Silicone Coating on Porcelain Insulator

Abstract

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) utilized porcelain insulators in the transmission overhead line system. These insulators reputed to be the best insulators with regard to the design and durability. In spite of satisfactory performance, porcelain insulators have disadvantages such as regular washing and cleaning. Because of the coastal location and industrial pollution of the overhead lines, frequent washing of porcelain insulators is required to ensure interruption free and reliable performance. Various Studies have been conducted on the operation of porcelain insulators i.e., flashover from heavy pollution during foggy/stormy weather, extremely high and ling periods of high humidity, industrial and dust contaminants. These studies suggested the right specification for creepage distance of insulator strings in different environments. Nevertheless, have not provided sufficient protection mechanism from pollution deposits. This has introduced the development and application of high voltage silicone coating to porcelain insulators provides adequate protection from pollutions. This practice with high quality performance, durability, long life and without requiring regular washing, has proven the advantage over glass and composite insulators. This technical report, “Silicone Coating on Porcelain Insulator” will guide engineers and other utilities, particularly countries with environmental conditions like Dubai in selecting the precise insulator to be used in their overhead line system. Likewise, it will give them an idea on how to improve the existing insulator they have on their system.

Keywords: Equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD), insulator, reliability centered maintenance (RCM), room temperature vulcanizing (RTV), unified specific creepage distance (USCD)