Investigations of Accelerated Aged Polymeric Insulators Using Partial Discharge Signal Measurement and Analysis

Abstract

Reduction in pollution performance of polymeric insulators, aged due to water absorption stress and thermal stress, is a major threat to the reliable operation of power transmission and distribution system. Formation of partial discharges on the surface of wet polluted insulator plays a major role in determining the life time and pollution performance of outdoor polymeric insulators. However, reports on partial discharge characteristics of water absorption stress aged and thermal aged polymeric insulators are scanty. This paper discusses the pollution performance characteristics of accelerated aged polymeric insulators using the advanced ultra wide band PD signal measurement and analysis. Laboratory experiments on accelerated aged polymeric insulators were carried out as per IEC 60507 under AC voltage, at different humidity and contamination levels using NaCl as a contaminant. PRPD pattern and Time-Frequency map analysis of PD signals were carried out. From the results, it can be speculated that PD analysis is a well suited technique to understand the pollution performance of aged polymeric insulators.