ENERGY DIVISION

Hydrophobicity And Loss Through

Aging / Pollution
Non wetting surface
Low current
‘hydrophobic’ results
flow HV insulating material
in water beading
Pollution, thermal aging,
UV aging leading to wetting
Current flow

Local drying creates ‘dry banding’

Current flow
interrupted
Arcing across gap leading
to tracking or erosion
Current flow

5 August 2010
 ENERGY DIVISION

What Is Tracking And Erosion?

Lug

Termination

Tracking Erosion
• Rapid process • Slow process
• Conductive path Cable • No conductive path
• Short product life • Longer product life

5 August 2010
 ENERGY DIVISION

Material Behaviour Under Arcing Conditions

Arcs Volatile
Insulation Erosion
Components
Arcs
Degraded Catalyst
Polymer
Arcs Catalyst

Carbonaceous
Char

Tracking

5 August 2010
 ENERGY DIVISION

Accelerated Material Test Methods

Key screening tests:

• TGA analysis

• Tracking and Erosion Resistance Test (TERT)

• Aging tests
- UV resistance
- Thermal aging

• Field assessments in high UV and heavily polluted areas

5 August 2010
 ENERGY DIVISION

Tracking and Erosion Resistance Test (TERT)

Conductive
contaminant
(ammonium
chloride)

Electrodes
Electrodes
Tert plaque (6mm thick)

Two tert tests :

- Step test: Voltage is increased each hour and contaminant rate increased
periodically
- Constant Voltage test: Voltage and contaminant flow rate maintained for set time

5 August 2010
 ENERGY DIVISION

TERT - Key Failure Mechanisms

Sample - Front View Side View Sample - Front View Side View

Tracking failure Erosion failure

(rapid process) (slow process)
5 August 2010
 ENERGY DIVISION

Anti-Tracking Properties Through Aluminium Tri Hydrate

1. Chemical action: 2. Physical action:

Al2O3.3H2O + 3C

3CO + Al2O3 + 3H2

Al2O3.3H2O Steam

3. Volume effect 4. Thermal effect

Endothermic reaction keeps
The amount of fuel (polymer) polymer cool
is reduced by adding ALTH

Heat

5 August 2010