Post insulators for overhead transmission lines

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The production of electricity is a complex technological process. The essence of this technology is to convert one type of energy into another. So, at thermal stations, water or steam heated to a certain temperature rotates the generator turbine, as a result of which an electric current is produced. But generating energy is not enough. We need to deliver it to the end user. For this purpose, power lines are used - power lines. Support insulators play an important role in the design of elements. To put it simply, their task is to separate the current-carrying wire and the support.

In order to isolate them from each other, suspension and support insulators are used. The design of the product is selected depending on the capacity of the line. On overhead power lines with a power of 110 kV and above, only suspended options are used. In any case, until recently, the relevant standard was in effect. The fact is that the traditional materials for the manufacture of insulators are tempered glass and porcelain. According to their physicalcharacteristics, they withstand high tensile and compressive loads. However, when bending, their strength is not enough.

On overhead power lines with a power of 35 kV and below, post insulators can be used. They can always be seen on wooden and reinforced concrete pillars. According to the current rules and regulations, the distribution of electricity to specific consumers is carried out using power lines with a capacity of 0.4 kV. In Russia, in the Soviet Union and today in the Russian Federation, this standard remains unchanged. In the usual outlet, which is in every apartment, the mains voltage is 220 V. All household appliances and a significant part of industrial equipment are calculated under this indicator.

By design, post insulators are more convenient to use than suspension insulators. However, at high voltages, their technical characteristics do not provide the necessary parameters. This has already been discussed above. In order to achieve the appropriate qualities, systematic work is underway to create new materials and a more advanced insulator configuration. In this context, it is important to note that it must reliably perform its functions under all given operating conditions. This means that at high humidity there is no short circuit of the line to the ground.

Currently, polymeric materials have been used for the manufacture of insulators. Compared withtraditional - glass and porcelain - they have higher technological and design parameters. Due to this, the cost of products has decreased and their technical characteristics have increased. Currently, when designing a 110 kV transmission line, a comparative analysis can be done to determine which insulators are more profitable to use. It should be noted that the development of the design requires a lot of time and resources. Each new sample must be tested under actual operating conditions.