Electric field analysis of 11 kV socket end fitting

composite insulator
N.Avudaiammal Dr.M.Willjuice Iruthayarajan B.Vigneshwaran
PG Scholar, Professor, Assistant professor,
Department of EEE, Department of EEE, Department of EEE,
National Engineering College, National Engineering College, National Engineering College,
Kovilpatti, Tamilnadu, India. Kovilpatti, Tamilnadu,India. Kovilpatti, Tamilnadu, India.
avudaiammal89@gmail.com m.willjuice@yahoo.com bvigneshwar89@gmail.com

Abstract The area of electric filed distribution is the major
concern in the service life of polymeric insulators. In this paper,
the Electric potential and Electric field (E-Field) distribution
along the insulator are simulated. At first, the insulator is
modeled and the electrical performance of 11 kV socket end
fitting composite insulator, under normal and polluted condition
are analyzed in 2D by using Finite element method. Under
normal and pollution condition the flashover voltage of the
insulator are determined experimentally. The result shows that
the E-Field is not uniform along the insulator and the Electric
stress is higher in end fittings.
Keywords Composite insulator; Finite Element Method;
Flashover voltage; NaCl; Brushing method.
I. INTRODUCTION
Non-ceramic insulators are used to support the
transmission line and to prevent the leakage current.
Composite insulators are also known as polymeric insulator or
Non-ceramic insulator. The flashover performance of
composite insulator under contaminated condition shows the
better result when compared to ceramic insulator. In recent
years, the usage of composite insulator has been increased due
to their advantages over ceramic insulator. Composite
insulator possesses light weight, resistance to vandalism, good
hydrophobicity and ease of installation. While designing the
composite insulator, consideration of the electric stress and
mechanical stress are important. Due to high electric stress
corona will occur on the surface of the materials [1]. The
corona ring is provided to overcome the electric stress [3].
Design, operation and performance of the HV insulators
influence the electric field and electric potential distribution.
E-Field and Electric potential distribution are the Electrical
performance of insulator. To improve the electrical
performance various techniques are used, such as providing
arcing horn, corona ring, and shed, end fitting design. Due to
non-uniform electric field distribution, partial and corona
discharges occur in the insulator.
To avoid partial discharge and corona discharge the shape
of composite must be well designed. To investigate the
Electric potential and E-Field distribution around the insulator
are the important to analyze electric stress [8]. The various
numerical methods are used to calculate the field distribution,
such as Finite difference method (FDM), Finite element
method (FEM), and Boundary element method (BEM) and
Charge simulation method (CSM). Flashover of insulator
takes place due to industrial contaminant, coastal fog, natural
dust and bird feces etc. According to IEC60507 solid layer
method is used to pollute the insulator artificially. Solid layer
method used in three ways such as Spraying method, dipping
method and brushing method. To improve the performance of
insulator the artificial pollution tests were carried in laboratory
[4].
Main components of composite insulator are core, metal
end fitting and weather shed. Composite insulators are made
up of Silicone Rubber, Ethylene Propylene diene monomer.
End fitting transmits the mechanical load to core. End fitting
shall be made of malleable cast iron or forged steel. The
composite insulator has various types of end fittings such as
ball end fitting, socket end fitting, clevis end fitting.
According to IS2629 ball and socket end fitting shows the
better result. Composite insulator having two types of shed
straight shed and alternate shed. Alternate shed provide higher
withstand voltage compared to straight shed [11].
II. ELECTRIC FIELD AND ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
DISTRIBUTION
The electric field strength is higher in high voltage side
and ground side. The E-Field distribution along the insulator is
not uniform. While designing the composite insulator
calculation of electric field distribution is very significant.[5]
The Electric field distribution of composite insulator depends
on various parameters, such as applied voltage, attachment
hardware shed design, applied voltage and phase spacing etc.
To reduce the discharge in composite insulator, the Electric
field distribution must be uniform. E-Field distribution is
calculated from Electric potential distribution. E-Field is equal
to negative potential gradient.
 E= -V (1) selected specimen. Fig.2 and Fig.3 shows the insulator model
From Maxwells equation, under normal and pollution condition in comsol.
.E=U/ (2)
A. Insulator modeling
E-Field distribution around the insulator is calculated by
two methods, such as analytical and numerical methods.
Numerical methods are used to analyze the Electric field
distribution along the insulator. Partial differential equation is
used to express the electromagnetic problems with help of
Maxwells equation [7]. The surface of the insulator is
discretized into many boundary elements. Compared to
quadrilaterals triangular elements are best suited
[9].Triangular elements provide good accuracy.
.A 2D axial symmetrical model is used to simulate the
insulator. Here the 11 kV socket end fitting composite Fig.1 Test specimen
insulator is selected and its dimensions are measured.

