Investigating the Suitability of Ceramic Insulators for Coastal Power Distribution System in Pakistan Using Accelerated Aging Technique

The purpose of this research is to investigate the durability of ceramic insulators under different weather conditions, including temperature, precipitation, dust, and flashover, and to observe the behavior of contaminants. An experimental chamber was used to artificially age the ceramic insulators and examine the effects of four environmental factors: temperature, rain, fog, and dust. The experiments were conducted over a six-year period, during which reliable data sources were used to measure rainfall, temperature, humidity, and pH. Furthermore, artificially created acidic rain was utilized to obtain more accurate results. After each experiment, the test insulator was installed on the current test bench to measure the leakage current passing through the ceramic insulator. A comparison was made between aged and non-aged insulators, revealing that the amount of leakage current increased with increased dust exposure. As a result, this experimental research recommends the regular cleaning and monitoring of ceramic insulators installed in distribution networks.