Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ceramic and hybrid support insulators for UHVDC systems

  • CIGRE 2016
  • Published:
e & i Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The requirements for UHVDC installations in terms of length, mechanical strength, permissible deflection, creepage distance, shed profiles and pollution resistance are still a challenge for all existing technologies and solutions. Based on the positive long time experience with solid core porcelain post insulators and the pollution experience of insulators with silicone housings the fundamental concept of both were used to develop a new type post insulator with inside ceramic core and housing of silicone. The challenge was to provide a reliable and economical solution, which combines the advantages of both technologies.

Realising the needs for high strength, low deflection under load for many applications PPC Insulators Austria began the development of hybrid post insulators. The ceramic solid core design provides superior advantages in terms of bending strength, also for torsion load and compression load. The silicone rubber housing allows thinner sheds and greater creepage distances, provides improved long term pollution flashover performance and protects the core from short circuit arc damage. As design for DC hybrid post insulators was chosen upright tapered, uniform and underhung tapered insulators columns stacked of single hybrid insulator sections. The single sections could be varied in core diameter, length, creepage distance, fittings and holepattern. The shed profile used for DC applications was defined according the recommendations given by CIGRE.

Selected design tests, electrical and mechanical type tests were conducted according to the relevant parts of IEC standards for composite and ceramic insulators. Also a long term test installation was performed to establish a confidence in this product. The long term test installation has been energized at 725 kV DC and later the voltage was increased to 761 kV DC. The tests have served well in providing final qualification. Beside these voltage tests measurements of ESDD/NSDD, hydrophobicity and also visual inspections were carried out. The mechanical properties were driven from the seismic requirements and have been calculated by finite element modelling of the reactor and its support structure. For post insulators with silicone rubber sheds and with solid core porcelain may be the most stable solution and this type has been adopted in different 800 kV projects. One of the new insulator was chosen for smoothing reactor support for 800 kV DC system in India.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.
Fig. 10.
Fig. 11.
Fig. 12.
Fig. 13.
Fig. 14.

References

  1. Gödel, G. (2015): Hybrid insulators – another solution for improved performance. In 2015 INMR World Congress.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Looms, J. S. T. (1988): Hybrid Outdoor Insulators. IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, July/August, 4(4).

  3. CIGRE technical brochure 518 – Outdoor insulation in polluted conditions: guidelines for selection and dimensioning, Part 2: The DC case.

  4. IEEE taskforce on electric fields and composite insulators (2008): Electric fields on AC composite transmission line insulators. IEEE Trans. Power Deliv., 23(2).

  5. IEC 60672-3, ceramic and glass-insulating materials – Part 3: Specification for individual materials.

  6. Axelsson, R., Johansson, T. (1998): Development trends regarding improvements for porcelain insulators. Electrical insulation and dielectric phenomena. Annu. Rep., 1, 60–63.

    Google Scholar 

  7. George, J. M. (2009): Review of polymer materials and design considerations based on field experience and laboratory testing. In 2009 INMR World Congress.

    Google Scholar 

  8. IEC 61952, Insulators for overhead lines – Composite line post insulators for AC systems with a nominal voltage greater than 1000 kV – Definitions, test methods and acceptance criteria.

  9. IEC 62217, Polymeric insulators for indoor and outdoor use with a nominal voltage >1000 kV – General definitions, test methods and acceptance criteria.

  10. IEC 60695-11-10, Fire hazard testing – Part 11-10: Test flames – 50 W horizontal and vertical flame test methods.

  11. IEC 60168, Tests on indoor and outdoor post insulators of ceramic material or glass for systems with a nominal voltage greater than 1000 kV.

  12. IEC 60587, Electrical insulating materials used under severe ambient conditions – Test methods for evaluating resistance to tracking and erosion.

  13. IEC 60273, Characteristics of indoor and outdoor post insulators for systems with nominal voltages greater than 1000 V.

  14. DL/T 818-2002, Electric power industry standard of the People’s Republic of China: technical specification for \(\pm 500\) kV DC long rod composite insulators.

  15. IEC TR 60438, tests and dimensions for high-voltage DC insulators.

  16. IEC 62231, Composite station post insulators for substations with AC voltages greater than 1000 kV up to 245 kV – Definitions, test methods and acceptance criteria.

  17. IEC TS 62896 – Ed. 1.0 – 2015-11, Hybrid insulators for AC and DC high-voltage applications – definitions, test methods and acceptance criteria.

  18. Kumar, A., Wu, D., Hartings, R. (2007): Experience from first 800 kV HVDC test installation. In ICPS – 2007, Bangalore, India.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Liang, X., Gao, Y., Jiang, X. Xue, J. (1997): Hybrid insulator – the excellent post insulator for HVAC and HVDC power station. ISH Montreal.

    Google Scholar 

  20. STRI – C. Ahlholm: Field test of PPC hybrid post insulator at 725 kV DC with afterservice measurements, Report R12-831-2012, Ludvika.

  21. STRI Guide 3, 2002/1: Composite insulator status program: field inspection of composite line insulators, 2002, Ludvika.

  22. IEC 60815, Selection and dimensioning of high-voltage insulators for polluted conditions – Part 1: Definitions, information and general principles.

  23. IEC TS 62073, Guidance on the measurement of wettability of insulator surfaces.

  24. IEC 60076, power transformers – Part 6: Reactors.

  25. Wu, D., Aström, U., Arevalo, L., Montano, R., Jacobson, B.: Selection between indoor and outdoor DC yards. CIGRE 2014, B3-115, Paris.

  26. Wu, D., Hartings, R., Aström, U., Almgren, B., Nord, S. (1997): The performance of station post insulators for UHVDC applications. ISH Montreal.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mikli, N., Stahl, P., Räth, B., Hurnicki, M., Hummerston, T. A new generation of composite support insulators for UHV DC and AC systems. CIGRE 2012, A3-111, Paris.

  28. Stahl, P. (2015): Station post insulators (SPI), an emerging application for composite hollow core insulators. In 2015 INMR World Congress.

    Google Scholar 

  29. CIGRE Technical brochure 184, composite insulator handling guide.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PPC Insulators Austria GmbH, Gamserstraße 38, 8523, Frauental, Austria

    G. Goedel

  2. Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 18, 8010, Graz, Austria

    M. Muhr

  3. Sediver R&D, 46, avenue de Thiers, 03270, Saint-Yorre, France

    J. M. George

  4. Trench Austria GmbH, Paschinger Straße 49, 4060, Linz-Leoding, Austria

    K. Pointner

Authors
  1. G. Goedel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Muhr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. M. George
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Pointner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Goedel.

Additional information

Paper submitted for the CIGRE Session 2016, SC B3, Paris, France, August 21–26, 2016.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Goedel, G., Muhr, M., George, J.M. et al. Ceramic and hybrid support insulators for UHVDC systems. Elektrotech. Inftech. 134, 53–60 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00502-016-0451-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00502-016-0451-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation