Electric Field Distribution and AC Breakdown Characteristics of Polluted Novel Lightning Protection Insulator under Icing Conditions

Jiazheng Lu,Zhijin Zhang,Zhen Fang,Jianping Hu,Xinhan Qiao

doi:10.3390/en14227493

Jiazheng Lu, Zhijin Zhang + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227493

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Abstract

As a result of lightning strikes, pollution, and ice, overhead distribution wires might be short-circuited and trip. As a result, researchers have developed a new lightning protection composite insulator. There is still a need to test its pollution and icing performance. Based on the finite element and field test method, this paper studies the electric field distribution and AC (Alternating Current) breakdown characteristics of polluted novel lightning protection insulators under icing conditions. Firstly, the finite element calculated results show that this novel insulator’s electric field distribution is different from that of a conventional insulator. The locations with sizeable electric fields are located in the insulation section, and the electric field in the arrester section is tiny. In addition, when the insulator surface is covered with ice, there is an increase in the electric field along the surface and pin electrodes. Compared with the dry conditions, when there is an ice layer and icicle, electric field peaks increase by 48.85% and 46.08%, respectively. Secondly, the test results show that there are three types of arc paths in different pollution levels. The arc paths are related to ESDD (equivalent salt deposit density) under icing conditions. Uf shows a downward trend with increased pollution levels, and the maximum flashover voltage is 2.70 times more than the minimum. Finally, four fitting methods are proposed in this paper. After comparing the goodness of fit of different functions, the quadratic function and negative power function with the constant term are recommended as empirical formulas for calculating flashover voltage of novel insulators under icing conditions in different pollution levels. The research results of this paper have a specific guiding role for the selection of the external insulation of transmission lines and structural optimization of novel insulators.

Highlights

As a result of lightning strikes, pollution, and ice, overhead distribution wires might be short-circuited and trip [1]
The above literature does not consider AC breakdown characteristics of polluted novel lightning protection insulators under icing conditions
This paper studies the electric field distribution and AC breakdown characteristics of polluted novel lightning protection insulators under icing conditions, based on the finite element and field test method

Summary

Introduction

As a result of lightning strikes, pollution, and ice, overhead distribution wires might be short-circuited and trip [1]. Researchers have developed a new lightning protection composite insulator [2,3]. Lightning accidents can be avoided by using the new insulator. In practical use, it can replace ordinary insulators and lightning arresters at the same time. Large-scale power outages caused by pollution-induced flashover accidents might harm social–economic growth [4,5,6]. As a unique form of pollution, the harm of insulator surface icing to the power systems is prominent [7,8,9]

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Conclusion