Correlation among ESDD, NSDD and leakage current

in distribution insulators
G. Montoya, I. Ramirez and J.I. Montoya

Abstract: The maintenance of distribution networks is more effective if the insulation

contamination levels are known. The selection of measuring methods of pollution levels is then
crucial. The relationship between several evaluation methods of pollution levels and the operating
behaviour of several insulator profiles in a polluted zone is described. Laboratory tests were carried
out to reproduce pollution levels found in the field. The quantity of non-soluble materials deposited
over the insulators’ surface affect the magnitude of the leakage current generated over a
contaminated insulator. The relationship that defines leakage current with respect to the equivalent
salt deposit density (ESDD) level for a specific non-soluble material level is almost linear, from
which it is possible to develop a relationship between them for each insulator.

1 Introduction the coast of the Gulf of Mexico Veracruz City. To measure

Since 1980, investigations on improving the design of
overhead lines in polluted zones have been carried out in
Mexico. As a result of these investigations, there are
available maps of the areas with high contamination levels,
and guides for line design and insulator selection [1]. At
present, insulators with new profiles and materials are under
evaluation in polluted areas to avoid or diminish the
insulator maintenance programmes. However, a selective
maintenance program is required for installed electric lines
to achieve the optimum use of resources. This is why it is
crucial to know the pollution levels in the electric network.
There are several measuring methods to evaluate the
contamination levels on external insulation. In this work,
three methods were used to evaluate the installed insulation;
superficial resistance SR [2], ESDD and leakage current
peaks measuring (LC) [3]. Simultaneously, measurement
methods on non-soluble materials (non-soluble deposit
density-NSDD) were also developed. ESDD is a globally
used, offline method, which is used for comparison criteria
with other methodologies.
The preliminary comparison between the diverse range of
insulators monitored was established based on field data.
Laboratory tests have also been developed to reproduce
pollution levels found in the field, as well as to verify the
relationship between ESDD and LC. During the observa-
tion period, meteorological factors were also measured.
2 Test bank
Field data has been obtained from the ‘Playa Norte’ test
bank; the bank was constructed by the Mexican utility CFE
! Federal de Electricidad) [4]. It is located in on
(Comision
r IEE, 2004
IEE Proceedings online no. 20040225
doi:10.1049/ip-gtd:20040225
Paper received 23rd December 2002 and in revised form 8th October 2003
G. Montoya and I. Ramirez are with the Instituto de Investigaciones El!ectricas,
Reforma 113, Col. Palmira CP 62490, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
J.I. Montoya is with the Escuela de Ingenier!ıa y arquitectura, Tecnol!ogico de
Monterrey campus, Toluca, Eduardo Monroy C!ardenas #2000, San Antonio
Buenavista, CP 50110 Toluca, Edomex, Mexico
334
direct effects from storms, the bank was located 500 meters
from the beach on the North coast of the port. The
contamination level registered in this bank agrees with the
standard IEC 60815 [5] ‘very heavy’ contamination
classification.
A wind speed faster than 40 km/h registered in the Gulf
of Mexico, with a duration of more than 24 hours is
designated as a storm called a ‘North’. A ‘North’ generates
an abrupt change in the pollution level of the external
insulation in distribution networks. The ‘North’ can be
accompanied by rain (humid North) or it can be dry (dry
North). Due to this, the level of pollution associated with a
‘North’ is very variable.
Based on reported rainfall, the months of the year with
the heaviest pollution problems are from January to April.
During this period ‘dry North’ storms were detected
regularly accompanied by stronger wind speeds (80 km/h)
and ghost winds; the breeze coming from the sea encrusted
the insulators.
Due to the capacity of the measuring systems, not all the
insulation was monitored. Nevertheless, all the insulators
were installed at the same time and energised to a nominal
voltage (13 kV).
3 Comparison of the insulators used
The insulators used in the project are the typical profiles
installed by CFE in its electric distribution network in
polluted areas and are shown in Fig. 1. Their can be
classified into three types: ceramic insulators with great
creepage distance and cover surface, semiconductor in-
sulators and hybrid insulators.
3.1 Ceramic insulators with great creepage
distance and cover surface
There are two types of ceramic insulators: 13PC and 13AC
(see Fig. 1). Their main feature is that the internal surface
(covered surface) has a great creepage distance. These
particular types of profiles are less contaminated than other
insulators without the covered surface. Also, it is not easy to
wet its covered surface, causing its SR to be greater than
other profiles, especially in the the 13AC insulator.
IEE Proc.-Gener. Transm. Distrib., Vol. 151, No. 3, May 2004
Fig. 1 Insulators used. From left to right 13PH, 13AAF, 13AAC,
13PC, 13AC, 13RG

