The Development of Technology for Risk-Oriented Management of Insulation

The Energy Center, led by Associate Professor Dmitry Titov and Research Engineer Klim Volkhov, has recently published laboratory results on the assessment of a frequent reason for power outages in Russia. The research focuses on flashovers of high-voltage insulators in overhead power lines, which result from surface contamination and reduced flashover characteristics of the insulators. This issue not only leads to power failures but also incurs high costs on emergency repair works. As part of a project aimed at developing a technology for risk-oriented management of insulation, the Energy Center has collaborated with the Yuzhnouralsky Insulators and Fittings Plant to implement a novel technology in the power lines of the Rosseti Moscow power company.

One of the main challenges faced in addressing insulator flashovers is the difficulty in determining the state of insulators and the level of their contamination. Currently, insulators are replaced either after the expiration of their operation period or based on subjective assessments by power company employees. This lack of objective assessment contributes to higher maintenance costs. To combat this challenge, the Energy Center has developed a hardware and software platform with sensors and data processing tools to make the assessment process more objective and reduce maintenance costs.

The development of the risk-oriented management technology involved two types of experiments — laboratory experiments and field measurements. The laboratory experiments utilized high-voltage equipment to simulate various operating conditions of insulators and identify their characteristics under different scenarios such as contamination, moisture, or changes in the number or types of insulators. Portable oscilloscopes were used to collect data and analyze the characteristics of the insulators.

Field measurements were conducted at power grid facilities in the Dagestan Republic, Volgograd, Tula regions, and Moscow. Leakage currents in insulators were collected and processed to create a dataset. Through the analysis of oscillograms, the researchers identified the 20 most significant parameters for developing the model. Among these parameters, the ones that best reflected the state of the insulators were selected.

The Importance of Sensors

The next step in the development process was the creation and application of sensors capable of measuring the identified parameters. These sensors play a crucial role in preventing accidents in power lines by providing real-time data on the state of insulators. Rather than focusing on monitoring individual insulators, the hardware and software platform aim to assess the overall insulation of the power grid region, which adds significant value to the technology.

Successful Commercialization

The research conducted by the Energy Center has received recognition and acclaim. The project was named one of the winners of the “Energoproriyv (Energy Breakthrough)” competition, a competition for the best smart energy solutions. This achievement led to the integration of the technology into the R&D program of the Rosseti Moscow power company. The successful commercialization of the project has made it a unique and sought-after product. According to Titov, there are no other versions of this technology in the world that have achieved such successful commercialization.

The development of technology for risk-oriented management of insulation promises to revolutionize the power industry in Russia. By addressing the frequent cause of power outages – flashovers of high-voltage insulators – this technology offers a more objective assessment method and reduces maintenance costs. Through the use of hardware and software platforms, sensors, and data processing tools, the state of insulators can be accurately determined, thus preventing accidents and ensuring a more reliable power supply. The successful commercialization of this project serves as a testament to the effectiveness and potential impact of this innovative technology.