The Electric Field Characteristics in Clevis Type Polymer Insulators Affected by Size and Contact Angle of the Contaminants: Simulation Approach

Abstract

Indonesia, as an archipelago and tropical country, results in a unique working environment for polymer insulators. Then as discovered that insulators are aging in the coastal area more quickly, this study investigated the effect of size and contact angle of contaminants. There are two types of pollutants used, namely seawater and distilled water. Seawater has a salt content. Its conductivity is higher than distilled water. Insulator modeling and contaminant variation are carried out in software based on the finite-element method (FEM). Based on the study results, a unique electric field characteristic was obtained for each case study. The electric field with the highest magnitude is generated by case 3 (seawater contaminants and water droplets with a contact angle of more than 90 degrees). It is 55000 V/m.