Monitoring Polymeric Insulators with an Ultrasonic Noise Based Technique

This paper presents a monitoring and predicting technique of polymeric insulators operational condition, including pollution, based on the detection of ultrasonic noise signals. The acoustic inspection techniques are based in the detection of the mechanical waves created by instantaneous energy release of electrical discharges in regions of intense electric field. This electric field condition is very typical in cases of intense pollution or compromised physical integrity of the polymeric insulator. The noise arising from the surface discharges releases a greater amount of energy in the ultrasound range, especially when surrounded by air. The ultrasound monitoring is an alternative technique with advantage of immunity to electromagnetic interference. However, its worst disadvantage is the…