Suspension Insulation String

AIM: To study the voltage distribution of a Suspension insulation string by constructing

models
1. With identical insulator units
2. With Graded Units
3. With Identical units & grading ring
APPARATUS:

Capacitors
Variac
Digital Voltmeter

THEORY:
Potential Distribution Over a String of Suspension Insulators:
(a) String with identical insulator units:

Let , m =

Let V be the operating voltage ( line to ground )

C
Ic1

Ic2

Ic3

I2 = I1 +Ic1
Hence V=IZ
I = V/Z

V1

V2

I1
C

I2
C

V3

V4

I3
I4

From Above Figure

=
mCV2

mCV1 +CV1

(A)

Also

I3 = I2 +Ic2

mCV3 mCV2 +C(V1 +V2)

substituting for V2 from Eq. A and simplifying, we get

(B)

similarly V4 can be expressed as

(C)

Normally the value of 'm' greater than 1 & therefore,

V1 < V2 < V3 < V4

Thus the lowermost unit is fully stressed or utilized. As 'm' increases, the division of voltage
becomes more equalized. String Efficiency is a measure of utilization of material in the string
and is defined as,

Where, n = number of insulator units in the string

When n=4:

(b) String with Graded Units:

Since the voltage for a given current is inversely proportional to the capacitance, the
unit nearest to the cross arm should have the maximum capacitance in order to reduce the
maximum voltage across it. Further as we move to the power conductor the unit capacitance
should be progressively increase. By correct grading of capacitances, complete equality of the
voltages can be achieved and this is called Capacitive Grading.

From Above Figure, I2 = I1 + Ic1 = V(C + C1) = VC2

Therefore

(X)

Voltage Producing
Now

Ic2 is 2V.

Ic2

VC

I3 = I2 + Ic2
VC3 = VC + V C

C1)

C3 = 3C + C1 = C1+ (1+2)C

(Y)

Thus we can write capacitance for the nth unit as;

Cn = C1+ (1+2 + 3.. + [n-1]) C

(Z)

(C) String with identical units and Graded ring:

The voltage distribution is equalized in this method by providing grading, or
guard ring in the form of a large metal ring surrounding the bottom unit and connected to the
metal work at the bottom of this unit, and therefore to the line. The arrangement is shown in
figure below

Ic1

V
I1
Ix

C
Ic2

Ic3

I3
I4

(n-2)V
IZ

100V

Iy

(n-1)V

I2
C

(n-3)V

Denoting the capacitances to the shield by x, y, z.. We can write

I2 = I1 + Ic1 Ix
I3 = I2 + Ic2 Iy etc.
But if the voltage is V across each unit and all n units are identical, the currents I 1, I2, I3. etc. must be
equal. Hence,
Ix= Ic1, Iy= Ic2, Iz= Ic3 etc
VC = (n-1) Vx
2VC = (n-2) Vy
3VC = (n-3) Vz
and Which yield
x = C / (n-1)
y = 2C / (n-2)
z = 3C / (n-3)
In general, capacitance from the shield to the pth link from the top,
Cp= pC / (n-p)

CALCULATIONS
Case 1
(1)
(A)
)

(B)
(C)

Substituting A,B,C into 1

( since C' = 6

and C =1F)

V1 = 17.129V
V2 =

V2 = 19.984V
V3 = 26.169V
V4 = 36.716V
String Efficiency =

=0.680 ( Theoretical )

Practical Values:
V1 =17.24 V
V2=20 V
V3=26 V
V4= 37 V
String Efficiency =

=0.675

(Practical)

Case 2
C= 1 F
C1= 6F
C2 = C +C1
C2=7F
C3 = 3C +C1

C3=9 F

C4 = 6C +C1

C4=12 F

*Theoretical voltages:
V1 = 25 V
V2 = 25 V
V3 = 25 V
V4 = 25 V
String Efficiency =

= 1 (Theoretical)

Practical Voltages:
V1 =21.5 V
V2=17.9 V
V3=24.3 V
V4= 36.8 V
String Efficiency =

= 0.679 (Practical)

Case 3
x=C/(n-1)
y=2C/(n-2)
z=3C/(n-3)
n=4 , C =1F
X= 1/3 F

y= 1 F

z=3F

Theoretical voltages:
V1 =25 V
V2=25 V
V3=25 V
V4= 25 V
String Efficiency =

= 1 (Theoretical)

