Flashover of polluted high voltage insulators is a
major problem for operation of power lines in Egypt. In 2010,
insulators' pollution was the cause of several interruptions in the
Egyptian electric network. Variations of climatic conditions and
large industrial developments in the last few years call to update
the pollution map of Egypt. To achieve this, six sites in northern
Egypt with different types of pollution (industrial, desert, marine
and their mixtures) have been investigated. To asses the pollution
behavior of line insulators, IEC standard cap-pin suspension
insulators were hanged for a time zone of 5 months. The study
was conducted through measurements of: Equivalent salt
deposition density (ESDD), Surface Conductivity, Maximum
leakage current and Flashover voltage. The results are useful to
assess the insulation performance in different environmental
situations and as well to provide an updated pollution map in
Egypt. |