Two-arc dynamic modeling of AC and DC flashovers of EHV post station insulators covered with ice based on laboratory experiments

Ice and snow accretion on insulators has been recognized as a significant risk factor in the reliability of overhead transmission lines and substations. Accumulated ice on insulators can initiate corona discharge along ice-free zones, often called air gaps. In the presence of a highly conductive water film on the surface of the ice, while applied voltage is sufficiently high, corona discharge activity may be initiated and developed into partial arcs. Under certain conditions, these partial arcs may result in complete flashover.;The general objective of this research is to study the flashover phenomenon on ice-covered extra-high-voltage (EHV) post insulators. Hence, a two-arc dynamic model based on the existing mathematical models was proposed to predict the parameters of AC and DC flashovers. The model considers the arc as time-dependent impedance constituted of a resistance in series with an inductance. The residual ice layer is defined in terms of an equivalent resistance, where the equivalent surface conductivity is calculated by taking into account the water film flowing along the ice surface. The present contribution proposes a novel approach to determine the equivalent surface conductivity, based on fluid mechanics and the Navier-Stokes equations, as well as on a series of experiments carried out to measure the water film flow rate and conductivity.;Moreover, the mechanisms of discharge initiation and arc development on the surface of the ice accumulated on the insulators were studied. Special attention was paid to evaluate the effect of the volume conductivity of the ice surface on the arc propagation velocity for different freezing water conductivities, using high-speed video camera techniques.;The proposed models were successfully validated in laboratory using station post insulators - typically used in Hydro-Quebec 735 kV substations - under AC and DC voltages. The maximum AC and DC withstand voltages were experimentally determined based on IEEE Std 1783. Furthermore, the influence of the number and position of air gaps on the flashover performance of ice-covered insulators was investigated experimentally. Experimental results revealed that the air gap configuration affects the maximum withstand voltage significantly. The main characteristics of flashover, including minimum flashover voltage and leakage current, derived from the proposed two-arc dynamic model, respond properly to the variation of major parameters, namely, insulator length and freezing water conductivity.;Finally, in order to interpret the performance of insulators under different air gap positions, the voltage and electric field distributions along the ice-covered insulator were simulated numerically during the melting period, using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Simulations results confirm that increasing the number of air gaps improves the maximum withstand voltage and uniformity of voltage distribution of EHV post insulators. Based on the results, the use of booster sheds and grading rings to improve the insulating performance of post insulators under icing conditions is recommended.;This research may be regarded as an important basis for the development of multi-arc models and a powerful tool for the design and selection of EHV insulators subjected to ice accretion.