Pollution Flashover Performance of High Voltage Insulators around Jeddah Region

As a result of rapid development and growth of populated areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, several high voltage power transmission systems operating at various voltages up to 380 kV have been put into service and flashover difficulties with insulators of these systems caused by pollution of different types have been experienced. In order asses the pollution behaviour of line insulators in the Western Region of the Kingdom, two insulator types (longrod and cap-and-pin) have been subjected to natural pollution at four selected localities for 100 days and 2 years periods, without voltage being applied. The naturally polluted insulators have been tested in the High Voltage Laboratory of King Abdulaziz University. The investigation has shown that heavy pollution can accumulate on the insulators operating in Jeddah areas for over two years and the tested longrod insulator which is used in some part of the system can safely be used for years without any preventive measure. The cap-and-pin type appeared to be more appropriate for the region and leakage current recorder has been recommended for a better estimation of the insulator cleaning period.