Lifetime Prediction of Overhead Insulators based on
Leakage Current calculated using Finite Element Method
Presenter: Supervisor: Thesis Dissertation Work (EGPG 620)
Sumit Shah Asst. Prof. Bishal Silwal, PhD Department of Electrical &
Graduate Student Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
ME in Electrical Power Engineering Electronics Engineering Kathmandu University
NOV 2023
INTRODUCTION
Overhead insulators are an essential
component of power grids, used to
support conductors and maintain
electrical isolation.
High voltage insulators are degraded over
time due to electrical, mechanical, and
environmental factors.
Insulators’ failure creates unscheduled
power outages.
Hamper the economy of the service
provider and the consumption pattern of
the consumers.
Fig 1: Transmission line with Insulator
[ [Link] ]
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 2
PROBLEM DEFINITION
Generations are far away from consumers’ load. So transmission is done through medium to long transmission lines.
Any damages to transmission line insulators lead to power outages and violations in overhead high-voltage power
systems.
So the assessment for determining leakage current is important for better insulator performance.
To minimize potential safety risks, to know the level of contamination on insulators and take corrective actions, to
have preventive maintenance by early detection of potential issues.
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 3
OBJECTIVES
The assessment of determining the leakage current of the overhead insulators
helps to know the characteristics of the particular insulators. After determining
the leakage current leads to determine in the prediction of life time of the
insulators.
The specific objectives of thesis is:
To model the overhead insulator in COMSOL multiphysics using the insulator
dimension and types.
To determine the leakage current using Finite Element Method (FEM) under various
environmental condition.
To predict the lifetime of the insulator based on the leakage current.
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 4
METHODOLOGY
Fig 2: Modeling Workflow Chart
Use of CAD Software for modeling.
Numerical Modelling using FEM.
Lifetime prediction based on Leakage Current using Weibull distribution.
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 5
INSULATOR MODELLING
Total Length (L) 620 mm
Diameter (D) 58 mm
Shed number 12
Leakage Distance 1530 mm
Rated Voltage (kV) 35 kV
Material Composite Polymer
Color Grey
Component Electrical Relative
Conductivity () (S/m) Permittivity ()
Fiber Reinforced 1*10-14 6
core
Silicon rubber 1*10-12 4
housing
End Fittings 9*107 1
Fig 3 :Detail Schematic of Polymer Insulator Table 1:Dimensions & Properties of insulator
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 6
LEAKAGE CURRENT
140 400
120 350
Current Density Norm (A/m^2)
300
100
Leakage Current (mA)
250
80
200
60
150
40
100
20 50
0 0
30 32 34 36 38 40 42 -100 100 300 500 700 900 1100 1300 1500 1700
Applied Voltgae (kV) Arc Lenght (mm)
Cement light dust rain water smoke Lake Water Cement Light dust Lake water Rain water Smoke
Fig 4 : Leakage Current and Current density
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 7
NUMERICAL RESULT
Voltage Time Leakage Current (mA)
Distributio Anderson-Darling (adj)
(kV) (hr) Rain Water Cement Smoke Light dust Lake water n
Smoke Rainwater Light dust Lake water Cement
31 1 32.639206 99.5771745 87.4252605 54.398655 43.518930
14 3 8 7 95 Weibull 1.2734 1.2730 1.2728 1.273 1.2828
32 10 35.412775 106.215652 93.2337439 59.021277 47.217026 Lognormal 1.3002 1.3025 1.3029 1.303 1.2910
58 8 1 5 15
Exponentia 7.5716 7.5729 7.5729 7.573 7.5904
33 15 36.511654 109.534892 96.1677866 60.865700 48.682193
l
33 4 8 94
34 20 37.618068 112.854131 99.0819619 62.710115 50.157411 Normal 1.2770 1.2787 1.2789 1.279 1.2725
1 1 9 94 94
35 25 38.732733 116.173370 101.996137 64.554530 51.653632
36 3 3 7 02 Distribution Correlation Coefficient
36 30 39.830895 119.492609 104.910312 66.398946 53.107847
63 4 7 29 93 Smoke Rainwater Light dust Lake water Cement
37 35 40.937309 122.811848 107.824488 68.243361 54.583065
4 6 1 47 93 Weibull 0.9977 0.9977 0.9977 0.998 0.9965
38 40 42.052682 126.131087 110.738663 70.087776 56.070229 Lognormal 0.9904 0.9899 0.9898 0.990 0.9922
29 7 4 61 45
39 45 43.150136 129.450326 113.652838 71.932191 57.533501 Exponential * * * * *
93 9 8 81 92
40 50 44.265981 132.769566 116.542179 73.776606 59.021294 Normal 0.9949 0.9946 0.9945 0.995 0.9957
38 9 98 18
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 8
SERVICE TIME PREDICTION
POLLUTION TIME IN HR DURATION IN
(YEAR OR DAYS)
Rainwater 558343 63.73 year
Lake water 160472 18.31 year
Light dust 12237.7 1.39 year
Smoke 581.822 24.21 days
Cement 175.286 7.30 days
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 9
CONCLUSIONS
The main objective of the thesis was to predict the service life of the overhead
insulator working under different environmental conditions.
The total work was based on two points. The first work was to find the leakage
current from the insulator using FEM creating different environmental
conditions. The second was to predict the service time using the statistic
analytical method using those leakage currents.
The lifetime of overhead insulator is a crucial factor in the safety and reliability
of today’s power grids.
This method can be used to develop preventive maintenance strategies for power
grids mainly focusing to insulators. So by monitoring the leakage current of the
insulators, this method can be used to predict when as insulators are likely to fail.
Hence this information can be used for schedule maintenance before the
insulators fails and prevent the power outages and economical losses.
Sumit Shah-ME in Electrical Power Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering 10
