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770 I70,EE, TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS, VOL. PAS-89, NO.

5/6, MAY/JUNE 1970

CONCLUSIONS tendency of horizontal strings to clean themselves by dripping anid


The results of each of the three investigations'card out have washing can result in apparently greater strengths in field installa-
already been discussed in detail, and the most important con- tions or when dipped in identical slurries.
clusions are...summarized as follows. REFERENCES
1) The good reproducibility of the.results.ahieved with the
wet contaminant miethod is a characteristic of the test method and [1] B. Macchiaroli and F. J. Turner, "A new contamination test
method," IEEE Trans. Power Appparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-
can be achieved with .any contaminating slurr hat will give 88, pp. 1400-1411, September 1969.
a good insulator coverage and maintain a:,:.uniform wet condition [2] , "Comparison of insulator types by the wet contaminant
and clean fog method," IEEE Trans. Power Apparatus and
for the required test time. Systems, vol. PAS-89, pp. 190-197, February 1970.
2) In order to achieve reproducible results over a period of [3] M. Kawai and D. M. Milone, "Test on salt-contaminated in-
time and also between laboratories, the contaminating materials sulators in artificial and natural wet conditions," IEEE Trans.
Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-88, pp. 1394-1399,
must be pure materials that will not change in composition. September 1969.
3) For all of the tests performed, both in this and two preced- [4] S. Fujitaka, T. Kawamura, S. Tsurumi, H. Kondo, T. Seta, and
ing investigations [1], [21, the withstand voltage was found to be M. Yamamoto, "Japanese method of artificial pollution tests on
insulators," IEEE Trans. Power Apparatus and Systems, vol.
constant for a given surface conductivity. Thus the withstand PAS-87, pp. 729-735, March 1968.
voltage was found to be independent of test method,2 the con- [5] J. D. M. Phelps, J. B. Owens, and A. Foti, "Testing EHV sta-
taminating slurry, and geometrical position. tion insulation for performance in contaminated conditions,"
IEEE Trans. Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-87, pp.
4) A nonuniform distribution of contaminant along an insula- 448-454, February 1968.
tor string results in a lower flashover strength than a uniform [6] J. G. Anderson, M. Baretsky, F. A. Fisher, J. J. LaForest, D..
D. McCarthy, E. F. Magnusson, and K. 0. Tangen, EHV Trans-
distribution. mission Line Reference Book. Chicago, Ill.: Edison Electric In-
5) The withstand voltage of nonuniformly contaminated in- stitute, 1968.
sulator strings can be predicted with acceptable accuracy on the [7] "Kaolin clay and their industrial uses," J. M. Hubert Corp.,
New York, N. Y., Tech. Rept., 1955.
basis of low-voltage measurements on the string in 4uestion and [8] C. S. Ross and P. F. Kezz, "The kaolin minerals," U.S. Dept. of
the withstand values of uniformly contaminated strings. Interior, Geological Survey, 1948.
6) The contamination level of both the upper and lower sur- [9] "Bentonite-properties, sources, geology, production, uses,"
Silica Product Co., Bull. 107.
faces of an insulator affect the withstand strength. [10] Davis and Vachez, "Bentonite-its properties, mining, prepara-
7) The strength of horizontal and vertical strings of insulators tion and utilization," U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
are equivalent for equivalent contamination levels. The greater [11] P. Bernardelli and G. Ferretti, "L'isolamento esterno in
atmosfera inquinata," Rendiconti AEI, Rept. 41, 1964.
[12] F. Iliceto, "Prove su isolatori contaminati artificialmente con
tensione di esercizio e con sovratensioni di manovra," Elettro-
2 Two test methods have bee'`nvestigated by the authors, the wet tecnica, pp. 237-243, March 1968.
contaminant and clean fog. The conclusion also holds true, however [13] G. Carrara and M. Sforzini, "Analysis of pollution test meth-
for clean fog and salt fog tests-performed in the CESI laboratory ods," Paper 68 CP 163-PWR, presented at the IEEE Summer
[13]. Power Meeting, Chicago, Ill., June 23-28, 1968.