The disadvantage of the 13PC insulator is that it has a

high LC activity, as shown in Fig. 2, which does not occur
with the 13AC insulator. On the other hand, the
disadvantage of the 13AC insulator is its poor performance
under lightning storms. This problem can be eliminated
if isolated pins are used, as in polymeric concrete
pins (PCP).

Fig. 3 13RG Insulator

similar profile of insulator will be quicker. In Veracruz City,

there is an urban circuit fitted with this type of insulator,
which has not been washed for 3 years. Other profiles must
be washed several times each year.

3.3 Hybrid insulators

The third insulator type is represented by the 13PH, shown
in (Fig. 4). It is conformed by a core of porcelain and shed

Fig. 2 PC type insulator

There are similar profiles for the 13PC insulator at 22 kv

and 33 kV, which belong to 22PC and 33PC. They have the
same problem as the 13PC insulators.

3.2 Semiconductor insulators

The 13RG insulator shown in Fig. 3 represents the second
type of insulator. The main characteristic is a graduate
resistance layer, which permits the generation of a
continuous LC over the insulator surface. The LC heats
up the surface, drying the contaminated layer, which avoids
the flashover on the insulator. This characteristic makes it
competitive with other profiles for pollution.
The 13RG insulator develops high LC levels, especially in
the period of greater contamination. It shows that the
profile of this insulator is not well adapted to the
contamination, which permits the accumulation of con-
taminants over its surface; however a natural washing of a Fig. 4 13PH insulator

IEE Proc.-Gener. Transm. Distrib., Vol. 151, No. 3, May 2004 335
of silicon rubber. The LC field measurements from 13PH 10,000
are lower than the measurements in the 13PC insulator. In 13PC
Veracruz City, there are two circuits with this type of 13RG
insulation, which have not been washed since for years. 13AC

resistance, Ω ( × 10 )
22PC

3
Porcelain insulators with isolated pins (polymeric con- 1,000
33PC
crete pins-PCP) can be considered in the group of hybrid
insulators. Diverse applications of PCP together with pin-
type insulators are used, such as metallic-oxide surge
arrester with polymeric concrete housing, creepage distance 100
increment and puncture distance increment (see Fig. 5). The
insulators with PCP tested in the laboratory had a smaller
LC than the 13PC insulators.
10

oc 8

ju 9
no 8
au 8

ja 8
99

99
98

99
m 9

m 9
se 98

de 8

ap 9

au 9
9

9
t9
l9

r9
9

l9
p

ay
c
n

n
n

g
b
g

ar
ju

ju
ju

fe
Fig. 6 SR minimum level

insulator humidification and its pollution level (see Fig. 6).

If the average values of the month are considered, SR
will better reflect the behaviour of the contamination
level (see Fig. 7).

10,000
resistance, Ω ( × 10 )
3

1,000

13PC
100 13RG
13AC
22PC
33PC

10
oc 8

ju 9

99
ja 8
no 8

ap 9
99

99
98

de 98
se 8
au 8

m 9

m 9

au 9
9

9
9
t9

9
9
l9

r9

l9
p

ay

g
c

ar
n

n
n

v
g

b
ju

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fe

Fig. 5 13AAF Insulator Fig. 7 SR minimum level average

4 Measuring methods 4.2 Equivalent salt deposit density

The ESDD was another method used for measuring the
4.1 Superficial resistance contamination level. Samples were obtained for one-,
SR measuring is an online, indirect method. It is influenced three-, six- and twelve-month periods. The highest value
by the insulator’s moisture and pollution levels. In [6] and of ESDD measured matches the January 1999 sample
[7] the relationship between SR and diverse meteorological (see Fig. 8).
factors is established. The association between SR and
pollution levels is recognised by the probability of an
insulator flashover when the SR is below a specific level.
This specific level was set to 100 kO which agrees with 1.0
13PC
experimental results [8]. 13RG
The SR is measured in a dummy insulator energised 0.8 22PC
at low voltage. SR measurements are affected by insulator 33PC
surface temperature. As a result, the relationship between 13AC
SR and pollution level is modified when the insulator 0.6
2
mg/cm

