Abstrait

Measuring and Analysis of the Acid Rain Effect on EPDM Insulators

R. Portillo1, V. M. Salazar del Moral2, J. Herrera Espinosa

Experimental results of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) class 15 kV type suspension insulators exposed to an acid environment are reported. The tests were carried out at the High Voltage Laboratory which belongs to Instituto Politecnico Nacional that is located at 2240 masl. During the tests an aqueous solution that simulates acid rain registered in the Valley of Mexico was used. The fog clean method developed for non ceramic insulators (IEC-507) was utilized, with some differences. For evaluate the loss of hydrophobicity the technique of contact angle was used. The flashover voltages and the behaviour of accumulated charge are analyzed as a function of the aqueous solution. Four different aqueous solutions levels were employed. The results show hydrophobicity reduction as the aqueous solution is increased.