Predicting the service life of high-voltage insulators using actual leakage current values

High-voltage insulators are the most massive elements of an overhead power line. The task of determining their current state and especially their residual life is crucial to ensure the reliability of the entire line. The issues of high-voltage insulators operation, physical pro­cesses occurring in the insulation, as well as factors leading to degradation of the insulation are considered in this study. The possibility of using the leakage current values of insulators for the control of the insulation and prediction of its resource is substantiated. The results of experimental studies of the leakage current of high-voltage insulators depending on their service life are considered.