surface is ‘heated’. The SR in a dummy insulator is

similar to an insulator energised with high voltage until 0.4
‘dry band’ activity begins over the insulator surface. The
dry band causes heating on the insulator surface, which
0.2
does not happen in the insulator used as ‘dummy’. Owing
to this, a low value of SR reflects only a probability
of flashover that has to be analysed with other SR records 0
nov 98 dec 98 jan 99 feb 99 mar 99 apr 99 may 99
and especially with monthly minimum average values.
Nevertheless, measurements carried out verify the Fig. 8 Month ESDD measurements

336 IEE Proc.-Gener. Transm. Distrib., Vol. 151, No. 3, May 2004
 ESDD measuring permits the detection of the seasonal
variation model existing in the test bank. According to the
IEC 60815 standard, ESDD classifies the pollution level in
the zone as a ‘very heavy’ contamination. By means of this
method, it is possible to detect the growth of the pollution
level (Fig. 9). This is an offline method, which has a
disadvantage; the measurements made after rain will be
lower because the rain has washed the insulation.
and measures the leakage peak currents in an insulator
energised with high voltage.
All LC events were associated with the presence of storms
and high humidity in the environment. Table 1 shows the
activity registered during one year.
The base current is the current that circulates
continuously over the insulator surface. The base
current reported is the average of 100 readings carried

0.50

13 PC
0.45 13 RG
22 PC
0.40 33 PC
13 AC
0.35

0.30
2
mg /cm

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0
Oct 98 Nov 98 Feb 99 Feb 99 NORTH May 99 Aug 99 Aug 99 Aug 99
2 months 2 months 3 months 6 months feb 99 3 months 3 months 6 months 12 months

Fig. 9 ESDD levels. Long sample periods

4.3 Non-soluble deposit density out during a sample period of two hours. It means
As a complement to ESDD measurements, the quantity of that during almost two hours the current average had a
non-solubles contained in the contaminated samples was similar value.
determinated. This quantity was normalised between the The LC method joins the characteristics of the previous
areas of the insulator (NSDD in mg/cm2). methods, since it takes measurements in real time and also it
is a direct method. In Mexico, the LC method has been
4.4 Leakage current used successfully for insulation diagnosis in transmission
LC measurements are carried out using the leakage current lines [3, 9].
peaks measuring system ‘SIPICO’ [3]. This system detects
Scale:

Num. of peaks o100 o3,000 o10,000 o50,000 50,000o

Table 1: Leakage current levels at the field

LC levels (mA) 900o 2,744 2,776 41

700 a 900 3,861 4,121 13

500 a 700 1,305 15,856 49
300 a 500 42,773 66,006 368
100 a 300 126,408 340,111 2,861 4,140 10
Max. Ibase (mA) 4.83 4.14 8.98 1.38 0.69
13PC 22PC 13RG 13AC 13PH
Insulation monitored

Note: 22PC insulator was removed and a 13PH insulator was installed in February 1999

