Electric field computation in presence of water droplets on a polymeric insulating surface

Abstract

In this paper electric field enhancement factor has been computed due to presence of different volumes of single as well as multiple water droplets on a polymeric insulating surface. Outdoor polymeric insulators are exposed to different environmental conditions like rain, fog, salted fog etc. Hence the formation of discrete water droplets on the surface are very common. These water droplets cause the electric field enhancements at the triple points (interfacial point of three dielectric mediums i.e. solid, liquid and air) which may lead to external partial discharge or even flashover. Hence, in this contribution, the electric field computation has been performed due to presence of discrete water droplets using Finite Element Method under tangential AC electric field. To overcome the singularity problem of calculating electric field at the triple points, a different method of field calculation have been presented in this contribution which may provide better understanding of the electric field distribution in presence of water droplets on a insulating surface.