Electric-field calculation for HV insulators using domain-decomposition method

In this paper, a domain decomposition approach for finite-element method calculation of electric field of insulators applied on high-voltage transmission lines is presented. Using this method, the electric stresses acting around and inside on insulators are determined considering the interactions of the three-dimensional environment. First, a large-scale model is used to determine the potential distribution near the insulator. Next, a local domain including the exact model of the insulator is investigated. Finally, a series of iterative solutions is applied on these overlapping domains to reach the correct field distribution along the insulator. This method gives the possibility to examine the effects of various hardware structures such as line and tower configurations and grading devices and ensures modelling of very complex geometry without extra high computational effort.