Application of statistical principles of insulator dimensioning with respect to polluted conditions to select line insulators based on test station results

The paper presents the evaluation of the possibility of application of the newly developed at STRI Insulator Selection Tool (IST) program for the statistical dimensioning of outdoor insulation based on field data collected at the test station. The 1ST program is a promising tool using Koeberg Insulator Test Station (KIPTS) data at ESKOM. Tested by 10 principally different insulators, it provides reasonable results for outage rate in comparison with the field experience. The results of field station testing can then be used to expand the level of the obtained answer from simple ";go/not go"; to the estimation of the pollution flashover performance of the complete line located in the same area and equipped by the insulators in question.