TABLE IV. DESIGN PARAMETERS

S.NO Parameters Values

1 Diameter (cm) 6.5

2 Total height (cm) 30
3 Creepage Distance (cm) 28
4 Creepage Factor 2.3
5 Profile Factor 3.7
6 Form Factor 1.2

Generally to obtain the simulation results of insulator

conductivity and permittivity are the required parameters. A
voltage of 11 kV is applied to bottom of the electrode and top
electrode is connected to the ground. Based on the number of
domain in the geometry model, the material properties of the
model will be imposed. Here the insulator is designed under
normal and pollution condition to know the variation of
uniformity of E-Field distribution. Fig.2 Insulator model under normal condition
Conductivity and permittivity are the material property to
simulate insulator.

TABLE V. MATERIAL PROPERTIES USED

Conductivity,
S.NO Material Permittivity
(s/m)
-13
1 Silicone Rubber 1.0 10 4.3
2 Forged steel 5.9 10 7 1
3 Air background 1.0 10 -13 1
4 Pollution severity 6 10 -7 7.1

B. Simulation results
Different types of meshes are selected according to
boundary condition and geometry of shape. 2D axial
symmetric model is used to simulate the insulator. Pollution
severity expressed interms of equivalent salt deposit density
(ESDD). In simulation the pollution layer is used to E-Field
distribution along the insulator. According to FEM the Fig.3 Insulator model with pollution layer
element is subdivided into triangular element. Fig.1 shows the
C. Analysis of Electric potential and Electric field
distribution along the composite insulator
Electric potential and Electric field distribution along the
arc length are measured. The arc length measured on the
polymeric surface of the insulator from HV to ground end. Fig
4 shows the Electric potential distribution along the arc length
under normal condition. Fig.5 shows the Electric potential
distribution under abnormal or pollution condition. Fig 6 and
Fig.7 shows the Electric field distribution along the arc length
under normal and pollution condition.
Fig.4 Electric potential distribution along insulator under
normal condition
Fig.5 Electric potential distribution along insulator under
Pollution condition
Fig.6 Electric field distribution under pollution condition
Fig.7 Electric field distribution under pollution condition
From simulation results high stress occur near the end
fittings. Under normal condition the electric potential and
electric field distribution uniformity is higher compared to
pollution condition. Under normal condition, the higher stress
occurs in live end fitting only. But during pollution condition
the stress value get increases throughout the insulator. Due to
the higher conductivity of the pollution layer the electric field
value get increased.
III. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND RESULTS
Flashover voltage and leakage current are the required
parameters to know about the electrical characteristics of the
insulator. In this paper even-rising flashover method is used to
calculate flashover voltage. Flashover performance carried out
under normal and pollution condition. Due to increase in
pollution severity the flashover voltage get reduced.
A. Experimental setup
The experimental setup having various components such
as coupling capacitor, high voltage test transformer and
artificial pollution chamber. Artificial pollution chamber is
used to carry out the artificial pollution test. The transformer
rated current is 222.8/0.1A, rated voltage is
20.22/100/0.22kV and rated output is 10 kVA.
B. Test specimen
The specimen taken is 11kV socket end fitting composite
insulator. The diameter of test specimen is 6.5cm, total height
is 30cm and creepage distance is 28 cm.
C. Test methodology
The flashover tests are carried out under normal and
pollution condition. The flashover tests are carried out after
the wetted of pollution layer. Flashover voltage of composite
insulator depends on dimension and shape of insulator, applied
voltage, atmospheric temperature, and conductivity. Here
even-rising flashover method is used to calculate the mean
value five individual flashover readings. Following formulas
are used to estimate the average flashover voltage and
standard deviation.
(3)
U av= average flashover voltage, U fm= minimum flashover spraying method. Here brushing method is used to coat the
voltage and N= Total number of effective tests. pollution.

