Electrical Power Transmission and Distribution

Potential Distribution across string of insulators

Class:
Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering
Semester : sixth Semester

Bikram Chhetri
Lecturer
Department of Electrical Engineering
College of Science and Technology
Royal University of Bhutan

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String
Line Insulators:

Function:

 Electrical insulation

 Mechanical support to OH line

conductor

Materials:

Galvanized Porcelain or toughened glass

Types of Line Insulators

1. Pin Type insulator

2. Suspension Type and

3. Strain Type

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 Suspension type Insulator

Suspension type insulators

 Used beyond 33 kV

 Each disc is rated at

11kV

Insulator String

– a number of suspension /
strain insulator connected
in series.
Suspension Insulator string

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

String of Insulator

 String of insulator is formed by

connecting several discs in series.

 Each insulator disc consists of metal

fittings and metal fittings of each unit
have a capacitance relative to metal
fittings of the next unit.

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 Electrical Insulator
 An electrical insulator is a material whose internal electric charges do
not flow freely, and therefore make it nearly impossible to conduct
an electric current under the influence of an electric field.

 A perfect insulator does not exist because even insulators contain small
numbers of mobile charges (charge carriers) which can carry current.

 All insulators become electrically conductive when a sufficiently large

voltage is applied that the electric field tears electrons away from the
atoms - known as the breakdown voltage of an insulator.

 Some materials such as glass, paper and Teflon, porcelain, which have
high resistivity, are very good electrical insulators.

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

String of Insulator

 C = capacitance of each unit,

called self (or mutual)

capacitance.

 mC = capacitance between

metal fitting of each disc and

tower (or ground), called shunt
capacitance

 If mC was not existing, then i1 =

i2 = i3 etc.

𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑚 =
𝑚𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

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  Exploded
view

𝑰𝟏 < 𝑰𝟐 < 𝑰𝟑 …

𝑽𝟏 < 𝑽𝟐 < 𝑽𝟑 …

𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 + 𝑽𝟑 + 𝑽𝟒 + 𝑽𝟓 = 𝑽

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

String of Insulator

 Due to existence of C1, C2 ,

etc. i1, i2 etc are not equal.

 Therefore the voltage across

the different units V1, V2 etc
are not equal.

 What happens if voltage across the units is not equal?

 How to equalize the voltages across the units?

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

Points to note

 The disc closest to the conductor has maximum voltage across it.
As we move towards the cross-arm, the voltage across each disc
continues to decrease.

 The voltage impressed on a string of suspension insulators does

not equally distribute itself across the individual discs due to the
shunt capacitance.

 If the voltage impressed across the string was DC, then voltage
across each unit would be the equal, since insulator capacitances
are ineffective for DC.

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

 The unit closest to the conductor is under maximum

electrical stress and is likely to be punctured.

 Inefficient use of the insulator nearest to the cross

arm.

 Hence, methods have to be provided to equalize the

potential across each element.

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

Mathematical expression for

voltage distribution across
suspension insulator string:

We know, Voltage drop across a

capacitor is the product of current
flowing through the capacitor and
the capacitive reactance

𝑽𝒄 = 𝒊𝒄 ∗ 𝑿𝒄

𝑽𝟏
Therefor 𝑰𝟏 = = 𝑽𝟏 𝝎𝑪
𝑿𝒄

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

Now applying (Kirchhoff’s Current

Law) KCL at node A, we have
𝐼2 = 𝐼1 + 𝑖1
𝑉2 𝜔𝐶 = 𝑉1 𝜔𝐶 + 𝑉1 𝜔𝐶1
𝑉2 𝜔𝐶 = 𝑉1 𝜔𝐶 + 𝑉1 𝜔𝑚𝐶
𝑉2 = (1 + 𝑚)𝑉1

Similarly applying KCL at node B

𝐼3 = 𝐼2 + 𝑖2
𝑉3 𝜔𝐶 = 𝑉2 𝜔𝐶 + (𝑉1 + 𝑉2 )𝜔𝑚𝐶
𝑉3 = (1 + 3𝑚 + 𝑚2 )𝑉1

Similarly for 4 disc string,

𝑉4 = (1 + 6𝑚 + 5𝑚2 + 𝑚3 )𝑉1

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

Voltage V2 , V3 , V4 etc are expressed in

terms of V1

Also

𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 + 𝑽𝟑 = 𝑽

We can find V2 and V3 in terms of V1

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

String Efficiency

𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈

𝜼=
𝒏 ∗ 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓

Where n = number of units in the string

Will the string efficiency be equal to 100%?

Why 100% or why not 100%?

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 Review
1. Line Insulator/Electrical Insulator

2. String of Insulator definition

3. String of suspension insulator

 Self (mutual) and shunt capacitances

 Charging current

 Voltage different in different units

4. Voltage distribution across string

 𝑉2 = (1 + 𝑚)𝑉1 ; 𝑉3 = (1 + 3𝑚 + 𝑚2 )𝑉1

 𝑉4 = (1 + 6𝑚 + 5𝑚2 + 𝑚3 )𝑉1

V1 is the voltage across the string closest to the cross

arm

The voltage across the string is, 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 + 𝑽𝟑 = 𝑽

 String efficiency

𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈

𝜼=
𝒏 ∗ 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓

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Question
 In a 33kV overhead line, there are three units in the
string of insulators. If the Capacitance between each
insulator pin and earth is 11% of self –capacitance of
each insulator , find (i) the distribution of voltage over
3 insulators and (ii) string efficiency.

