DETERIORATION PHENOMENA ON POLYMERIC INSULATING SURFACES DUE TO WATER DROPLETS

Konstantinos Karakoulidis - Michael G. Danikas - Paschalis Rakitzis

   In this publication the problems arising from the application of uniform ac electric fields on water droplets, which are on polymer surfaces, are discussed. Polymeric materials such as silicone rubber, PVC and rubber were used for the experimental work. The deterioration phenomena - due to partial discharges (PD) and localized arcs - were studied in terms of water conductivity, polymer surface roughness, droplet volume and droplet position with respect to the electrodes. All the four mentioned parameters affect the flashover voltage. Perhaps the most unexpected result was that the positioning of the droplets with respect to the electrodes plays a more important role than the droplet volume. A comparison between the aforementioned materials was made and commented upon.

Keywords: water droplets, polymeric surfaces, uniform field, outdoor insulation, indoor insulation, pollution, contamination

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