IEE Proc.-Gener. Transm. Distrib., Vol. 151, No. 3, May 2004 337
5 Discussion of field results
During the time period of insulation exposure (from August
1998 to August 1999), the months with the higher
contamination were January to April, 1999. During these
months, all the insulators reached the minimum SR value of
the scale (Fig. 6). The insulator with the lowest SR is the
13RG, while the insulator with highest SR was the 33PC.
The ‘seasonal variation’ accumulation model of the
pollution level predominates over its ‘growth in time’
accumulation model. Owing to this, by January the
maximum contamination level registered was reached. This
result corresponds to a 13RG insulator with a sample
period of one month (1.008 of ESDD, Fig. 8).
The 13PC, 22PC and 33PC insulators have high LC
(Table 1). Even when they are energised to 13 kV and are
far away from a flashover by contamination, LC could
cause burns on wood, crossover and poles. The 33PC
insulator flashed-over during the tests carried out in a clean
fog chamber to nominal voltage (34.5 kV). This means that
the 33PC insulator does not support higher values of LC.
The 13RG insulator also had a high LC level. Likewise, it
had a higher pollution accumulation reflected by a very high
level of ESDD. However, due to its easy natural washing, in
a single year it returned to minimum levels of contamina-
tion. In fact, this insulator had the maximum registered level
of ESDD, as well as the minimum level of accumulation
after the annual rainy season (see Fig. 9). It is recommended
for zones with periods of high, prolonged rainfall.
The 13AC and 13PH insulators had the best behaviour
with a low LC. If a PCP is placed to the 13AC insulator its
performance improves. The arrangement of the 13A
insulator and PCP with shed (13AAF) in the laboratory
had an LC smaller than 13PH and 13AC.
During the year of observation, there were no flashovers
on installed insulators. However, they reached very high LC
and ESDD values. The losses in high LC should be used as
a criteria for the selection of the insulation or for
maintenance purpose decisions.
6 Tests in clean fog chamber
The type of pollution and pollution level found in the field
were reproduced in the laboratory in order to verify the
relationship between ESDD and LC. The highest ESDD
level was selected, which was in January, with a sample
period of one month.
Scale:
Num. of peaks r10 r50
Table 2: Moisture 600/200
average ESDD ¼ 0.70 mg/cm2
LC levels (mA) 41950
1650 – 1950 42
1350 – 1650 106
1050 – 1350 147
750 – 1050 153
maximum PEAK (ma) 1,674
13RG
338
6.1 Test method
Several problems were found when moistening some
insulator profiles, at is the case of 13AC, In the field, the
insulator is humidified by condensation when the wind
impacts the rain drops over the insulator. It was decided to
start under the premise that the insulator is completely wet
and for that reason, the Japanese method was followed [10].
The purpose of this test is to find the levels of LC; the
voltage was only increased until it reached the nominal
voltage of the insulator and not until a flashover was
reached as indicated by the method. The activity of LC was
extinguished quickly on drying -of the insulator. For this,
clean fog was generated to saturate the chamber before
introducing the insulator. As a consequence of this
modification, the LC activity remains almost a minute,
leading in some cases to insulator flashover.
6.2 Contaminant reproduction and test
development
Since the 13PC insulator registered high LC activity in the
field, this profile was used primarily to determine the
mixtures of contamination to use. The first tests were
developed with mixtures prepared according to the IEC
60507[11] with high ESDD levels (over 0.6 mg/cm2).
However, it was not possible to reproduce the LC levels
registered in the field. It was decided to analyse the quantity
of non-solubles in the samples from the field in order to
determine its relationship NSDD/ESDD.
Based on the relationship NSDD/ESDD, the mixture
generated was 600/200. It is composed of 600 grams of
Kaolin and 200 grams of salt dissolved in one litre of water
(a normalised mixture according to IEC 60507 contains
only 40 grams of Kaolin). This mixture complies with the
relationship of NSDD/ESDD with an ESDD average of
0.70 mg/cm2 and a NSDD of 4.4 mg/cm2. The new tests
produced expected LC levels; the obtained LC peaks were
higher than 1.5 A (Table 2).
The initial current level of 800 mA was considered as the
maximum permitted before generating a contamination
alarm. This value will be adjusted according to field results
and new laboratory tests.
New tests were developed to obtain two extra points for
the ESDD vs. LC curve. The first mixture (600/200) was
diluted 50% each time, but respecting the proportion of
NSDD/ESDD. New mixtures were made, 300/100 and
150/50. The last mixture generated an LC under 500 mA.
All tested insulators, maintained the same relationship
r100 r150 150r
average NSDD ¼ 4.4 mg/cm2
54 20
101 69 42 29
194 162 111 133
1,440 1,362 1,183 1,110
13PC 13AC 13AAF 13AAC
Insulation evaluated
IEE Proc.-Gener. Transm. Distrib., Vol. 151, No. 3, May 2004
 1800 loses its hydrophobicity. Likewise, the ESDD against LC
1600 curve of the 13PH insulator does not have the same
behaviour as the remaining insulators (see Fig. 11). While
1400
the other insulators maintain the same tendency of growth
leakage current, mA

