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Dry Salt Layer Method for Insulators

The Dry Salt Layer method is a pollution testing method for high voltage insulators that simulates coastal conditions. It involves blowing fine, humid salt particles onto energized test objects using high-speed fans to build up a salt layer, then misting the objects to determine flashover voltage. This method is more representative of actual coastal conditions than traditional salt fog testing, and provides good repeatability with a low standard deviation. The DSL method can test insulators for voltages up to 800kV and has been used successfully by European utilities to qualify outdoor insulation near coastlines.

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10 views2 pages

Dry Salt Layer Method for Insulators

The Dry Salt Layer method is a pollution testing method for high voltage insulators that simulates coastal conditions. It involves blowing fine, humid salt particles onto energized test objects using high-speed fans to build up a salt layer, then misting the objects to determine flashover voltage. This method is more representative of actual coastal conditions than traditional salt fog testing, and provides good repeatability with a low standard deviation. The DSL method can test insulators for voltages up to 800kV and has been used successfully by European utilities to qualify outdoor insulation near coastlines.

Uploaded by

Werneck
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

11/05/2018 Dry 

Salt Layer Method

Dry Salt Layer
­ A pollution test method for high voltage insulators simulating coastal conditions

Sea salt is a type of pollution found all over the world. It can be transported over large distances from the
coast, especially when wind speeds are high. For high­voltage insulation, coastal conditions represent a
difficult environment. The combination of the frequent occurrence of high wind speeds with fast salt
accumulation and the normally high relative humidity can give a conductive insulator surface ultimately
leading to an electrical flashover. and possibly a subsequent power outage.

However, it is only in regions extremely close to the sea, that the insulators can be exposed to direct salt
water spray during periods of strong winds. Already at a distance of one to two hundred meters from the
coastline, the salt is normally deposited in the form of semi­dry salt particles.

 
 
DSL testing on a suspension insulator string

The standard pollution test method for high voltage insulators intended to simulate coastal conditions is the
Salt Fog method (EC 507 for AC, IEC 1245 for DC). In this test method, salt water is sprayed directly on to
the insulators.

However, results from flashover tests, performed previously at an insulator test site 50 m from the shore,
indicate that the ranking of insulators based on the flashovers at the site, can differ significantly from the
ranking obtained from Salt Fog tests in the laboratory.

A study performed by STRI to characterize coastal conditions has identified the most important parameters,
such as humidity, wind speed and natural turbulence. The Dry Salt Layer (DSL) method is based on this
study and is designed to imitate the essential features of the pollution accumulation process away from the
immediate sea salt spray. Fine humid salt particles from a salt injection system are blown towards the
energized test object by using high speed fans. The test object is exposed to the wind­blown salt for a
predetermined time to give the required pollution level. Subsequently, it is exposed to a mist (cold fog) for
wetting and the flashover/withstand voltage is determined.

The advantages of the DSL test method are:

more representative for 'coastal conditions' than the existing IEC 507 Salt Fog test
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11/05/2018 Dry Salt Layer Method

good repeatability with a low standard deviation
applicable on all sorts of insulators, including composite insulators
cost­effective: a complete test program includes 4 individual tests and is performed in the same time as
for the standard IEC 507 Salt Fog test; to obtain a typical Salt Deposit Density (SDD) of about 0.1
mg/cm' on a standard type of ceramic insulator takes only about 15 minutes.

 
 
Schematic drawing of the DSL test set­up

Environmental conditions
The test has successfully been used by several European power utilities to qualify or investigate their outdoor
insulation used in coastal areas. The test method can be applied on all types of insulators (composite, ceramic
or resistive­glaze insulators), as it does not demand any pretreatment of the insulator. Test objects (line and
apparatus insulators) for system voltages of up to 800 kV AC or DC can be tested using the DSL method in
the STRI pollution test hall.

Relative humidity: 80+/­ 2%
Horizontal wind speed: 4­10 m/s
Turbulence: 10­20%
Salt particle density in air: 5­20 mg/m3

Test object data
Max. system voltage: 800 kV (AC/DC) Max. diameter: about 1.5 m

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