12/1/13

Voltage Distribution In a Suspension Insulator Strain | EEP

Voltage Distribution In a Suspension

Insulator Strain

Voltage Distribution In a Suspension Insulator Strain

1. Introduction
A suspension insulator strain consists of a series of alternately insulators and metal parts, which bind
each insulator to the next. This constitutes a series of connected capacitors, with each ones
capacitance being created by two successive metal connectors (clips) with the porcelain as a dielectric.
Moreover, there are air capacitances between each connector and the support arm or the tower.
So let us consider a strain of four suspension insulators, as shown in the figure below, and let C be the
same capacitance for each unit and kC the capacitance of each metal connector with earth.
Four insulators strain

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Then, if V1 is the potential difference between the two metal

connectors (clips) of the first insulator, we have:

Even V1
+ V2 +
V3 + V4
=E
(phase
voltage of
the line)
E=
V1 (4 +
10k +
6k 2 + k 3)
So, if k =
0,1, we
have:
From the
results it
appears
that the first insulator has only one fifth of the total voltage, while
the latter has almost one third.

2. Corona rings
The distribution of the potential along the insulators strain can be
improved by using a smoothing ring (Corona ring) or a
protective ring, which consists of a large metal ring surrounding the last insulator that is
electricallyconnected to the line.
The corona ring inserts capacitances between the metal connectors (clips) of the insulators and the line.
For these capacitances, special care can be taken in order to compensate the capacitances to earth.

3. Cases of insulators strains with or without Corona rings

Case 1
Determine the potential distribution in a strain of three insulators, if the capacitances of the links to
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earth and to the line are respectively 20% and 10% of the capacitance of the insulators. Also, determine
the performance of the strain.

Case 2
An overhead 3phase transmission
line, which has
phase voltage 30 kV, is hanging from a three insulators suspension strain. The capacitance between
the links and the earth is 0,2 C, where C is the capacitance of an insulator.
1. Determine the potential distribution along the insulators strain.
2. If a protective (corona) ring inserts capacitances from the line, with the link of the middle and
the lower insulator set at 0,4 C and the link of the medium and the higher insulator set at 0,1 C,
find the new distribution.
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2.1 Determine the potential distribution along the insulators strain

Insulators strain without Corona

ring

2.2 Protective (corona) ring inserts capacitances from the line

Insulators strain with Corona ring

4. Generalized formula of voltage distribution in a suspension

insulators strain
The above mathematical formula is the generalized formula we can use to find the voltage Vn of the (n1) insulator.
E = phase voltage of the line.
The value of a is given by the above formula:

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4.1 Determine the voltage

distribution in a six insulators
strain (z=6) with k=0,1

4.2 Determine the voltage

distribution of the first, the sixth
and the twelfth insulator with z =
12 (12 insulators strain) and k =
0,1
We have:

References:

Vasilios N. Xanthos Generation,

Transmission, Distribution,
Measurement and saving of Electrical
Energy

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