Optical Sensor for Monitoring Leakage Current and Weather Conditions in a 500-kV Transmission Line
The leakage current (LC) caused by the surface contamination of insulators, together with environmental variables, is one of the most basic online monitoring parameters for insulator status. However, the impact of weather conditions such as temperature, air humidity, and dew point on the LC has not...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/13/5034 |
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| author | Marcelo M. Werneck Paulo Henrique S. Pinto Renato T. Bellini Regina Célia S. B. Allil |
| author_facet | Marcelo M. Werneck Paulo Henrique S. Pinto Renato T. Bellini Regina Célia S. B. Allil |
| author_sort | Marcelo M. Werneck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The leakage current (LC) caused by the surface contamination of insulators, together with environmental variables, is one of the most basic online monitoring parameters for insulator status. However, the impact of weather conditions such as temperature, air humidity, and dew point on the LC has not been deeply studied until now. In this paper, based on meteorological data obtained online and LC obtained with an optical fiber sensor, installed in 500-kV insulator strings of a transmission line, the impact of weather conditions was studied. Results indicate that the LCs follow a specific pattern, according to weather conditions. The system has been continuously monitoring LC, humidity, temperature, and dew point uninterrupted for three years, sending the acquired data to a web page; therefore, it has been demonstrated to be robust, reliable, and repetitive. The sensor features the broadband response and acquisition capabilities of partial discharge pulses in high-voltage insulators, allowing the detection of high-frequency pulses. When comparing the LC measured in this work with those from other works, our measurements are substantially higher; this is due to the type of pollution found in this specific situation, which includes iron oxide powder, producing a conductive layer over the insulator surface that, unlike sea salt, does not depend on humidity to conduct an LC. One of the conclusions reached in this work is that partial discharge surges are caused when the local temperature reaches the dew point and not simply from the presence of high humidity, as stated in many works dealing with LCs. The monitored LC can be used as an indicative parameter of a possible flashover, enabling the proper planning of insulator predictive maintenance, either by jet-washing the surface or even changing the insulators when they are damaged. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:25:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-930aef90d3114f65a67319f22c261f02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:25:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-930aef90d3114f65a67319f22c261f022023-12-01T21:42:20ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-07-012213503410.3390/s22135034Optical Sensor for Monitoring Leakage Current and Weather Conditions in a 500-kV Transmission LineMarcelo M. Werneck0Paulo Henrique S. Pinto1Renato T. Bellini2Regina Célia S. B. Allil3Photonics and Instrumentation Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, BrazilPhotonics and Instrumentation Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, BrazilPhotonics and Instrumentation Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, BrazilPhotonics and Instrumentation Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, BrazilThe leakage current (LC) caused by the surface contamination of insulators, together with environmental variables, is one of the most basic online monitoring parameters for insulator status. However, the impact of weather conditions such as temperature, air humidity, and dew point on the LC has not been deeply studied until now. In this paper, based on meteorological data obtained online and LC obtained with an optical fiber sensor, installed in 500-kV insulator strings of a transmission line, the impact of weather conditions was studied. Results indicate that the LCs follow a specific pattern, according to weather conditions. The system has been continuously monitoring LC, humidity, temperature, and dew point uninterrupted for three years, sending the acquired data to a web page; therefore, it has been demonstrated to be robust, reliable, and repetitive. The sensor features the broadband response and acquisition capabilities of partial discharge pulses in high-voltage insulators, allowing the detection of high-frequency pulses. When comparing the LC measured in this work with those from other works, our measurements are substantially higher; this is due to the type of pollution found in this specific situation, which includes iron oxide powder, producing a conductive layer over the insulator surface that, unlike sea salt, does not depend on humidity to conduct an LC. One of the conclusions reached in this work is that partial discharge surges are caused when the local temperature reaches the dew point and not simply from the presence of high humidity, as stated in many works dealing with LCs. The monitored LC can be used as an indicative parameter of a possible flashover, enabling the proper planning of insulator predictive maintenance, either by jet-washing the surface or even changing the insulators when they are damaged.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/13/5034leakage currentsplastic optical fiberoptical fiber sensorhigh-voltage transmission linepolluted insulator |
| spellingShingle | Marcelo M. Werneck Paulo Henrique S. Pinto Renato T. Bellini Regina Célia S. B. Allil Optical Sensor for Monitoring Leakage Current and Weather Conditions in a 500-kV Transmission Line Sensors leakage currents plastic optical fiber optical fiber sensor high-voltage transmission line polluted insulator |
| title | Optical Sensor for Monitoring Leakage Current and Weather Conditions in a 500-kV Transmission Line |
| title_full | Optical Sensor for Monitoring Leakage Current and Weather Conditions in a 500-kV Transmission Line |
| title_fullStr | Optical Sensor for Monitoring Leakage Current and Weather Conditions in a 500-kV Transmission Line |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optical Sensor for Monitoring Leakage Current and Weather Conditions in a 500-kV Transmission Line |
| title_short | Optical Sensor for Monitoring Leakage Current and Weather Conditions in a 500-kV Transmission Line |
| title_sort | optical sensor for monitoring leakage current and weather conditions in a 500 kv transmission line |
| topic | leakage currents plastic optical fiber optical fiber sensor high-voltage transmission line polluted insulator |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/13/5034 |
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