Evaluación del desempeño de aisladores eléctricos de distribución cerámicos y poliméricos bajo biocontaminación por hongos

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the electrical performance of ceramic (ANSI 52-1, ANSI 55-2) and polymeric (ANSI DS-15) insulators used in medium voltage electrical systems (between 7kV y 35 kV) when fungi growth of Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Penicillium Sp. on their surface is presented. Biological contamination of electrical insulators is a problem that has been reported in tropical areas in Europe, Asia and Oceania and it may reduce the reliability of electric power systems. The biocontamination was conducted in Bogota, Colombia for 50 consecutive days (for each microorganism) using a chamber that controls light, moisture and temperature. Laboratory tests of flashover voltages and leakage currents were performed. After fungus biocontamination reductions in flashover voltages about 21% and 8% were reported for ceramic and polymeric insulators, respectively. In all cases, the leakage currents increased by 20% or higher.