Hot-Line Washing of Substation Insulators


TETSUO FUJIMURA, MEMBER, IEEE, AIASAMII OKAYAMA, ASSOCIATE MEMBER, IEEE, AND TAKASHI ISOZAKI

Abstract-As an effective measure to prevent pollution flashover INTRODUCTION


troubles in substations, fixed-type hot-line insulator washing has
been widely used. The fundamental study on electrical performances THE following preventive measures against pollution flash-
of polluted insulators under washing and the performance of a fixed- over troubles of an insulator have been applied:
type washing system are described. It also discusses the necessity 1) antipollution design of an insulator,
of insulation coordination for pollution.
2) hot-line washing,
3) silicone grease treatment,
Paper 69 TP 693-PWR, recommended and approved by the Trans- 4) indoor installation.
mission and Distribution Committee of the IEEE Power Group for
presentation at the IEEE Summer Power Meeting, Dallas, Tex., Antipollution designs of insulators efficiently improve their per-
June 22-27, 1969. Manuscript submitted February 24, 1969; made formance under pollution. However, it is sometimes impractical
available for printing April 14, 1969. to rely only on the antipollution design of an insulator because
The authors are with NGK INSULATORS Ltd., Mizuho, Nagoya,
Japan. pollution sometimes advances to a very extreme extent.
FUJIMURA et al.: HOT-LINIE WASHING OF SUBSTATION INSULATORS 771
14
Washing withstmd
iI 1220
Fo withstand Outer sorov streom
0
lC)O " -

e 8 Spscimen stack 10.0 /G2Cm


Water resistivity
P

i
Salt
Kaolin
: 0.05
0. 13 M-'cm'
*CM'
Fag 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Rote ot precipitation (01Zmrn)
Fig. 1. Precipitation and withstand voltage.

Nozzle Nozzles

Fig. 3. Spraying patterii.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Spray water resistivity (If-cm)

Fig. 2. Spray water resistivity and washing withstand voltage.

The silicone grease treatment is not generally applied because,


in addition to the comparatively high cost, its effective life is
relatively short under heavy pollution.
The indoor installation would solve the problem of insulator
pollution, but its high construction cost requires more develop-
ments to economize the installation before its wider application.
Hot-line washing is a very positive and economical counter-
measure against pollution, especially in substations. Hot-line in-
sulator washing should not simply be considered as a mere wash-
ing. Flashover accident may be initiated under hot-line washing
because of the momentary decrement of insulation resistance un-
less a proper precaution is taken for the overall effect of washing
on the electrical performances of insulators.

WASHING WITHSTAND VOLTAGE TEST


In order to investigate the electrical performances of insulators Fig. 4. Fixed-type jet spray washing for 275-kV transformer.
under hot-line washing, washing withstand voltage test procedures
are as follows.
First, the specimen is polluted by spraying the solution of salt
and kaolin [1], [2] and then is dried. Salt and kaolin represent
electrolytic sLubstances and insoluble dusts in natural pollution,
respectively. The test voltage is applied and is kept constant
during the test. Then, the specimen is washed with spraying water
and, if flashover occurs, the same procedure is repeated again on
the specimen with renewed pollution at 10 kV below that pre-
viously applied. Finally, the highest withstand voltage that the
specimen has endured four times without flashover is recorded as
the washing withstand voltage.
PRECIPITATION
In order to wash energized insulators safely and effectively, it
is essential to know the fundamental effect of washing water.
Fig. shows the influence of precipitation on the flashover volt- Fig. 5. Fixed-type spray washing for 154-kV ABB and CT.
age.
772 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS, MAY/JUNE 1970

.Porcelain
Specimen len th (7mm) Leakage
diestance
154 SP stack 2040 4 660
with rain shield
I54 kV Bushing shell
with rain shielding 2345 6 700
sheds
220

