Virtual design of insulation elements based on FEM and automated optimization process

This paper describes the development and testing of a new medium-voltage insulator with capacitive divider, compliant with IEC standard. An insulator with capacitive divider was designed by joining three essential complexes - a newly developed pre-processor for automatic generation of finite elements' mesh, numerical analysis with the EIeFAnT (electromagnetic field analysis tools) programme tool and using genetic optimization algorithm of evolution strategy. The computations are based on 2D and 3D analysis, since the model is axially symmetric. This analysis is helpful in defining the shape of the insulator, the shape of the capacitive dividers electrodes and the distances between the insulators. The numerical calculations of the electric field were confirmed by practical tests on a prototype of the new insulator with capacitive divider.