DESIGN OF POLYMER COMPOSITE BASED ELECTRICAL INSULATOR FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS USING COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS

Abstract

Abstract: The use of polymer composite insulators has grown in the recent past power generation, transmission and distribution. There are many materials which are being used in polymer composite insulator and several testing is needed. But, it is time consuming to test the material and requires lots of equipment. Even each and every insulator design has to undergo a series of test before using it in transmission and distribution lines. In order to reduce the cycle time of design work and the cost of prototype testing, technical software packages are used. Once the design was done, it can be tested under various parameters in the package itself and no direct inspection or testing is needed. Here, COMSOL-Multiphysics - technical package is used to model the insulators under several applied voltages and relative electrical stress. The package is used to analyze different shed placements for various profiles based on creepage distance. The insulators are designed according to the standard specifications which are simulated in AC/DC module workspace in the Multiphysics simulation software. The model is simulated to verify the electrical stress and electric field distribution (across sheds). From the results it is highly evident that the design enhances the electrical behavior and long term performance of the composite insulator. Thus, it reduces the cost of production and installation which are highly beneficial to the industries.