Control Methods For Insulator Damage Caused By Arc-starting Rods In High-voltage Lines

In the operation of high-voltage transmission lines, the suspension insulator, as a core component for support and isolation, bears voltage and mechanical loads and is an important part of the stable operation of the system. Since overvoltage or lightning strikes may cause arcing or flashover on the suspension composite insulator surface, high-voltage equipment is often designed with the integration of metal accessories such as arc-starting rods to form a preferred discharge path, thereby reducing the possibility of the composite suspension insulator itself being directly attacked by arcs.

The structure of an arc-starting bar typically includes a pair of metal conductors mounted at both ends of the polymer suspension insulator. When the system encounters a transient overvoltage, the discharge tends to occur between the arc-starting bars, forming a gap path with a lower breakdown voltage, which guides the arc away from the suspension type insulator body. This discharge channel design helps to reduce the degree of localized carbonization or ablation on the composite tension insulator surface, which has a positive impact on extending the service life of the high voltage transmission line insulators.