| Abstract: | Transmission and distribution lines are sometimes struck by lightning and there is some risk of electrical puncture of suspension insulators due to high and steep lightning surge voltage. When the insulators suffer from steep lightning surge voltages, the solid insulating body of the insulators sometimes is punctured before external flashover in the air occurs. These characteristics were investigated on the insulators in the laboratory by using different steep impulse voltages. From the investigation results, both V-t characteristics of external flashover and internal puncture were obtained on the insulators. It was found that the puncture of the insulators is a matter of probability, depending on the dimensions of the insulators, steep impulse voltages and number of impulse voltage applications. Especially, the effect of number of voltage applications on puncture probability was clarified and partial damage by a small number of voltage applications was verified before complete puncture occurred. Based on the study results, an empirical equation relating to probability of puncture (P), impulse voltage (V) and number of voltage applications (N) was established. |
