Experience in the evaluation of polymeric insulators for distribution systems in medium voltage through a natural laboratory

In order to identify possible shortcomings at design and manufacturing level, polymeric insulators are subjected to various tests at the laboratory established in ANSI C29.13-2000 [1] and IEC 61109-1995 [2] norms. One of these are environmental, which is done via simulations in laboratories, but these never become so severe and demanding as the present conditions of operation in the field. Therefore, this research develops a methodology to evaluate different designs of polymeric insulators (silicone rubber) suspension type with galvanized steel hardware, aluminum and polymer coated in a natural environment. For this, a specific area was available where environmental conditions are the most severe on the west coast of Zulia State, located north of the Venezuela Guajira, and establishing it as a Natural Laboratory. As a result recommendations were established for the characteristics of polymeric insulators to be used in the distribution network in the Zulia region, in order to obtain the highest reliability through the useful life.