Finite Elementary Analysis of Electrical Performance for Glass Type Insulator Under the Inclination Effects

This paper presents the modelling of a glass type of insulator with a voltage rating of 132 kV. The insulators play a critical role in transmission lines to ensure the stability and reliability of the system. Glass insulators are still widely used in overhead transmission systems because of their dielectric strength capability. Whenever faults occur in the transmission line or system, a considerable cost for maintenance and repair is required. The outdoor application of the insulator has resulted in exposure to various service conditions such as weather, pollution and lightning. Indeed, the inclination effect under the wind load is one of the significant challenges for outdoor insulators. Therefore, this paper studied the electrical performance of the 132 kV glass insulators under the inclination effects through Finite Elementary Modelling (FEM). In this simulation, the model of the glass insulator is constructed in four different inclination angles using the modelling software Ansys Maxwell 3D. From the results, the electric field distribution for the insulator became uneven when the insulator was inclined. With the reduction of clearance distance under inclination effects, the localised electric field form may increase the electrical discharge and arching likelihood. In a worst-case scenario, the flashover may cause faulty transmission equipment. In either case, the electrical performance of the insulator is reduced under the inclination effects.