Surface Wettability and Flashover Characteristics of Insulating Materials Under Different Electric Fields

With the rapid advancements in new energy systems, electrical equipment faces increasingly complex operating conditions and heightened insulation performance requirements. Flashover discharges caused by condensation represent a significant threat, emphasizing the need to investigate the dynamic behavior of insulating materials under surface wettability conditions. This study integrates multi-physical simulations with experimental validation to explore the effects of various factors on droplet morphology evolution and flashover voltage. The results reveal that voltage, droplet radius, and surface tension are critical determinants of droplet deformation. Under direct current electric fields, the spreading coefficient of droplets is significantly higher than under alternating current fields, with a maximum difference of 41.74%. Notably, hydrophobic materials exhibit exceptional resistance to droplet deformation at low voltages, effectively suppressing droplet motion and achieving higher flashover voltages.