1200 and relationship among them, the LC growth tendency of

1000 the 13PH insulators changes at higher ESDD levels,
800
diminishing its LC level.
13 PC
600 13 RG
13 AC
400 13 AAF 6.4 Correlation between ESDD, NSDD and
200 13 AAC LC
The ESDD against LC curves from the 13PC insulator is
0
M3 (150/50) M2 (300/100) M1 (600/200)
shown in Fig. 12. The mixtures with the same NSDD (150/
moisture
50, 150/100 and 150/200) form a continuous line. These
points form a linear curve. Extrapolating the other two
Fig. 10 LC levels measured in laboratory points obtained (300/100 and 600/200), it will be observed
that a curve family exists for each insulator as a function of
among of them (Fig. 10). The tested insulators were the NSDD level (150, 300 and 600).
13PC, 13RG, 13AC, 13AAF, and 13AAC (see Fig. 1). The
13PC and 13RG insulators registered the major LC level, 1600
while the 13AAF and 13AAC insulators had the smaller 1400
LC level.
1200

leakage current, mA
6.3 Tests to NSDD constant 1000
Based on previous results, it was decided to set the NSDD
level obtained in the third mixture (150/50) while the ESDD 800
level was also increased. More tests were generated with the 600
mixtures 150/100 and 150/200. With these points a graph of
ESDD vs. LC was obtained (see Fig. 11). A linear 400

relationship between these two variables can be observed. 200

The insulators used in the previous tests maintained the
0
same tendency and relationship among them. The 13PH 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
and 33PC insulators were added to the developed tests. The ESDD, mg/cm
2

33PC insulator registered an LC of great magnitude,

enough to flash-over the insulator during the test with the
mixtures 300/100 and 150/100. Likewise, it registered higher
peaks of up to 1.4 A, with the mixture 150/200. From the
previous data, it was deduced that this profile was less
effective than its similar 13PC. It must be remembered that
the tests were carried out to nominal voltage, for which the
voltage applied to a 33PC is 34.5 kV (20.9 kV phase-to-
ground), while in a 13PC it is 15 kV (8.7 kV phase-to-
ground). This implies that the effectiveness of an insulator
profile is a function of the applied voltage.
1400 13 PC
13 RG
1200 13 AC
13Abcf
13 ACcb
leakage current, mA
Fig. 12 ESDD against LC. Curves for 13PC insulator
7 Conclusions
The SR method is an indirect form to evaluate the pollution
level of an insulator. This method responds to changes in
the humidification level and contamination over the
insulator surface. It is necessary to increase the applied
voltage to the insulator, to avoid the influence of the
humidification in this method.
The quantity of non-soluble material affects the LC level
generated in a contaminated insulator. The relationship that
links LC to ESDD for a specific NSDD is almost linear and
consequently, it is possible to develop a relationship

1000
13 PH between them.
33 PC
800 This confirms that the leakage current method is the most
appropriate for insulation diagnosis in distribution net-
600 works.
The Japanese method was modified for the evaluation of
400
several insulator types in a fog chamber. The tests were
200
carried out with a higher level of non-soluble material than
those indicated in the IEC 60507 standard, since the
0 contaminant type found in the test bank was reproduced.
0.1 1
2
ESDD, mg/cm

Fig. 11 Comparison of several profiles monitored 8 Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the help of CFE staff for their

The insulator 13PH maintains a constant LC activity at
low magnitude (smaller than 100 mA) for a few minutes
after reaching the maximum peak, whereas the remaining
insulators did it for some seconds. This different behaviour
can occur if the 13PH insulator is completely wet and it
IEE Proc.-Gener. Transm. Distrib., Vol. 151, No. 3, May 2004
contribution in the development of this project. Special
thanks are given to Jose del Razo-Contreras, Hector-
Hernandez C. and Raul Usla-Lopez. Special thanks are also
given to Dr Carlos Romualdo-Torres for his useful
comments and advice.
339
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