Partial discharge diagnosis of ceramic pin insulators case study in a medium voltage feeder

Abstract

Due to direct contact with the customers, power distribution networks are widespread and their medium voltage (MV) feeders are so long. Network extension, increases the number of insulators. Pin ceramic insulators or two-piece (TP) insulators cause numerous difficulties for the operation of the distribution network. Expansion and contraction of cementitious material between two pieces of insulators, poor quality of production and improper weather condition create some defects in insulating part of these insulators. In this paper, ultrasonic diagnosis method based on monitoring of pin ceramic insulators partial discharge (PD) signals have been studied and the insulator leakage losses have been calculated for a MV feeders called Khanloq as a feeder of North Khorasan Electrical Distribution Company (NKEDC), in Iran as a case study.