Effect of contaminant flow-rate and applied voltage on the current density and electric field of polymer tracking test

Abstract

E1ectrical failure due to surface discharge on the insulation material will cause material degradation and eventually leads to system failure. The flow of leakage current (LC) on the insulator surface under wet contamination was used as the technique for determining the materiel degradation level. According to IEC 60587 standard, the LC exceeding 60 mA for more than two seconds is considered as failure. The analysis of electric field and current density distributions on the linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and natural rubber blend material using finite element method (FEM) analysis was conducted. The physical parameters used in FEM simulation were applied voltage and contaminant flow rare which is in term of contaminant conductivity. Tracking test condition of IEC 60587 standard was applied as the reference work in simulation using FEM software of QuickField. The results show that the electric field and current density were critical in higher applied voltage and contaminant flow rate. The highest average and maximum current density and electric field reported in both applied voltage of 6kV and flow rate of 0.90 mlmin-1•