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 Example

1. A string of suspension insulator consists of four units. The voltage

between each unit and earth is one tenth (1/10) of the self capacitance of
the unit. The voltage between the line conductor and the earth is 132 kV.
Find (i) the voltage distribution across each unit (ii) the string efficiency

2. A string of suspension insulator consists of four units. The voltage

between each unit and earth is one tenth (1/10) of the self-capacitance of
the unit. The voltage between the one-line conductor and other line
conductor is 132 kV.
Find (i) the voltage distribution across each unit (ii) the string efficiency

3. In a string of 3 units, the capacitance between each link pin to earth is

11% of the capacitance of one unit. Calculate (i) the voltage across each
unit and (ii) the string efficiency when the system voltage is 33kV.

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 Review
1. Line Insulator/Electrical Insulator

2. String of Insulator definition

3. String of suspension insulator

 Self (mutual) and shunt capacitances

 Charging current

 Voltage different in different units

4. Voltage distribution across string

 𝑉2 = (1 + 𝑚)𝑉1 ; 𝑉3 = (1 + 3𝑚 + 𝑚2 )𝑉1

 𝑉4 = (1 + 6𝑚 + 5𝑚2 + 𝑚3 )𝑉1

V1 is the voltage across the string closest to the cross

arm

The voltage across the string is, 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 + 𝑽𝟑 = 𝑽

 String efficiency

𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈

𝜼=
𝒏 ∗ 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

We learnt that we cannot avoid

the charging current in shunt
capacitance and thereby
inefficient use of units leading to
poor string efficiency:

How to improve string efficiency?

??

??

Play this video:

https://youtu.be/xKD6HLTtuR0

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

How to improve string long cross arm

efficiency?

Methods to improve string

efficiency:

1. Selection of “m”
1. Using long cross arm
2. Reducing the value of m

2. Grading of insulators or
Capacitance grading

3. Guard ring.

https://youtu.be/xKD6HLTtuR0
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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

Improving string eff. By Guard Ring:

Applying KCL at node P

𝐼2 + 𝑖1′ = 𝐼1 + 𝑖1

Since the capacitance of each unit

is C, to maintain same voltage
across each unit,
𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = 𝐼3 = 𝐼4

And 𝑖1′ = 𝑖1
3𝑉𝜔𝐶1 = 𝑉𝜔𝑚𝐶

𝑚𝐶
𝐶1 =
3

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

Applying KCL at node Q

𝐼3 + 𝑖2′ = 𝐼2 + 𝑖2

Since 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = 𝐼3 = 𝐼4

𝑖2′ = 𝑖2

2𝑉𝜔𝐶2 = 2𝑉𝜔𝑚𝐶

𝐶2 = 𝑚𝐶

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

Similarly, Applying KCL at node R

𝐼4 + 𝑖3′ = 𝐼3 + 𝑖3

Since 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = 𝐼3 = 𝐼4
𝑖3′ = 𝑖3
𝑉𝜔𝐶3 = 3𝑉𝜔𝑚𝐶
𝐶3 = 3𝑚𝐶

If there are k units in a string then

capacitance between guard ring and
the pin of the nth unit is
𝑛
𝐶𝑛 = 𝑚𝐶
𝑘 −𝑛

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 Review

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 Voltage distribution across Insulator String

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 Review Questions

1. Explain the reasons for poor Transmission Efficiency? Discuss the

different methods of reducing the line losses.

2. Explain possible methods to improve the transmission efficiency?

Critically compare all methods and explain which method is best
suited for improving the efficiency.

3. Define string efficiency. Discuss the reason for poor string

efficiency.

4. State and explain all possible methods of improving the string

efficiency.

5. If we use a single unit of insulator, will there be similar problem?

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 Review
1. Line Insulator/Electrical Insulator

2. String of Insulator definition

3. String of suspension insulator

 Self (mutual) and shunt capacitances

 Charging current

 Voltage different in different units

4. Voltage distribution across string

5. String efficiency

6. Methods to improve string efficiency

6.1 Selection of “m”
1. Using long cross arm
2. Reducing the value of m
6.2 Grading of insulators or Capacitance grading
6.3 Guard ring.

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 Testing of Insulators

The different types of

insulators must undergo the
following tests:

1. Flashover test

2. Performance test

3. Routine tests

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 Testing of Insulators

The different types of insulators must undergo the following

tests:

1. Flashover test

1. Power frequency (50-cycle) Dry Flash over Test

2. Power frequency (50-cycle) Wet Flashover Test for 30

seconds:

3. Impulse Frequency Flash-over Test:

This ratio should be approximately 1.4 for pin-type and

1.3 for the suspension-type insulator.

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 Testing of Insulators

2. Performance test
i) Temperature Cycle Test:

ii) Puncture voltage Test:

iii) Porosity Test:

iv) Mechanical Strength Test (for Pin type):

v) Electro-mechanical Test (for Suspension type):

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 Testing of Insulators

3. Routine Tests
i) High voltage test:

ii) Proof-load Test:

Iii) Corrosion Test:

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 Causes of failure of insulators

Causes of failure of
Insulators

1. Mechanical stress

2. Cracking

3. Porosity

4. Puncture and flashover

5. Short circuit

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 Review Questions

1. Discuss different methods to improve the string

efficiency of a string of suspension insulator. Closely
examine the suitability of each method.

2. Show that the voltage distribution across different

units in a string of suspension insulator is not equal.

3. Describe different types of tests that are generally

performed in a line insulator.

4. State and explain the causes of failure of insulators.

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