20C S P stack
0
a
ISO \. \ushin shell

la
10 aU
0
140
I1
* 120- Washing withstand
Fog withstand
10 Water resistIvl: 5.0,KD-c
Water pressure 5.0
z. Washing: Fixed type spray
0 0.02 004 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 D.02 004 0.06 0.08 0.1
Salt deposit density("-4cw') Salt deposit density (ffAtmv)
(Kaolin deposit density: 0.13 2mce) ( Kaoliv deposit density 013 V160

Fig. 6. Fog withstand voltage and washing withstand voltage. Fig. 7. Uncoordinated insulation of various equipment.

When the precipitation is too small, washing is not effective,


and the withstand voltage remains low. As the precipitation in-
240l
24C -.
~~Washie withs and
creases, withstand voltage rises. Then, as the precipitation fur- Fog ithsten
220
ther increases, water starts to bridge the sheds of insulators and
the withstand voltage decreases. The optimum precipitation
should be chosen around the peak of the curve. 200
\S
L
L a6i A138
x L\tz oZ grod inulato
WATER RESISTIVITY
Water resistivity could be one of the decisive factors in hot- 16C0 g g P D nd LA
line washing. Fig. 2 shows the influence of the specific resistivity 160 6 m _
of washing water on the washing withstand voltage.
Washing withstand voltage of insulators shows a tendency to 140.
decrease as the water resistivity becomes lower. This trend is par- Lohg r insul vor
ticularly noticeable when the degree of pollution becomes less. 1.
122C LS nd AB
Washing withstand voltage shows a marked decrease when the 30
specific resistivity of water falls below 3.0 kQl cm. Therefore, the PD and LA
specific resistivity of washing water should be above 5.0 kQ. cm. Washi g : Fixed type sprdy
Water resistivity 5.Oxa
EFFECT OF WIND
ILi
B0
Water re
; __o__I
Water spraying at an appropriate precipitation may still lose
its efficiency under a strong wind, and it is necessary to develop a 0 0.2 0! 4 0.0 i 08 QI
spray nozzle system which can assure high washing withstand Sol t deposit density('i"e)
voltage even under a strong wiind. A proper combination of jet (Kaol In dpposit density: 0.13 -Y&'
nozzles and spray nozzles which are widely applied in Japan can Fig. 8. Coordinated insulation of various equipment.
be a solution. Fig. 3 shows an example of the spray pattern of
these nozzles.
Outer streams are effective in washing insulators under a strong Washing withstand voltage of polluted insulators by using
wind. The jet nozzle is more suited for EHV systems because of these nozzles can be kept higher than the fog withstand voltage.
lesser wind effect and long spray range. The spray nozzle is suited Performance of hot-line washing is affected by factors such as
for medium- and high-voltage systems. Figs. 4 and 5 show the precipitation, water resistivity, and wind condition. Other factors
fixed-type washing apparatus with jet-type and spray-type are design and mounting arrangement of the insulators. There-
nozzles, respectively. fore, it is indispensable to perform an experimental study on the
electrical characteristics covering the particular conditions ex-
FOG WITHSTAND VOLTAGE AND WASHING WITHSTAND VOLTAGE pected in a particular substation.
Fog withstand voltages and washing withstand voltages of in- In the case of manually operated jet washing, precautions
sulators under various degrees of pollution were investigated, and must be taken to prevent flashover of the adjacent insulators due
the results are given in Fig. 6. to moistening by scattered water.
FUJIMURA et al.: HOT-LINE WASHING OF SUBSTATION INSULATORS 773