TABLE V. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS UNDER POLLUTION

(4) ESDD NaCl Kaolin Distilled U av

S.NO (%)
(mg/cm2) (gm) (gm) water(ml) (kV)
(%)- standard deviation 1 0.01 20 1 20 64.6 1.04
Flashover on high voltage insulator due to their natural 2 0.03 20 2 20 61.4 1.23
pollution reduces the flashover performance and reliability of 3 0.05 20 3 20 56.7 2.45
overhead lines in polluted areas. The flashover will occur in 4 0.06 20 4 20 50.3 1.34
the insulator when it is made to have higher electrical stress
along with the contamination layer. Before the pollution test
the flashover voltage of the insulator is 70 kV
80Fig.8 Flashover voltage under pollution
D. Pollution test
60
Pollution is the main problem in insulator; it degrades and

Uav(kV)
affects the electrical characteristics of the insulator. There are 40
many sources of pollution that contaminant the insulator, such 20
as sea salt, industrial products, bird excretion and desert sands 0
etc. The aerodynamic catch of the insulator is the most 0.01 0.03 0.05 0.06
important process of pollution deposit on the insulator.
Pollution severity is expressed in terms of equivalent salt ESDD(mg/cm2)
deposit density (ESDD). The samples are collected from
insulator pollution to calculate the ESDD. This experimental Fig.8 Flashover voltage under pollution
procedure is same as for desert, industrial and coastal
pollution test. ESDD is calculated at 20c conductivity. Here
the coastal pollution tests are carried out. The formulas used From the figure average flashover voltage reduces when
for calculating ESDD are given as follows: increasing ESDD. ESDD increases due to the high deposition
of salt. When ESDD increases the flashover voltage get
20 = [1 b( -20)] (5) reduces due to the increase in conductivity. The insulator
flashover voltage gets reduced under pollution condition.
Where, - temperature of solution(c), -volume
conductivity at temperature at , b-temperature dependent
factor. IV. CONCLUSION
From the analysis of E-Field distribution, the electric stress
ESDD= (SaV)/A (6) is higher in end fittings. During pollution, Electric stress is
higher along the insulators. From the experimental results the
V-Volume of distilled water (cm3), A-Area of the sample, value of flashover voltage get reduces under pollution
Sa- Salinity of salt (kg/cm3). condition. Compared to other end fitting socket end fitting
greatly reduces the electric field stress due to their higher
diameter and round edges. The investigation has been made to
TABLE VI. POLLUTION SEVERITY BASED ON NACL SALT overcome the above problem by analyzing the end fitting of
insulator.
S.NO NaCl in gm Pollution level
1 1 to 10 Very light pollution
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
2 11 to 20 Light pollution
This work is supported by the National Engineering
3 21 to 30 Moderate pollution
College, Kovilpatti, India. The authors thank Principal, Head
4 30 to 40 Heavy pollution of the Department of the institution for their support to obtain
5 Above 40 Extra Heavy pollution the experimental data and analysis in this paper.

Flashover tests are conducted under light coastal pollution. REFERENCES

So the NaCl values kept constant as 20 gm and only vary the
amount of kaolin. Solid layer method was adopted to coat the
artificial salt mixture. The pollution layer may be applied by
three methods, such as brushing method, dipping method and
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