Effect of humidity on leakage current of a contaminated 11 kV Porcelain Pin Insulator

Abstract

Porcelain Pin Insulators are one of the most critical components of Power system transmission and distribution arena. Due to environmental degradations these insulators get contaminated. Leakage current starts to flow over the surface of contaminated insulators in presence of humidity, light rain, fog, mist etc. This phenomenon ultimately leads to flashover. To prevent flashover, leakage current measurement of contaminated insulator is very essential. To measure leakage current of a contaminated insulator in presence of humidity of different levels, an experimental set up has been arranged at High Voltage Laboratory of Jadavpur University. From leakage current data and FFT analysis, it will be very helpful for prediction of contamination level of insulators and finally flashover will be averted.