Remote monitoring of the degree of pollution of high voltage insulator strings via satellite with a sensor system network

A sensor system network was developed and installed in the northeast of Brazil to monitor the degree of pollution of insulator strings of high voltage transmission lines. Monitoring systems, comprising leakage, humidity and temperature sensors, a processing electronic module and a satellite communication link were installed on 230 and 500 kV towers. Measured parameters, sent via satellite to the communication service provider are downloaded to a local server managed by a web-based GUI application. The degree of pollution in the insulator string can be inferred from the time rate of discharge pulses appearing in the leakage current signal and its correlation with local humidity and/or temperature. Preliminary real time field results measured in the network are analyzed.