A study on the solution of using nano-RTV-coated insulators for reducing energy loss in Electric power industry

Life in this century is impossible without electricity, and the electricity transmission network is considered one of the most important and strategic industries in the countries. One of the most important components of this industry is electrical insulators, which are responsible for maintaining the power transmission lines. Insulators should be non-conductive, but when exposed to contaminants (dust), the surface of the insulator becomes conductive, causing them to catch fire and fail. About 33% of the world’s power outages are caused by insulation failure. The problem of electrical failure of insulators due to contamination is one of the most important problems in the electricity industry, leading to effects such as energy losses, power outages, disruption of commerce and business, increased maintenance costs, and consumer dissatisfaction. Also, silicone rubber polymer coatings are now applied to insulators, which have hydrophobic properties, but at the same time tend to flake off due to contact with acidic and alkaline compounds. The results of studies have shown that the use of nanoparticles in RTV increases insulation resistance to electrical discharges and also improves creep and erosion resistance, especially in industrial and polluted environments. In this article, a brief overview of the addition of nanomaterial to solve the problems of silicone rubber polymer coatings on high pressure insulators used in the electric power industry is presented.