A modified 5000 h test procedure for silicone rubber insulator based on contamination and hydrophobicity change simulation

A large number of silicone rubber (SR) insulators have been used in inland areas. Long-term performance evaluation, pre-ranking and selection of these insulators are highly significant. IEC and other institutes have proposed several 5000 h tests with multiple stresses to evaluate long-term performances of composite insulators. However, these procedures have their own characteristics and limitations. None of the existing tests could provide a satisfactory simulation of the condition with severe contamination and high non-soluble deposit density (NSDD) in inland areas as well as the hydrophobicity change process of SR insulators. Based on modifications of the IEC test procedure, a novel 5000 h test procedure is proposed. There are two main modifications. The first one aims to replace the salt fog with a mixed contamination fog including both soluble and non-soluble pollutants. The second one aims to provide sufficient time for SR to recover and to transfer its hydrophobicity. A set of test apparatus based on this novel 5000h test procedure was designed and constructed. Two tests were conducted on 16 SR insulators with different material compositions and shed designs, including an AC and a negative DC test. Contamination accumulation on the surfaces of the specimens during both tests were measured. The NSDD and equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD) were close to those measured in the field in contaminated inland areas. Hydrophobicity reduction and recovery were well reproduced. Discharge activities were observed and leakage current was measured, which were consistent with the hydrophobicity statuses of the specimen. Tracking and erosion were found for some specimens, and the damage pattern was the same with that found in the field. The poor material properties and inappropriate shed designs could be identified successfully through the test. It was concluded that the modified 5000 h procedure could provide a satisfactory simulation of the desired contamination condition and hydrophobicity change process, and the insulators with different design defects are successfully screened out.