The Effect Of Local Airflow On Insulator Performance

When overhead power lines are in operation, the airflow passing over the dead end insulators surface will change the surrounding flow field distribution and affect environmental variables such as the pollutant deposition state and the electric field behavior of the gas medium. These changes are closely related to the electrical and surface conditions of dead end suspension insulators.

The localized flow field created by airflow around polymer deadend insulator causes uneven accumulation of pollutants in different areas, resulting in irregular surface contamination distribution on porcelain dead end insulators. This non-uniformity of contamination is believed to be related to flashover (surface leakage current, localized arcing) at suspension insulator and may reduce insulation performance. Variations in airflow velocity and direction alter local convolutional heat transfer and humidification conditions, exacerbating or mitigating the formation and changes of surface water films under different weather conditions, thereby affecting surface discharge behavior.