Main Reasons of Tripping Long Transmission Line i.e.

220 and 500 KV

Pakistan, a developing country, full of natural resources and manpower with population
exceeding 193.2 million has a lot of potential in fulfilling its energy requirements. However,
the country’s transmission line especially 220 kv and 500kv are facing severe Problems of
electricity due to overloading, mismanagement, transmission line losses, aged equipment, poor
maintenance and questionable monitoring and control. These issues have really put the power
sector to a downfall.
In Pakistan, transmission line losses are very high as compared to other countries. Each year
these losses are increasing which is becoming a challenge for the country. Existing aged
Transmission Grids (TGs) are very poorly managed, rendering them unreliable, insufficient,
and unaffordable.
Main Reasons for Technical Losses, Flashover and fault
Flashover of contaminated insulators in polluted areas like Karachi has proven to be one of
the most important factors influencing the operation of extra- and ultra-high voltage
transmission lines and substations. These are power-frequency flashovers on transmission lines
without evidence of switching or lightning overvoltage and usually take place in moisture and
wet weather conditions such as dew, fog, drizzle or light rain. Near industrial, agricultural or
coastal areas, air borne particles are deposited on insulators and the insulator pollution builds
up gradually. These deposits do not decrease the insulation strength when the insulators are
dry. However, when fog or light rain wets the polluted insulator, a conductive layer is formed
on the contaminated insulator surface, which initiates leakage current. The drying effect of
leakage current produces dry - bands. The line voltage flashes over the dry - band and extension
of the arc causes the insulator to flashover. In an operational system, several arcing periods
precede actual flashover.
Contamination-caused insulator flashovers result in expensive power outages. Utilities spend
significant amounts of money on preventive maintenance, which includes insulator washing
and cleaning. This expensive operation is scheduled by the subjective judgment of line
engineers, based on historical experience or total hours of service since last washing.

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How to reduce or get rid-off of flashover problem in Wet condition area.
Contamination caused insulator flashovers produce frequent outages in severely
contaminated areas. Lines closer to the ocean are in more danger of becoming contaminated.
Several countermeasures have been proposed to improve insulator performance.

1. Increasing leakage distance

Increasing leakage distance by increasing the number of units or by using fog-type

insulators.

The disadvantages of the larger number of insulators are that both the polluted and the
impulse flashover voltages increase. The latter jeopardizes the effectiveness of insulation
coordination because of the increased strike distance, which increases the over voltages at
substations.

Flashed 230 kV porcelain insulator

2. Semiconducting glaze

Application insulators are covered with a semiconducting glaze.

A constant leakage current flows through the semiconducting glaze. This current heats the
insulator’s surface and reduces the moisture of the pollution. In addition, the resistive glaze
provides an alternative path when dry bands are formed. The glaze shunts the dry bands and
reduces or eliminates surface arcing. The resistive glaze is exceptionally effective near the
ocean.

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3. Periodic washing

Periodic washing of the insulators with high-pressure water.

The transmission lines are washed by a large truck carrying water and pumping equipment.
Trained personnel wash the insulators by aiming the water spray toward the strings.
Substations are equipped with permanent washing systems. High-pressure nozzles are
attached to the towers and water is supplied from a central pumping station.

4. Periodic cleaning

Periodic cleaning of the insulators by high pressure driven abrasive material.

Periodic cleaning by materials such as ground corn cobs or walnut shells. This method
provides effective cleaning, but cleaning of the residual from the ground is expensive and
environmentally undesirable.

5. Replacement

Replacement of porcelain insulators with non-ceramic insulators

Non-ceramic insulators have better pollution performance, which eliminates short-term

pollution problems at most sites. However, insulator aging may affect the long-term
performance.

Glass insulator string for high voltage overhead transmission line

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6. Covering with silicon rubber

Covering the insulators with a thin layer of room-temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicon
rubber coating.

This coating has a hydrophobic and dirt-repellent surface, with pollution performance similar
to non-ceramic insulators. Aging causes erosion damage to the thin layer after 5-10 years of
operation. When damage occurs, it requires surface cleaning and a reapplication of the
coating.

Cleaning by hand is very labour intensive. The most advanced method is cleaning with high
pressure driven abrasive materials like ground corn cobs or walnut shells. The coating is
sprayed on the surface using standard painting techniques.

7. Covering with petroleum

Covering the insulators with a thin layer of petroleum or silicon grease.

Grease provides a hydrophobic surface and absorbs the pollution particles. After one or two
years of operation, the grease saturates the particles and it must be replaced. This requires
cleaning of the insulator and application of the grease, both by hand.

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