Practical Voltages:
V1 =26.48 V
V2=25.93 V
V3=26.57 V
V4= 20.86 V
String Efficiency =

= 1.19 (Practical)

DISCUSSION
a) There are mainly three types of insulator used as overhead insulator,
1. Pin Insulator
2. Suspension Insulator
3. Strain Insulator
In addition to that there are other two types of electrical insulator available mainly
for low voltage application,
1. Stay Insulator
2. Shackle Insulator

Pin Insulators
Pin Insulator is earliest developed overhead insulator, but still type of insulators are
still popularly used in power network up to 33KV system. Depending on application
voltage the pin type of these insulators varies. Mainly Pin type insulator can be one
part, two parts or three parts type. In 11KV system generally use one part type
insulator where whole pin insulator is one piece of properly shaped porcelain or glass.
When application voltage is getting higher like 33KV and 66KV, manufacturing of one
part porcelain pin insulator becomes difficult. Because in higher voltage, the
thickness of the insulator become more and a quite thick. So is not practical to
manufacture single piece porcelain insulator. In this case we use multiple part pin
insulator, where a number of properly designed porcelain shells are fixed together by
Portland cement to form one complete insulator unit. For 33KV tow parts and for
66KV three parts pin insulator are generally used.

Pin Insulator

Suspension Insulator
Suspension insulators were developed as a solution for the heavy weight of pin
insulators when they are using in higher voltages beyond 33KV. Because of the heavy
weight these pin insulators handling and replacing these bigger size single unit
insulator are quite difficult task
In suspension insulator numbers of insulators are connected in series to form a
string. The line conductor is carried by the bottom most insulator. Each insulator of a
suspension string is called disc insulator because of their disc like shape.

Strain Insulator
There are cases where suspension string is used to sustain extraordinary tensile load
of conductor. In this special case the suspension string is referred as string insulator.
When there is a dead end or there is a sharp corner in transmission line, the line has
to sustain a great tensile load of conductor or strain. Therefore strain insulator must
have considerable amount of mechanical strength as well as the necessary electrical
insulating properties.

Stay Insulator
For low voltage lines, the stays are to be insulated from ground at a height. The insulator
used in the stay wire is called as the stay insulator. These types of insulators usually made
with porcelain and it is also designed in a way, that in case of breakage of the insulator the
guy-wire will not fall to the ground.

Shackle Insulator
The shackle insulator which is also called as spool insulator is usually used in low voltage
distribution network. This insulator can be used both in horizontal and vertical position. The
tapered hole of the spool insulator distributes the load more evenly and minimizes the
possibility of breakage when heavily loaded. The conductor in the groove of shackle
insulator is fixed with the help of soft binding wire.

Insulators for overhead lines are mainly made of

1. Porcelain
2. toughened glass.
3. Composite Polymer materials
The materials used for porcelain are silica 20%, feldspar 30%, and clay 50%. The porcelain
should be ivory white, sound and free from defects.
Toughened glass is also sometimes used for insulators because it has higher dielectric
strength

Advantages of Suspension Insulation String

1. Suspension insulation string can be used for any operating voltage
2. In failure of one of the units in string, you only need to replace that particular
unit
3. The mechanical stress at the point of attachment due to the swing of power
conductor and string due of the wind pressure is reduced as compared with the
pin type of insulator.
4. The insulators which are existing transmission can be increased by adding
suitable number of discs in the string instead of replacing all the insulators as
is necessary in case of pin type insulators.

Disadvantages of Suspension Insulation String

1. High cost than other types
2. To use a suspension string the transmission tower or the structure should
need more height

Advantages of the Insulator grading methods

Insulator grading methods are very economical and also very easy and very simple method
when it is using in very high voltage transmission systems.
When analyzing String with identical unit and graded ring method, both are very simple
methods. It can be easily taken the same voltage distribution throughout the string accurately
than string with graded units method. But it is hard to find the capacitors which have various
values. Therefore errors can be occurred

Reasons for the differences between experimental and theoretical results

1.
2.
3.
4.

Capacitors which we use might not represent the actual value they are not ideal.
Neglecting the resistance in the connecting wires will cause errors.
Human errors when taking measurements
Measuring equipments are not 100% accurate.

Reference:
Electrical Power Systems - by C. L. WADHWA
http://www.electrical4u.com/types-of-electrical-insulator-overhead-insulator/