Impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi-2015 and Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators, Ecuador
Abstract In Ecuador, a country with several active volcanoes and with four eruptions in the last decade in the continental arc, it is very likely that high-voltage transmission lines cross volcanic hazard zones on their routes. Here, we quantify the impact of fresh volcanic ash from the hydromagmati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Volcanology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13617-022-00117-y |
| _version_ | 1811227199460605952 |
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| author | Juan Ramírez Francisco J. Vasconez Alex López Fausto Valencia Franklin Quilumba Anais Vásconez Müller Silvana Hidalgo Benjamin Bernard |
| author_facet | Juan Ramírez Francisco J. Vasconez Alex López Fausto Valencia Franklin Quilumba Anais Vásconez Müller Silvana Hidalgo Benjamin Bernard |
| author_sort | Juan Ramírez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In Ecuador, a country with several active volcanoes and with four eruptions in the last decade in the continental arc, it is very likely that high-voltage transmission lines cross volcanic hazard zones on their routes. Here, we quantify the impact of fresh volcanic ash from the hydromagmatic Cotopaxi-2015 and the magmatic Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of ANSI 52–3 suspension insulators made of porcelain and glass, under moist conditions. The experiments include two methodologies to measure the performance of the insulators in real-time: the minimum insulator flashover voltage (FOVmin) and the dielectric loss factor angle. Both allow quantifying i) the critical voltage that the insulators can withstand prior to flashover occurrence and, ii) the strong fluctuating behavior that the insulators undergo in an ashy environment. Based on six contamination scenarios, we found that there is a higher chance of flashover if the insulators are completely blanketed (top and bottom) even with a fine ash layer (1 mm), than if they are covered just at the top. Our results further show that the ash of Cotopaxi-2015 eruption has a higher chance of leading to insulator failure because of its higher conductivity (i.e. higher leachate content) than that of Tungurahua-2016. Additionally, we identify two critical voltages prior to electrical flashover on the insulators of 28.25 kV and 17.01 kV for the 230 kV and 138 kV Ecuadorian transmission lines, respectively. Finally, we present a simple impact evaluation for the main Ecuadorian transmission lines based on the outcomes of this research and the official volcanic hazard maps for Cotopaxi and Tungurahua volcanoes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:37:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-127246f5e5f74b568f2defb75d9a2b2f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2191-5040 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:37:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Volcanology |
| spelling | doaj.art-127246f5e5f74b568f2defb75d9a2b2f2022-12-22T03:38:10ZengBMCJournal of Applied Volcanology2191-50402022-06-0111112110.1186/s13617-022-00117-yImpact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi-2015 and Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators, EcuadorJuan Ramírez0Francisco J. Vasconez1Alex López2Fausto Valencia3Franklin Quilumba4Anais Vásconez Müller5Silvana Hidalgo6Benjamin Bernard7Departamento de Energía Eléctrica. Escuela Politécnica NacionalInstituto Geofísico. Escuela Politécnica NacionalDepartamento de Control en Tiempo RealDepartamento de Energía Eléctrica. Escuela Politécnica NacionalDepartamento de Energía Eléctrica. Escuela Politécnica NacionalSchool of Earth Sciences, University of BristolInstituto Geofísico. Escuela Politécnica NacionalInstituto Geofísico. Escuela Politécnica NacionalAbstract In Ecuador, a country with several active volcanoes and with four eruptions in the last decade in the continental arc, it is very likely that high-voltage transmission lines cross volcanic hazard zones on their routes. Here, we quantify the impact of fresh volcanic ash from the hydromagmatic Cotopaxi-2015 and the magmatic Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of ANSI 52–3 suspension insulators made of porcelain and glass, under moist conditions. The experiments include two methodologies to measure the performance of the insulators in real-time: the minimum insulator flashover voltage (FOVmin) and the dielectric loss factor angle. Both allow quantifying i) the critical voltage that the insulators can withstand prior to flashover occurrence and, ii) the strong fluctuating behavior that the insulators undergo in an ashy environment. Based on six contamination scenarios, we found that there is a higher chance of flashover if the insulators are completely blanketed (top and bottom) even with a fine ash layer (1 mm), than if they are covered just at the top. Our results further show that the ash of Cotopaxi-2015 eruption has a higher chance of leading to insulator failure because of its higher conductivity (i.e. higher leachate content) than that of Tungurahua-2016. Additionally, we identify two critical voltages prior to electrical flashover on the insulators of 28.25 kV and 17.01 kV for the 230 kV and 138 kV Ecuadorian transmission lines, respectively. Finally, we present a simple impact evaluation for the main Ecuadorian transmission lines based on the outcomes of this research and the official volcanic hazard maps for Cotopaxi and Tungurahua volcanoes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13617-022-00117-yFlashoverVolcanic ashLeachatesInsulatorsCotopaxiTungurahua |
| spellingShingle | Juan Ramírez Francisco J. Vasconez Alex López Fausto Valencia Franklin Quilumba Anais Vásconez Müller Silvana Hidalgo Benjamin Bernard Impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi-2015 and Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators, Ecuador Journal of Applied Volcanology Flashover Volcanic ash Leachates Insulators Cotopaxi Tungurahua |
| title | Impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi-2015 and Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators, Ecuador |
| title_full | Impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi-2015 and Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators, Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi-2015 and Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators, Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi-2015 and Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators, Ecuador |
| title_short | Impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi-2015 and Tungurahua-2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators, Ecuador |
| title_sort | impact of volcanic ash from cotopaxi 2015 and tungurahua 2016 eruptions on the dielectric characteristics of suspension insulators ecuador |
| topic | Flashover Volcanic ash Leachates Insulators Cotopaxi Tungurahua |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13617-022-00117-y |
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