Acid Rain Pollution Effect on the Electric Field Distribution of a Glass Insulator

In this work, Finite Element analysis is carried out on an outdoor High Voltage (HV) glass insulator string exposed to acid precipitation using Comsol Multiphysics. The pH of the acid was varied over a range of 2.5 and 5.5 and its effect on electric field distribution and heat generation studied. This pH range was chosen to represent recorded values of rainfall acidity in the field. High electric fields where observed at lower pH levels, exceeding the threshold value for partial discharge (PD). These high electric fields where observed at insulator discs closest to the HV terminal of the insulator string. Also, heat generation increased with increased rain acidity, where flow of leakage current is increased. These results can be applied to laboratory experiments and field tests designed to investigate the performance of HV insulators installed in heavy industrial areas and exposed to acid rain pollution.