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SUMMARY
This paper presents the result of investigation made KEYWORDS: Composite Insulator, Shed, Sheath, End
on composite insulators used for the power fittings, Creepage distance
distribution systems.
In the first step of this research, Composite
Insulators were thoroughly designed according to the
existing standards. Afterwards a manufacturing
technique was selected according to the mentioned
design features and different insulator’s components
such as sheds, housing, and the end-fittings were
made. The sheds were installed on the housing with
the help of primer and external pressure, the end-
fittings were then fixed at both ends by the sewage
process.
A special manufacturing technique was selected due
to its overall advantages over the common methods:
the ability to manufacture composite insulators with
the minimum amount of waste and to produce the
sheds for a range of power distribution levels with
only one mold.
For the manufactured insulators to be safely applied
to the power distribution lines in such harsh
environments as southern and northern parts of Iran,
where all influential parameters exist, including high
relative humidity, temperature, and high levels of
pollution (mainly salt deposit), they must have
successfully passed the series of tests specified by
the standards.
The insulators were therefore subjected to all
necessary tests and their results were compared to
those obtained from other insulators. Satisfactory
performance of the manufactured composite
insulators were indicated.
AN INVESTIGATION ON COMPOSITE INSULATORS; DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING
certain advantages to the chosen technique over the primer is sprayed evenly on the surface. The primer is
others including minimum waste and the ability to used to ensure complete bonding between the silicone
manufacture insulators for various levels of rubber sheath and the composite rod. The sheath has
distributions with one mould. the exact same formulation as the sheds and thus the
same manufacturing method has been exploited.
1st- Rod Manufacturing
4th- End fitting Manufacturing
The rod of a composite insulator is made up of two
phases: the matrix and the reinforcing fibers. The The end-fittings are made by forging and machining
matrix is an epoxy resin and the fiber is usually E-glass, according to the plan. Since the fittings are joined to
The fibers are situated lengthwise so as to make a the composite rod, in order to achieve optimum
unidirectional composite. The composite is generally bonding between the rod and the fittings, an adhesive
made by pultrusion in order to achieve the 70-75 has been used along with the application of pressure
%fiber weight fraction. (swage).
The inner surface of the fittings has been formed with
2nd- Shed manufacturing fine protrusions to increase the contact surface between
the rod and the adhesive and thus enhance the bond
The sheds are made by the compression molding of quality.
HTV silicone rubber. The rubber is first mixed with a It has been observed that under the same pressure, the
certain amount of fillers, including ATH 25-60%wt, tensile strength of the insulator was increased by 15%
using a Banbury mixer, the curing agent (dcp) is then due to these protrusions.
added to the compound on the Two roll-mill and is
compounded for about 15 minutes to obtain a 5th- Components assembly
homogenous mix.
A certain amount of the compound is later placed in the First, the sheds are placed on predetermined positions
preheated mould and the mould is placed under the hot with calculated distances on the housing, using a proper
press. Mould temperature and the stay time of material adhesive. Then the whole part is cured in the oven
under the press is optimized by the data obtained from at
the Rheometer. 200-210°C for 2-4 hr. Afterwards the fittings are joined
to both ends with the process mentioned before. To
3rd- Sheath Manufacturing prevent moisture diffusion into the rod, the gap
between the rod and the fittings is completely sealed
One of the most established methods for applying the (using silicone as sealant) and after 24 hr the insulator
sheath on the rod, is extrusion. In the present work, is ready to be tested.
Compression moulding has been used. In this method
the surface of the rod is treated prior to the application
of sheath. The surface is first roughened and then the
Table 2- The results of electrical tests of NRI Insulators
Level 17.5 kv Level 24 kv Level 72.5(63)kv
Test Reference: IEC 383(1983)
Standard Test result standard Test result Standard Test result
Dry Lightning Impulse withstand voltage test
+ 75 114 125 187 325 362
(P )
Dry power frequency withstand
voltage Test 38 71.1 50 94 140 >192
The electrical tests were carried out first on the The mechanical test procedures are based on IEC 1109
manufactured insulators and the mechanical tests standard. Six complete insulators have been prepared .
followed. The first three samples were tested under load, the
fracture occurred after about 1 minute (SML). In the
1st- The Main Electrical tests next step , a load equal to 0.7 of the obtained load from
the previous step was applied to the other three samples
These tests were carried out on both the individual for 96 hr.
components and on the complete insulator. Only those No fracture occurred, which means that the line slope
tests that were performed on the complete insulator, are was lower than 8% and the result was successful.
mentioned here.
(a)
(b)
Fig 2 – The Moulds of (a) the Shed and (b) the Sheath
Fig 1-Assumed cross sectional view of the insulator