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3. LABORATORY RESULTS
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~
I ds
showing some heating effect after some heavy wetting and
-30 minutes of stressing at U.,
Figure 10: Image taken at night using the night-vision
Temperature rises were still visible on the surface of the imaging equipment.
insulator after 30 minutes of stressing. This is shown in
Figure 8. A comparison of the two UV imaging cameras indicates
very good correlation between the two images. The large
4. FIELD INSPECTION RESULTS integration time of the daylight camera required coupled
to the distance to the insulator under inspection does
The evaluation of the different imaging techniques in the result in less ability to determine the exact location of the
laboratoly indicated that there was very good correlation discharge but does give a reasonable indication of the
between the night-vision and daytime UV imaging location of the discharge activity. A still image using a
equipment. However, the lighting in the laboratory is of large format digital camera was also taken of the same V-
the flourescent type and therefore not representative string as indicated above. This image is shown in Figure
(particularly in the UV region) of natural daylight. 11 below.
Further, in the laboratory it is possible to be relatively
close to the insulator under test (-2 metres) whilst in the
field the distance from the ground based inspection team
to the insulators on the tower will be of the order of tens
of metres (20m-30m). The impact of these less controlled
variables (intensity and spectral density of sunlight on any
given day and distance to the object under test) needed to
be evaluated and the outputs of the various techniques
compared.
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5. DISCUSSION
Figure 13 : Figure of two insulators in a strain assembly
indicating corona activity some distance ftom the live end Ultra-violet and infra-red imaging are both suitable
fitting. techniques for the in-service evaluation of composite
insulators. The results from day-light ultra-violet imaging
The source of the corona is assumed to be water droplet
cameras correlate well with the results obtained with more
corona as these discharges were observed under rain
classical night-vision imaging equipment as well as with
conditions. Such discharges were not detected on other
still camera photographs taken at night. The experiments
insulators on the same assembly, however.
performed in the laboratory indicated that UV imaging may
be more appropriate for the detection of defects that may be
of concern to users of composite insulatorj than inh-red
imaging equipment. Discharges associated with an
insulator damaged in the laboratory through tracking
tended to occur at the point where the track ended and less
activity was then observed at the live-end fitting. Such a
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IEEE Africon 2002 598
change in corona activity is expected if the track is partially Technikon in 2000. He is employed by Technology
conducting. Such corona modes have been observed on Services International (a division of Eskom Enterprises)
units during in-service inspections. as a chief consultant on insulators. Current research
interests include faults on transmission lines caused by
CONCLUSIONS bird streamers, lightning and fues, optical fibres in high
Damage to the core of an insulator due to tracking voltage environments and high voltage outdoor insulation.
may be detected using both infra-red and UV optical
inspection tools. Nishal Mahatho completed his ND in Electrical
The sensitivity of each technique is enhanced by the Engineering at ML Sultan Technikon in 1997. Currently
presence of moisture on the surface of the insulator. employed as a Senior Technician at Eskom TSI with
A track along the core may manifest itself by the responsibility for high voltage outdoor insulator research
occurrence of corona half way up the insulator and and with research interests covering this area and
possibly at the dead-end of the insulator with an transmission performance related issues.
absence of corona along the length of the track. This
corona may be detected using both night vision UV Derek Hoch graduated with the BSc(Eng) 6um the
cameras as well as daylight corona cameras. University ofthe Witwatersrand in 1986,obtained his PhD
Infra-red cameras will also detect the presence of a from the same institution in 1994 and is currently lecturing
defect but the sensitivity is quite low even when the at the University of Natal. Current research interests
insulator is wet i.e. temperature rises are quite small include factors that affect power system reliability, aging of
unless arcing occurs on the surface of the insulator. polymeric materials and the performance of optical fibres
for communication purposes in high voltage environments.
REFERENCES
[l] Cigre Working Group 22.03, Review of in-service
testing of composite insulators, Electra Number Presenter:
169,December 1996. The paper is presented by Fabio Bologna
[2] de Nigris, M, Tavana, F, Zagliani,F and Rendina, R,
Diagnostic methods of non-ceramic insulators for Authors Addresses:
HV lines, Cigre Session 2000,Paper 22-207,Paris, Eskom TSI, Cleveland 4041,South Africa,
August 2000. E-mail: Fabio.Boloena@eskom.co.za
E-mail: Nishal.M*atho@eskom.co.za
[3] Philips, AJ, Childs, DJ and Schneider, HM, Water
droplet corona effects on a full scale 500 kV non-
ceramic insulator, IEEE Transactions on Power University Of Natal* Durban, 4001
Delivery, Volume 14 Number 1, January 1999. E-mail: hoch@nu.ac.za
[4] Windmar, D, Water droplet initiated discharges in
air, PhD Thesis, Uppsala University Press, 1994.
[SI Hoch, DA, Bologna, FF and Mahatho, N, Corona
associated with in-service non-ceramic insulators,
Eskom Research Report RES/Rw00/12919.
Johanesburg, 2001.
[6] Nixon, KJ, Reynders, JP and Hill, RJ, Corona and
sustained arcing on conventional and novel non-
ceramic insulator designs, 7 Southern African
Universities Power Engineering Conference,
Stellenbosch, January 1998.
[7] Hoch, DA, Bologna, FF and Mahatho, N,
Development of in-service inspection techniques,
Eskom Research Report RES/Rw01/13306,
Johanesburg,.
[8]Hoch, DA, Bologna, FF and Mahatho, N, In-service
inspection techniques for non-ceramic insulators :
laboratory evaluation, Eskom Research Report
RES/RR/00/10470,Johanesburg, 2001.
191 Hoch, DA, Bologna, FF and Mahatho, N,
ZOOZCorona associated with in-service non-ceramic
insulators, Eskom Research Report
RES/RR/00/12919, Johanesburg, 2001.
Authors:
Fabio Bologna graduated with a NHD(Elec Eng) from the
Technikon Witwatersrand in 1989 and has subsequently
obtained an MTech (Elec Eng) from the Port Elizabeth
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