Analyses of EPRI Polymer Insulator Failure under Various Conditions and Environments

Polymer insulators, also known as composite or non-ceramic insulators (NCI), are proliferating on transmission systems due to their ease of handling, resistance to vandalism, and relatively low cost. Polymer insulators are a relatively new technology with certain advantages and disadvantages. Long-term field experience remains limited, and the number and type of failures that have occurred are not well defined. In order to help fill information gaps, EPRI maintains a database of all known polymer transmission line insulator failures in North America .The EPRI Polymer Insulator Failure Database was started in ۱۹۹۷ and has been continually updated on an ongoing basis. This database contains detailed information about individual insulator failures, failure reports and photographs of the individual failures where possible.In ۲۰۰۳, EPRI published an analysis of the failure database as of the end of ۲۰۰۲. This Technical Update provides and update to this analysis accounting for more than ۲ years further data collection, that is, at the end of May ۲۰۰۵ .Together with other deliverables from EPRI's comprehensive polymer insulator research effort, the failure database will help member utilities to increase transmission service reliability and reduce operations and maintenance costs through the correct selection, application, and existing insulator population management .

Keywords:

polymer insulators , composite or non-ceramic insulators , type of failures , individual insulator failures