A computerized numerical database on electrical insulating materials for power transmission and distribution applications

Abstract

A B S "A computerized numerical database on electrical, thermal, mechanical, degradation and other properties of electrical insgating materials for overhead and underground electric power transmission and distribution has been developed under the sponsorship of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) at the Center for Information and Numerical Data Analysis and Synthesis (CINDAS) of Purdue University. The database is continuously updated and upgraded following new developments in insulating materials for transmission and distribution systems.As a central source of technical and applications data on electrical insulating materials directly accessible online, this database is a valuable tool in developing, designing, and manufacturing insulating systems for electric utility equipment. The database 1s interactive, menu-driven, and userfriendly. It enables the direct mode of search/retrieval of data for specified materials, properties, and independent variables, and the inverted mode of search/retrieval of qualified materials that meet a set of specified property requirements (which is the computer-aided materials selection). It also enables units conversion, variable transformation, and interactive graphical display and manipulation of the retrieved data.The methodology for data compilation, evaluation, analysis, and correlation and the database development, content, and operation are presented and discussed. INTRODUCTIONInsulating materials are a critical component of overhead and underground power transmission and distribution equipment where large quantities and varieties of such materials are utilized. In the USA alone, approximately 25 billion pounds of insulating solids, 1.5 billion gallons of insulating liquids, and 10 million pounds of insulating gases are in use. The materials must be able to meet all the performance specitications, including electrical, mechanical, thermal, and reliability requirements, as well as cost and environmental considerations.When selecting the correct insulating materials for use in the manufacture of electric equipment, the design engineer must accurately assess several criteria which include, among others, a thorough knowledge of the application and requirements for the electrical insulation used in that application.Knowledge of the physical, electrical, mechanical, thermal and chemical properties of the selected insulating material is critical to matching them to the application and, ultimately, producing a functional component or equipment meeting all the requirements. An optimum insulation system, for example, can be produced only after the careful matching of properties of the individual materials such that the insulation has a voltage breakdown level that is higher than the normal operation level and the overvoltage level.A large amount of research funds has been invested and continues to be invested in studies of insulating materials properties, the results of which are published in the worldwide scientific and technical literature. The researchers, developers, desig...