MITSA INTERNATIONAL

Live Line Specialty Tools & Maintenance

Hot Line Washing Saftey Test – Part 3

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A third test was conducted on contaminated insulators. Firstly, they were flashed over, then washed, then flashed over again. During the process the voltage was noted when the second flashover occurred, thus establishing the effectiveness of the “washing”. An important note to add is that most of the insulators obtained full insulation ability.

The importance of having clean insulators stems in the issue of avoiding power loss due to leakage along the insulator chain. The testers had established that 1 milliampere would be the maximum acceptable limit of leakage current. Through a series of trials the optimal water pressure and distance had been found. Further, the testers also determine that special equipment had to be used in the washing. Initially fire and gardening hoses had been used, but due to the inability at being able to achieve the optimal pressure, hoses with smaller orifices, allowing greater pressure, were developed.

Hot Line Washing Safety Test – Part 2

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The tests that had been run took place in a district were some insulators were being washed, whereas others were not. After light rain and fog, 57 pole tops had caught on fire along with 12 circuit interruptions in the unwashed section. On the contrary, no issues whatsoever  occurred on the washed insulators. The effect of adding other materials in water for washing was a test subject. An abrasive material (Grand Monterrey Sand) had been added to to a water stream. Effectively speaking, this abrasive material had been found to make no difference in washing contaminated insulators. Instead, the abrasive material posed a threat for clogging up the nozzle, thus disrupting the flow of water. Unfortunately, when put against cement and petroleum based materials, water had only been effective to a certain degree.

Hot Line Washing Saftey Test – Part 1

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In order to assure that mixing water with electricity is a safe process, several power companies have run extensive tests on washing energized insulators. The first recorded tests were done in 1941, by Pacific Gas & Electric of California. In 1947 the same company re-conducted and documented the tests. They wanted to determine the following results:

  1. The true effectiveness of cleaning the insulators with water.
  2. Record the amount of leakage that had occurred through using different water streams.
  3. Test various nozzles sizes and shapes, different water resistivities and “new” water resistivity testers.
  4. Evaluate the economics of washing, using this method.

Live Line Training in Jordan

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Between 2006 and 2012 we conducted multiple live line training programs in the county of Jordan.  During this period, we have trained linemen and engineers in safe working practices for Live Line Maintenance at LV (220/380V), MV (11/33 kV) and EHV (400 kV).

Our satisfied customers in Jordan include:

NEPCO (National Electric Power Company) – 28 linemen and engineers

IDECO (Irbid District Electric Company) – Over 60 linemen and engineers

EDCO (Electricity Distribution Company) – Over 60 linemen and engineers