A Simple Thermoelectrical Surface Approach for Numerically Studying Dry Band Formation on Polluted Insulators

This paper presents a simple thermoelectrical temporal surface method for numerically studying the appearance of a dry band on a polluted insulator. The proposed method combines an empirical expression of the pollution layer surface conductivity, expressed as a function of the temperature and equiva...

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Main Authors: Marc-Alain Andoh, Christophe Volat, Gbah Koné
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2412
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author Marc-Alain Andoh
Christophe Volat
Gbah Koné
author_facet Marc-Alain Andoh
Christophe Volat
Gbah Koné
author_sort Marc-Alain Andoh
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a simple thermoelectrical temporal surface method for numerically studying the appearance of a dry band on a polluted insulator. The proposed method combines an empirical expression of the pollution layer surface conductivity, expressed as a function of the temperature and equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD), and a surface approach for modeling the pollution layer, using thermoelectrical temporal simulations based on the finite element method (FEM). Using different material substrates, pollution layer thicknesses, and ESDD levels, the reliability and limitations of the simple thermoelectrical numerical model have been studied. The numerical results obtained demonstrated that the proposed thermoelectrical model can dynamically simulate the dry band appearance in accordance with the experimental results in terms of the temporal evolution of the temperature and the pollution layer resistance, as well as the evolution of the voltage drop and E-field along the dry band formation zone. The results also demonstrate the influence of the material substrate and the pollution layer thickness, which directly influence the thermal aspect of the dry band formation. The simple thermoelectrical numerical surface model was used to study the dry band appearance on a uniformly polluted 69 kV insulator. The results obtained enabled a dynamic simulation of the appearance of the first dry band, which appeared in the middle of the insulator, and to deeply investigate the evolution of the surface temperature, electric potential, and E-field distributions along the insulator. The proposed simple thermoelectrical model combined with the empirical model is able to simulate the influence of a non-uniform pollution layer. Hence, the proposed model provides a simple numerical tool for studying the evolution of the potential and E-field distributions along uniformly and non-uniformly polluted insulation equipment to identify the probability of a region of high dry band appearance relative to the insulator material and geometry. This can aid in the development of new types of mitigation methods to improve the performance of all types of insulators under polluted conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-48aff75865c44efd9dd2218a34200eab2025-08-20T02:33:52ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-05-011810241210.3390/en18102412A Simple Thermoelectrical Surface Approach for Numerically Studying Dry Band Formation on Polluted InsulatorsMarc-Alain Andoh0Christophe Volat1Gbah Koné2UQAC/CENGIVRE International Research Center on Atmospheric Icing and Electrical Network Engineering, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaUQAC/CENGIVRE International Research Center on Atmospheric Icing and Electrical Network Engineering, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaUQAC/CENGIVRE International Research Center on Atmospheric Icing and Electrical Network Engineering, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaThis paper presents a simple thermoelectrical temporal surface method for numerically studying the appearance of a dry band on a polluted insulator. The proposed method combines an empirical expression of the pollution layer surface conductivity, expressed as a function of the temperature and equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD), and a surface approach for modeling the pollution layer, using thermoelectrical temporal simulations based on the finite element method (FEM). Using different material substrates, pollution layer thicknesses, and ESDD levels, the reliability and limitations of the simple thermoelectrical numerical model have been studied. The numerical results obtained demonstrated that the proposed thermoelectrical model can dynamically simulate the dry band appearance in accordance with the experimental results in terms of the temporal evolution of the temperature and the pollution layer resistance, as well as the evolution of the voltage drop and E-field along the dry band formation zone. The results also demonstrate the influence of the material substrate and the pollution layer thickness, which directly influence the thermal aspect of the dry band formation. The simple thermoelectrical numerical surface model was used to study the dry band appearance on a uniformly polluted 69 kV insulator. The results obtained enabled a dynamic simulation of the appearance of the first dry band, which appeared in the middle of the insulator, and to deeply investigate the evolution of the surface temperature, electric potential, and E-field distributions along the insulator. The proposed simple thermoelectrical model combined with the empirical model is able to simulate the influence of a non-uniform pollution layer. Hence, the proposed model provides a simple numerical tool for studying the evolution of the potential and E-field distributions along uniformly and non-uniformly polluted insulation equipment to identify the probability of a region of high dry band appearance relative to the insulator material and geometry. This can aid in the development of new types of mitigation methods to improve the performance of all types of insulators under polluted conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2412dry bandthermoelectric empirical equationFEM numerical temporal modelingpolluted insulatorinfluencing parameters
spellingShingle Marc-Alain Andoh
Christophe Volat
Gbah Koné
A Simple Thermoelectrical Surface Approach for Numerically Studying Dry Band Formation on Polluted Insulators
Energies
dry band
thermoelectric empirical equation
FEM numerical temporal modeling
polluted insulator
influencing parameters
title A Simple Thermoelectrical Surface Approach for Numerically Studying Dry Band Formation on Polluted Insulators
title_full A Simple Thermoelectrical Surface Approach for Numerically Studying Dry Band Formation on Polluted Insulators
title_fullStr A Simple Thermoelectrical Surface Approach for Numerically Studying Dry Band Formation on Polluted Insulators
title_full_unstemmed A Simple Thermoelectrical Surface Approach for Numerically Studying Dry Band Formation on Polluted Insulators
title_short A Simple Thermoelectrical Surface Approach for Numerically Studying Dry Band Formation on Polluted Insulators
title_sort simple thermoelectrical surface approach for numerically studying dry band formation on polluted insulators
topic dry band
thermoelectric empirical equation
FEM numerical temporal modeling
polluted insulator
influencing parameters
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2412
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