Abstract
This paper describes the identification of a common mold (i.e., fungus) growing on Nonceramic Insulators (NCI) in service, and analyzes its impact on the electrical performance. The insulators evaluated were line posts removed from a 138 kV transmission line serving the interior (away from the coast) regions in Florida. The insulators had housings made from different types of Silicone Rubber (SR) and Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) polymer families. Electrical tests performed include surface resistance measurements and determination of Contamination Withstand Capability (CWC) using the clean-fog procedure. Changes in the CWC were correlated to material changes by using micro-Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) analysis and surface resistance measurements. It was concluded that the mold growth is dependent on material formulation and outdoor environment. On SR insulators that exhibited mold growth, there was a reduction in the CWC when compared to the same insulator without the mold; however, even the reduced level of CWC was superior to that obtained on similarly rated EPR and porcelain insulators without any visible mold growth. Lastly, simple methods to remove the mold from the insulators are listed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the IEEE Power Engineering Society Transmission and Distribution Conference |
| Place of Publication | Piscataway, NJ, United States |
| Publisher | IEEE |
| Pages | 818-822 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Volume | 2 |
| State | Published - 1999 |
| Event | Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conference - A Vision Into the 21st Century - New Orleans, LA, USA Duration: Apr 11 1999 → May 16 1999 |
Other
| Other | Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conference - A Vision Into the 21st Century |
|---|---|
| City | New Orleans, LA, USA |
| Period | 4/11/99 → 5/16/99 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Energy
- General Engineering