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Risk assessment of desert pollution on composite high voltage insulators.

Journal of advanced research · 2014 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 3053

A 3D finite element simulation was used to model an ABB-designed composite insulator under sand pollution (with grain size and salinity data from prior Sinai research) to estimate potential/electric field distributions and resulting leakage current. A method …

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of advanced research · 2014
Study typeengineering
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Transmission lines located in the desert are subjected to desert climate, one of whose features is sandstorms. With long accumulation of sand and with the advent of moisture from rain, ambient humidity and dew, a conductive layer forms and the subsequent leakage current may lead to surface discharge, which may shorten the insulator life or lead to flashover thus interrupting the power supply. Strategically erected power lines in the Egyptian Sinai desert are typically subject to such a risk, where sandstorms are known to be common especially in the spring. In view of the very high cost of insulator cleaning operation, composite (silicon rubber) insulators are nominated to replace ceramic insulators on transmission lines in Sinai. This paper examines the flow of leakage current on sand-polluted composite insulators, which in turn enables a risk assessment of insulator failure. The study uses realistic data compiled and reported in an earlier research project about Sinai, which primarily included grain sizes of polluting sand as well as their salinity content. The paper also uses as a case study an ABB-designed composite insulator. A three-dimensional finite element technique is used to simulate the insulator and seek the potential and electric field distribution as well as the resulting leakage current flow on its polluted surface. A novel method is used to derive the probabilistic features of the insulator's leakage current, which in turn enables a risk assessment of insulator failure. This study is expected to help in critically assessing - and thus justifying - the use of this type of insulators in Sinai and similar critical areas.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeengineering
Effect directionunclear
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureNot supplied
Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

A 3D finite element simulation was used to model an ABB-designed composite insulator under sand pollution (with grain size and salinity data from prior Sinai research) to estimate potential/electric field distributions and resulting leakage current. A method was applied to derive probabilistic features of leakage current to enable risk assessment of insulator failure.

Outcomes measured

  • electric field distribution
  • potential distribution
  • leakage current flow on polluted insulator surface
  • probabilistic features of leakage current
  • risk assessment of insulator failure (surface discharge/flashover)

Limitations

  • Uses simulation (finite element) rather than direct field measurements in this paper
  • Relies on realistic data compiled in an earlier research project (details not provided in abstract)
  • Single case study insulator design (ABB-designed composite insulator)
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "high voltage transmission line insulators (sand-polluted composite insulators)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "electric field distribution",
    "potential distribution",
    "leakage current flow on polluted insulator surface",
    "probabilistic features of leakage current",
    "risk assessment of insulator failure (surface discharge/flashover)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "A 3D finite element simulation was used to model an ABB-designed composite insulator under sand pollution (with grain size and salinity data from prior Sinai research) to estimate potential/electric field distributions and resulting leakage current. A method was applied to derive probabilistic features of leakage current to enable risk assessment of insulator failure.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Uses simulation (finite element) rather than direct field measurements in this paper",
    "Relies on realistic data compiled in an earlier research project (details not provided in abstract)",
    "Single case study insulator design (ABB-designed composite insulator)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "desert pollution",
    "sandstorms",
    "composite (silicon rubber) insulators",
    "high voltage transmission lines",
    "leakage current",
    "surface discharge",
    "flashover",
    "finite element simulation",
    "risk assessment",
    "Sinai desert"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.12,
      "reason": "Concerns high-voltage transmission infrastructure in desert environments; potential relevance to utility/line maintenance contexts, though no worker exposure outcomes are assessed."
    }
  ]
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2013.07.008
PubMed: 25685525

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