High-voltage live tank circuit-breakers with composite insulators

The features of composite insulators using silicone rubber in high-voltage circuit-breakers are presented. The paper describes the design, testing and field experience with composite insulators over the past ten years. Composite insulators with silicone rubber sheds are well suited for use in high-voltage live tank circuit-breakers. Their performance is better than the traditionally known ceramic insulators, which have been verified by ample laboratory and field testing. Based on the considerations given above, composite insulators have the following features: increased safety; reduced handling damage risk; superior pollution performance; lower weight; excellent seismic performance; option for direct optic fibre incorporation.