
5 Inside Silicone rubber 0.035 0.036

ZNO MICROVARISTOR APPLICATION ON POLYMER

INSULATOR
Corona rings will minimize the electrical stresses and helps
for uniform distribution of electric field. But as per latest IEC
standards corona rings are mandatory for above 220kV (a)
insulators. But 66kV and 132kV insulators also fail due to the
presence of heavy pollution in the atmosphere. This problem
can be overcome by usage of microvaristor component.
Microvaristor component is an electrical grading material
which minimizes the electrical stresses. In this paper, ZnO
microvaristor component is used for minimization of electrical
stresses. For the above 66kV polymer insulator model without
grading ring a layer of 1mm thickness is designed throughout
the insulator rubber housing and weathersheds. ZnO
microvaristor material is assigned to the layer with the relative
permeability as 12 [10]. Insulator design with ZnO
microvaristor was shown in Fig.9.
(b)

(c)
Fig.9 Polymer Insulator with ZnO microvaristor Component

Electric field analysis is carried out by applying line to ground

voltage (72.5/√3=42kV) and generating 2D triangular
elements. EFA results are tabulated in Table IX.

TABLE. IX EFA RESULTS-POLYMER INSULATOR WITH MICROVARISTOR

Max. Electric field

S.No Particulars
(kV/mm)
1 Creepage Distance 0.030
2 Arcing distance 0.040
3 First shed 0.030
4 Inside FRP 0.125
5 Inside SiR 0.036 (d)

(e)
Fig.10 EFA Results Comparison
Maximum electrical stresses will occur on the surface of
the polymer insulator housing and weathersheds. Hence ZnO
microvaristor is added on the surface of the insulator. By
comparative results, insulators with ZnO microvaristor have
very less electrical stresses on its surface (creepage distance -
along the surface of the insulator, leakage distance-shortest
distance between two metal fittings and first shed -on HV
side). With usage of microvaristor application, electrical
stresses at creepage distance, arcing distance and first shed are
reduced by 10.3%, 1.2% and 14% respectively. In case of
Inside FRP and inside silicone rubber electrical stresses are
constant. EFA results proved that microvaristor application is
the best solution for minimization of electrical stresses.
CONCLUSION
Insulators will degrade and fails due to presence of higher
electrical stresses on its surface. In this paper electrical stresses
are minimized for both ceramic and polymer insulators with
the placement of corona rings at the HV end. But as per IEC
standard corona ring is mandatory for insulators above 220kV.
Due to the presence of heavy pollution in the atmosphere 66kV
and 132kV insulators are degrading. This problem is overcome
by microvaristor application on the surface of the insulator. In
this paper EFA was carried out on polymer insulator with and
without microvaristor application and results are compared.
With the application of microvaristor, electrical stresses at
creepage distance, arcing distance and first shed are reduced
by 10.3%, 1.2% and 14% respectively. Comparative results
proved that, microvaristor application is the best solution for
minimization of electrical stresses.
Acknowledgment
We acknowledge our gratitude to University College of
Engineering, JNTU Kakinada for their support in completion
of this work.
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