Published

2015-06-01

Electrical Performance of Distribution Insulators with Chlorella vulgaris Growth on its Surface

Desempeño eléctrico de aisladores de distribución ante el crecimiento de chlorella vulgaris sobre su superficie

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.v35n1Sup.53578

Keywords:

Algae, biological contamination, chlorella vulgaris, distribution insulators, flashover voltage, leakage current. (en)
Algas, aisladores de distribución, chlorella vulgaris, contaminación biológica, corriente de fuga, tensión de flameo. (es)

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Authors

  • Herbert Enrique Rojas Cubides Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas
  • Carlos Daniel Pérez WEG Colombia S.A.S
  • Andrés Felipe León SIEMENS S.A
  • Luis Felipe Cantor SIEMENS S.A

This paper presents a study about electrical performance of ceramic and polymeric insulators bio-contaminated with alga Chlorella vulgaris. The performed tests involve ANSI 55-2 and ANSI 52-1 ceramic insulators and ANSI DS-15 polymeric insulators, all of them used in distribution systems of Colombia. Biological contamination of insulators is realized using a controlled environment chamber that adjusts the temperature, humidity and light radiation. The laboratory tests include measurements of flashover voltages and leakage currents and they were performed to determine how insulators are affected by biological contamination. After a series of laboratory tests, it was concluded that the presence of Chlorella vulgaris on the contaminated ceramic insulators reduces the wet flashover voltage up to 12% and increases their leakage currents up to 80%. On the other hand, for polymeric insulators the effect of algae growth on flashover voltages was not to strong, although the leakage currents increase up to 60%.

Este artículo presenta un estudio relacionado con el desempeño eléctrico de aisladores cerámicos y poliméricos bio-contaminados con el alga Chlorella vulgaris. Las pruebas realizadas involucran aisladores cerámicos tipo ANSI 55-2 y ANSI 52-1, y aisladores poliméricos tipo ANSI DS-15, todos ellos usados en sistemas de distribución de energía en Colombia. La contaminación biológica de los aisladores es realizada usando una cámara de ambiente controlado que ajusta temperatura, humedad y radiación de luz. Las pruebas experimentales incluyen la medición de tensiones de flameo y corrientes de fuga con el propósito de determinar de qué manera son afectados los aisladores por la contaminación biológica. Después de una serie de pruebas de laboratorio, se concluyó que la presencia de Chlorella vulgaris sobre los aisladores cerámicos contaminados reduce la tensión de flameo en húmedo hasta en un 12% y aumenta sus corrientes de fuga hasta 80%. Por otra parte, para los aisladores poliméricos el efecto del crecimiento del alga sobre las tensiones de flameo no es muy fuerte, aunque las corrientes de fuga aumentan hasta 60%.

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How to Cite

Electrical Performance of Distribution Insulators with Chlorella vulgaris Growth on its Surface. (2015). Ingeniería E Investigación, 35(1Sup), 21-27. https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.v35n1Sup.53578

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Copyright (c) 2015 Herbert Enrique Rojas Cubides, Carlos Daniel Pérez, Andrés Felipe León, Luis Felipe Cantor

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