Abstract
In this study, a method for testing the aging of silicone rubber insulators using terahertz waves in the 0.17–0.22 THz frequency band is proposed, aiming at the problem of online non-destructive testing of the aging degree of composite insulators. The relationship between the aging degree of silicone rubber composite insulators and the relative dielectric constant was studied through first-principles calculations and molecular chain scission models. In addition, the electromagnetic model of the terahertz signal incident on the silicon rubber sheet was simulated and the relationship between the aging degree of the silicon rubber and the terahertz input return loss was obtained. Eleven insulator samples with different degrees of aging were selected. In these samples, the degree of aging was calibrated according to the degree of surface deterioration and the average partial discharge voltage. The terahertz return loss measurement experiment was performed after that. Finally, the results of experiment and calculation simulation were compared and the reliability of the relationship between the aging degree of the silicone rubber insulator and the terahertz input return loss was verified.
Highlights
Silicone rubber composite insulators have excellent pollution flashover resistance, a light weight, and are easy to transport and install
The analysis of the aging principle of methyl vinyl silicone rubber in this study shows that material aging and molecular chain rupture will change the dielectric constant of the material
In order to obtain the relationship between the aging of the silicone rubber insulator and the terahertz input return loss, the molecular simulation calculation of the methyl vinyl silicone rubber was first carried out to study the relationship between the relative permittivity and the molecular chain length
Summary
Silicone rubber composite insulators have excellent pollution flashover resistance, a light weight, and are easy to transport and install. In recent years, these materials have been widely used in insulating high voltage overhead transmission lines and substation equipment [1]. The aging detection of silicone rubber insulators has been an important topic for a long time both at home and abroad Existing methods such as hydrophobicity detection, insulation resistance detection, and leakage current detection all require the insulator to be disassembled and tested offline, which further requires cumbersome operational protocols, causes a heavy workload, and even increases the risk of breaking the continuity of the power grid system
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