Overview & Events

Research Value

• Improve understanding of and how to address performance issues of existing and new insulators applied in contaminated environments
• Evaluate and identify high-risk porcelain/glass insulators or populations of insulators prior to failure, which helps maintain a reliable electricity supply to the public

Member Benefits

• Help select, inspect, and maintain glass and porcelain insulators
• Provide information on insulator technologies, enabling lower cost and/or improved technical solutions

At A Glance

As populations of porcelain and glass insulators approach or exceed their expected service life, utilities are seeking end-of-life metrics to prioritize maintenance and replacement programs. To achieve this, utilities seek information on insulator performance (both new and in-service), how to determine replacement strategies, and what tools and technologies are effective to inspect and assess them.

As utilities replace aging populations, developments in glass insulator designs and shifts in porcelain insulator manufacturing have required new training for utilities on the selection, application, and inspection of porcelain and glass insulators.

Concerns have also been raised over the performance of new insulators from traditional and non-traditional vendors. In addition, many utilities that have not used glass insulators are considering this technology.

Recently, manufacturers have been introducing factory applied room-temperature vulcanized (RTV) coatings on glass insulators to enhance their contamination performance. However, there is limited information on the long-term performance of the coating and how it affects inspection, assessment, and maintenance. In addition to factory applied coating, there are coatings available on the market that can be applied in the field, that are candidates to be evaluated by subjecting them to a series of tests to assess their durability and performance.

Key Activities for 2024

• Development of Population Assessment Guidance: Much of the industry has a history of using porcelain insulators, therefore assessing and managing these aging populations will be required for many years to come. However, test data alone is just one component of deciding the end of life. This task plans to develop guidance bringing together the necessary information to help utilities assess failure risk and determine when population replacement is required.
• Evaluation of the Performance of RTV-Coated Insulators: Manufactured RTV-coated glass insulators are relatively new to the market and have limited worldwide experience. This task intends to evaluate how RTV coatings perform in various service environments. In 2024, EPRI plans to perform various short-term and monitor long-term testing to assess coating performance.
• Glass Insulator Failure Studies: Glass insulators have recently become more prolific across the industry. As more are being used, reports on shattering may increase. Having tools to understand the cause of the shattering can decrease time to issue resolution.
• E-Field Modeling Software Update: As RTV silicone-coated glass insulators emerge in the market, controlling corona to reduce degradation of the RTV becomes more essential. This tool can help calculate the electric field stress along an insulator string to determine if grading devices are needed.
• Insulator Reference Book: A comprehensive reference guide that provides state-of-the-art information on insulator selection, inspection, and maintenance. In 2024, EPRI intends to refresh the information with the latest research results.

Engagement Opportunities