INSULATION COORDINATION FOR HOT-LINE WASHING is a serious problem with several utilities, and that large expenditures
are being made annually on insulation maintenance. The importance
The coordination of insulation for pollution should be carefully of insulation pollution is further exemplified by the attention it has
reviewed on different types of substation equipments to be been receiving lately in IEEE deliberations and the research studies
washed. The weakest insulation under pollution and under wash- now being conducted at several laboratories and at outdoor test
facilities.
ing dominates the washing interval. The jet-stream hot-line washing of station and line insulation,
Fig. 7 shows a typical example of the uncoordinated insulation employing portable equipment, is an accepted method and is being
levels for pollution of various equipments in a substation. practiced by many utilities on the Pacific coast and elsewhere.
Fig. 8 shows an example of coordinated insulation for pollu- Similarly, since the introduction of the silicone greases, many utilities
tion. Insulation design of new substations to be constructed in have found silicone coating an effective method in maintaining insula-
tion integrity and in minimizing pollution flashovers.
polluted areas should be made taking into consideration the elec- However, both of these methods are costly. Several years ago I
trical characteristics under pollution and under hot-line washing had the opportunity to conduct an economic study on the relative
basedon certain maintenance criteria. cost of silicone coating and jet washing of station and transmission
line insulators for a Southern California utility. The results showed
WASHING INTERVAL that the cost of silicone coating, for example, the insulation of a large
high-voltage station, can run into tens of thousands of dollars. Fur-
It is necessary to establish a proper washing interval in order thermore, these expenditures must be recurred each time the station
not to cause a flashover accident under hot-line washing. The insulation has to be resiliconed. The cost of jet-stream high-pressure
insulator should be washed before the predetermined limit of hot-line washing of transmission line insulators located in urban and
suburban areas may run as high as 20 cents per insulator per washing
contamination level is reached. The indication for operating the depending on line length, line voltage, and number of circuits on
washing can be directed by monitoring the contaminants accum- the tower line. If the washing operation has to be repeated at regular
ulated on the pilot insulators. According- to the preceding criteria intervals, as is usually the case, theannual covst per insulator increases
the washing is usually operated 2 to 3 times a month except for in direct proportion to the number of washings per year.
the typhonic season in Japan. Washing prior to forecasted un- Understandably, the authors could not present any cost figures on
the installation and operation of a fixed-type hot-line washing sys-
favorable-weather, e.g., a typhoon, is also essential. tem. BRt it appears to me that it wotld be less costly, in the long run,
than either of the other two methods. Furthermore, the fixed-type
CONCLUSIONS washing system is always available and ready to use any time it is
1) The fixed-type washing system has been recognized as the needed.
Lastly, I would like to ask the authors the following questions.
most effective measure against insulator troubles due to pollution 1) How many fixed-type insulator washing installations are there
and has been successfully operated in more than 250 substations in existence? How old is the oldest one, and how good has their per-
in Japan without any experience of the flashover fault during formance been in preventing pollution flashovers? Any statistical in-
hot-line washing. formation on their performance before and after installation would
2) Under hot-line washing, the electrical performances of be welcomed.
2) Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 on washing insulation coordination:
insulators are influenced by precipitation, water resistivity, and how is it obtained and what effect does it have on the selection of
wind condition. Washing withstand voltage of insulators should insulators, leakage distance, BIL, and the cost in designing the insula-
be carefully investigated before the actual application of hot- tion of a new station?
line washing.
3) Hot-line insulator washing can completely eliminate pollu-
tion flashover under fog if the washing operation is controlled Clifford B. Benham (Florida Power Corporation, St. Petersburg, Fla.
strictly by monitoring pollution. 33733): The authors present information on a subject of increasing
4) Consideration on insulation coordination for pollution and importance as system voltages are raised, particularly in coastal and
washing is important in design of the equipments for the new industrial areas. Although contamination of station insulation has not
been a major problem at lower voltages, recognition of the greater
substations to be constructed in polluted areas. sensitivity to contamination of EHV and UHV station insulation
after a few years of additional operating experience of 500 kV and
REFERENCES higher is anticipated by this discusser.
[1] S. Fujitaka, T. Kawamura, S. Tsurumi, H. Kondo, T. Seta, and Massey [3] reported that hurricane Inez (October 1966) without the
M. Yamamoto, "Japanese method of artificial pollution tests on usual heavy rain resulted in known contamination flashovers of sta-
insulators," IEEE Trans. Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. tion insulation in the coastal Miami area of the following:
PAS-87, pp. 729-735, March 1968.
[2] T. Takagi, Y. Hirose, and KL Hattori, "Flashover character- 1) 26 higi-voltage- bushings, 5 requiring replacement,
istics of large insulators for 500 kY substation under polluted 2) 20 low-voltage bushings, 12 requiring replacement,
conditions," CIGRE, Paper 25-03k 1968. 3) 3 high-voltage cap and; pin insulators, all requiring replacement,
4) 8 high-voltage station posts, 1 lightning arrester, 5 low-voltage
cap and pin insulators, and 3 low-voltage station posts, none re-
quiring replacement.
At a plant substation in the coastal area north of Cocoa a con-
Discussion taminated porcelain column of a 230-kV breaker was destroyed by a
flashover in May 1967.
At a coastal plant substation ninety miles north of St. Petersburg
in November 1968 a contaminated porcelain column in each of three
Stanley G. Pann (Consulting Engineer, Los Angeles, Calif.): The 230-kV breakers flashed over, almost but not simultaneously, at the
authors are to be commended for their valuable paper describing their start of a shower, although it had rained heavily two weeks earlier.
investigations and studies which led to the successful development The glaze of the porcelain columns was not burned enough to
and application of a fixed-type hot-line washing apparatus for the require replacement.
prevention of pollution flashovers of station insulators. It is well The three examples are given to express the point that insulation
known that insulator pollution of transmission lines and of stations fiashover of contaminated station equipment may often be many

