LAUSR

In recent years, microorganisms such as algae have been found on composite and RTV coated insulators in humid environment in southwest and southern China. Algae growth poses a potential threat to the outer insulation of electrical power system because of the special features of biological foul. Insulator samples with algae growth were obtained from transmission towers of 500 kV Tianguang DC transmission line and the influence of algae growth on the external insulation performance was studied in this paper. A measurement circuit was used to measure the partial surface conductivity of algae and non-algae dots on insulator surfaces. Water spray classification method was used to test the hydrophobicity of algae and non-algae parts of the insulators. An image processing method was proposed to discern algae on the insulator surfaces and calculate the algae coverage rate. The withstand capability of insulator were tested at working voltage and 1.2 times working voltage. The research results showed that the presence of algae increased the local salt distribution and reduced the hydrophobicity of insulator surfaces. The results also indicated that impacts of algae contanmination to withstand capability of insulators were limited when the algae coverage rate was less than 20%.