Insulator Electric Fields using FEM Software

High voltage insulators are an essential performance component of power networks. Many of the problems affecting insulators can be mitigated by developing an understanding of their electrical behaviour when subjected to voltage influences under demanding environments. Due to the complex geometries of insulators and assembly configurations, modern computing capabilities have made the implementation of finite element analysis an attractive choice to study insulator related electric fields and voltage distributions. COMSOL uses the finite element method for electromagnetic studies. The generic steps used in relation to glass and composite insulator field simulations are discussed, and presented together with some of the results obtained. This serves as a precursor to more advanced studies in the domain of insulator design and performance evaluation.