Manuscript received July 1, 1969. Manuscript received July 11, 1969.


774 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS, MAY/JUNE 1970

times moreserious than that of contaminated line insulators. A con- In installing a washing apparatus the following points should be
taminationflashover of a generator step-up transformer or the near kept in mind.
bushing of an adjacent breaker is particularly dangerous since reduc- 1) When hot-line washing is applied to those insulators in existing
tion of the stored energy in the generator to zero will require several substations of which insulation coordination, as in Fig. 7, has not
seconds with the lengthy fault possibly damaging the porcelain been sufficiently considered, a full study of such coordination prior
excessively. to the application of hot-line washing is necessary to operate the
The authors' data for determining washing intervals assumes that washing apparatus satisfactorily. For this reason, our company
the withstand voltage of the station insulation is known at various follows the rule that before installing a washing apparatus we replace
contamination deposit densities and recommends the use of a pilot a part of substation insulators and work out the insulation coordina-
(standard suspension) insulator to gauge the need to wash by moni- tion described in Fig. 8.
toring the contamination deposited. In 1961 Yamamoto and Ohashi 2) For bus insulators and the like of which insulation character-
[4] recommended the use of a pilot insulator in the same manner, istics can be easily improved, it is advisable, from the view point of
limiting salt-deposit density to about 0.035mg/cm2 for 10 kV to maintenance, to raise the insulation level of insulators and not to
ground for one suspension insulator. With that standard the station apply hot-line washing.
insulation would be in no danger from a contaminationflashover.
They stated that large bushing shells are likely to have less salt
deposit with increasing size but cautioned that they occasionally
have lowerflashover voltage than small insulators. Do the authors
agree with the Yamamoto and Ohashi pilot insulator standard?
Conclusion 4), which states that insulation coordination for pollu- Tetsuo Fujimura, Masami Okayama, and Takashi Isozaki: In reply
tion and washing is important in new substation design, is not de- to Mr. Pann's questions onsupply records and performances of fixed-
batable but I suggest that it might be more practical if the contam- type spray washing apparatus, we would like to make the following
ination characteristics of the station insulation were given in terms comments. The development effort of washing apparatus in our
of withstand voltage versus average salt-deposit density in mg/cm2 country was started in 1956. Butflashover troubles often occurred
as if accumulated on standard suspension insulators. Since various under washing by using conventional sprinkler-type washing
equipment has different insulation core diameters, tapers, shed con- apparatus of early years. Therefore, fundamental researches of hot-
figurations, and leakage distances, each different piece of equipment line insulator washing were started as described in the paper.
accumulates different densities of contamination deposit in any given Six years have passed since fixed-type spray washing apparatus
location, making coordination impractical unless the withstand volt- developed by the authors was commercialized, and at present our hot-
ages versus contamination are translated to one reference. line washing apparatuses are already in actual service at over 250 sub-
Some 500-kV equipment cannot be safely washed under high pres- stations. The application of the hot-line washing apparatus is
sures due to the chance of water entering mufflers, vents, and ports. annually increasing rapidly, and the operational results have been
