The number of single-phase faults in the transmission networks in wintertime increases substantially during cold atmosphere precipitation and after ice accretions followed by a rise in air temperature above 0/spl deg/C. >

Flashover problems caused by ice build up on insulators

Test methods for evaluating flashover voltage of ceramic and nonceramic insulators under ice, snow, and cold-fog conditions are recommended. The paper describes the procedure to be followed at various stages of an evaluation test including preparation of the test object, insulator precontamination, ice, snow, and cold-fog deposits as well as voltage applications and flashover voltage evaluation. Some relevant parameters for ice accretion, flashover voltage evaluation, artificial pollution, and power source requirements are taken from IEC 60129, IEC 60507, and IEEE Std.-4-1995 on standard techniques for high-voltage testing.

Insulator icing test methods and procedures: a position paper prepared by the IEEE task force on insulator icing test methods

A field observation of ice accretion on Hydro-Quebec HV insulators was carried out, as well as a laboratory investigation of the AC flashover performance of various types of insulators covered with artificial ice. The field observations made it possible to identify the type and physical aspect of naturally occurring ice accretions produced during freezing rain precipitation. The laboratory investigation was conducted in a 4.8/spl times/2.8 m/spl times/3.8 m climate room using a HV transformer of 120 kV, 240 kVA with a short-circuit impedance of 5%. A method based on the standard IEC 507 method was developed for measuring the maximum withstand voltage (V/sub WS/) of ice-covered insulators. Various factors were investigated, including the effects on the insulator V/sub WS/ of such particulars as type, thickness, and uniformity of the ice, as well as the arcing distance of the insulators and the conductivity of freezing water. The effects of uniform ice, 2 cm thick, on 5 IEEE insulator units was thus considered to be equivalent to the effect of an ESDD of about 0.13 mg/cm/sup 2/ on the same insulators. >

AC flashover performance of insulators covered with artificial ice

A model for predicting the flashover voltage of ice-covered insulators energized with ac voltage is presented in this paper. The model takes into account the variation of ice surface conductivity as a function of freezing water conductivity. The effects of the length of the arc on its own characteristics, as well as the ac arc reignition condition, were determined in a laboratory investigation using triangular ice samples. The model is applied to a short string of 5 IEEE standard insulator units. There is an excellent concordance between the 50% flashover voltage calculated from the mathematical model and the experimental results.

Modeling of the ac arc discharge on ice surfaces. Discussion. Authors' reply

A model for predicting the flashover voltage of ice-covered insulators energized with AC voltage is presented in this paper. The model takes into account the variation of ice surface conductivity as a function of freezing water conductivity. The effects of the length of the arc on its own characteristics, as well as the AC arc reignition condition, were determined in a laboratory investigation using triangular ice samples. The model is applied to a short string of 5 IEEE standard insulator units. There is an excellent concordance between the 50% flashover voltage calculated from the mathematical model and the experimental results.

Modeling of the AC ARC Discharge on Ice Surfaces

The authors describe the results of an investigation into the withstand voltage characteristics of an insulator string covered with snow or ice and the application of these results to the insulation design and maintenance of a transmission line in a heavy snow area. It was found that the characteristics of withstand voltage were affected by the specific gravity of snow, the conductivity of water melted from snow, the height of snow, and the ratio of snow-covered length. The lightning impulse flashover voltage of insulator string covered with snow is much lower than that of nonsnow-covered insulator, indicating that the efficiency of lightning protection greatly decreases under snowing conditions. When transmission lines pass through a heavy snow area, an extension of the transmission system fault is feared in 54 and 275 kV transmission lines because the existing insulator string length does not have sufficient dielectric strength for temporary AC overvoltage and switching surge. >

K. Takasu

Papers

Withstand voltage characteristics of insulator string covered with snow or ice