Condition monitoring of EPDM polymer insulators

This paper discusses results from a project in which the condition of a population of EPDM polymer insulators has been assessed by taking small samples of shed material from the insulators in-situ. The samples are analysed by an advanced Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method which give numerical indicators of insulation condition. The indicators successfully discriminated between insulators from different locations, manufacturers and with varying degree of degradation. A pattern recognition program is employed to create a database linking the numerical indicators of insulation condition and type, age and location of insulators. A live-line tool, which takes samples of polymer insulator shed material from EHV lines, has been developed