Some have stacks of insulators too close to permit hot-line washing. satisfactory without anyflashover accident.
I request that the authors include in their closure any other In reply to the questions on insulation coordination made by Mr.
caution considerations for new station designs. Pann and Mr. Benham, Figs. 7 and 8 were obtained as follows.
Pollution flashover voltage and washing withstand voltage tests
REFERENCES were conducted on each of the apparatus insulators. A pollution flash-
[3] J. R. Massey, "The control of insulator contamination," Elec- over test was done by the Japanese method of making an artificial
trical Systems and Equipment Committee, Edison Electric pollution test on insulators. A washing withstand test was conducted
Institute, Minneapolis, Minn., October 10, 1967. by the method described in [2].
[41 M. Yamamotohigh-voltage
and K. Ohashi, "Salt contamination of external As Mr. Benham states, equivalent salt-deposit density depends
insulation of apparatus and its countermeasures,", upon the core diameter and shed configuration of insulators under
AIEE Trans. (Power Apparatus and Systems), vol. 80, pp. 380- the same circumstances.
387, AuLgust 1961. With regard to the relation between equivalent salt-deposit density
and the core diameter of an insulator, we quite agree with the views
of Mr. Yamamoto and Mr. Ohashi.
Figs. 7 and 8 were drawn with a correction factor taken into con-
sideration. Therefore, contamination characteristics of the apparatus
Masayuki Yasuda (Tokyo Electric Power Company, Tokyo, Japan): insulator are given in terms of withstand voltage versus average salt-
Our company has been employing the hot-line washing system in deposit density.
existing substations located in areas affected by saline pollution with With regard to Mr. Pann's question of the selection of insulators for
countermeasures against salt contamination. At present hot-line newly constructed substations, leakage path, core diameter, and shed
washing apparatus have been installed already in approximately 50 form of the insulators shall be considered to coordinate the pollution
substations up to 275 kV, and the operation results have been satis- flashover voltage and washing withstand voltage characteristics.
factory. The significance of insulation coordination is to reduce the difference
In installing hot-line washing apparatus at substations of our com- of insulation levels in each of the equipments and to keep the balance
pany we found the water available in some special areas having a of pollution flashover characteristics under wet and washing condi-
resistivity of less than 3 kQ- cm. Then, by installing deionizing equip- tions.
ment and raising the resistivity to more than 5 kQ2. cm in reference to In reply to Mr. Benham's question of water entering in station
Fig. 2, those apparatus have since been in trouble-free operation. equipments, station equipment to which hot-line washing is applied
At present, manual measurement of pollution deposit on pilot must be completely watertight. For old equipment, some adjust-
insulators is done to determine washing intervals. However, our ment is required not to let water come inside. High-pressure jet
company has almost successfully developed the device which can washing cannot be applied and is not electrically safe against stacks
automatically monitor washing intervals during typhoons as well as of insulators too close together. Fixed-type washing apparatus is
under normal conditions. Moreover, to conduct a far more effective suitable for such equipment because nozzles are prearranged to fit
washing under strong winds such as typhoons, our company is also each equipment, and therefore the washing operation can be done
developing a higher pressure (300-450 lb/in2) washing apparatus. safely.

Mantiscript received July 7, 1969. MManuscript received August 26, 1969.

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