Power line insulator with protective shield against stormy coastal backdrop.

Power Up Your Insulators: How to Prevent Electrical Flashovers and Keep the Lights On

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Avery Sinclair in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A practical guide to understanding and mitigating surface electrical field issues in 35kV ceramic insulators, ensuring a more reliable power supply."


Electrical flashovers on insulators can cause significant disruptions, leading to power outages and economic losses. Since the 1980s, these incidents have been a persistent challenge, especially in coastal regions where marine salt fog and sand contribute to high surface conductivity. Understanding and mitigating these flashovers is crucial for maintaining a stable power supply.

Coastal areas like Fujian and Guangdong face unique challenges due to their economically developed and heavily loaded power systems. Pollution flashovers in these regions can lead to serious consequences, making it essential to find effective prevention methods. One such method involves installing booster sheds on insulators to improve their anti-flashover performance.

This article delves into a study that uses computer simulations to determine the optimal placement and configuration of booster sheds on 35kV ceramic insulators. By analyzing the surface electrical field under various conditions, the research aims to identify cost-effective strategies for minimizing flashovers and enhancing the reliability of power systems.

Understanding Insulator Flashovers and Mitigation Techniques

Power line insulator with protective shield against stormy coastal backdrop.

Insulator flashovers occur when the electrical field on the insulator's surface exceeds the breakdown strength of the surrounding air, leading to a disruptive discharge. Factors contributing to this include surface contamination, humidity, and the insulator's design. In coastal areas, salt deposits significantly increase surface conductivity, making insulators more prone to flashovers.

The study focuses on the ZSW-35/4-4 ceramic insulator, commonly used in power distribution networks. Researchers created a detailed simulation model using COMSOL software to analyze the electrical field distribution on the insulator's surface. The model allows for testing various configurations of booster sheds, which are additional components designed to improve the insulator's performance.

The primary functions of booster sheds are threefold:
  • Blocking discharge channels caused by contaminants like bird droppings and rainwater.
  • Increasing the bridging distance in icing conditions to prevent ice-related flashovers.
  • Improving the electric field distribution to minimize discharge risks.
The simulation results indicated that the placement of booster sheds significantly impacts the electrical field distribution. Specifically, installing a single booster shed on the second layer of the insulator proved to be the most effective and economical solution. This configuration reduces the maximum electric field strength at the edge of the sheds, making the insulator less susceptible to flashovers. While multiple booster sheds can further improve performance, the cost-benefit ratio diminishes, making the single shed on the second layer the optimal choice.

Practical Implications and Future Directions

The findings of this study offer practical guidance for power system engineers and technicians seeking to enhance the reliability of ceramic insulators in coastal environments. By strategically installing booster sheds, particularly on the second layer of the insulator, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of flashovers and minimize power disruptions. This approach not only improves system performance but also offers a cost-effective solution compared to replacing entire insulators or implementing more complex mitigation strategies. Further research could explore the application of these findings to other types of insulators and environmental conditions, as well as investigate the long-term performance and maintenance requirements of booster shed installations.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1088/1757-899x/394/4/042083, Alternate LINK

Title: Study On The Simulation Model Of Surface Electrical Field Of 35Kv Ceramic Insulator With Booster Shed Installation

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering

Publisher: IOP Publishing

Authors: Huilin Zhang, Minghuang Wu, Qiang Han, Hong Tian

Published: 2018-08-08

Everything You Need To Know

1

What causes electrical flashovers on insulators, and why is preventing them important?

Electrical flashovers on insulators occur when the electrical field on the insulator's surface exceeds the breakdown strength of the surrounding air, leading to a disruptive discharge. This is often exacerbated by surface contamination like salt deposits in coastal areas, which increase surface conductivity. Humidity and the insulator's design also play significant roles. Preventing these flashovers is essential for maintaining a stable power supply and avoiding outages.

2

Why was the ZSW-35/4-4 ceramic insulator chosen for this study, and how was it analyzed?

The ZSW-35/4-4 ceramic insulator was chosen due to its common use in power distribution networks. Researchers used COMSOL software to create a detailed simulation model, enabling them to analyze the electrical field distribution on the insulator's surface. This model allows for testing various configurations of booster sheds to optimize performance.

3

What are the primary functions of booster sheds when added to insulators?

Booster sheds primarily block discharge channels caused by contaminants like bird droppings and rainwater. They also increase the bridging distance in icing conditions to prevent ice-related flashovers. Furthermore, they improve the electric field distribution to minimize discharge risks, enhancing the overall performance of the insulator.

4

What was the most effective placement for booster sheds on the ZSW-35/4-4 ceramic insulator according to the study, and why?

The study found that installing a single booster shed on the second layer of the ZSW-35/4-4 ceramic insulator proved to be the most effective and economical solution. This configuration reduces the maximum electric field strength at the edge of the sheds, making the insulator less susceptible to flashovers. While multiple booster sheds can improve performance, the cost-benefit ratio diminishes, making the single shed on the second layer the optimal choice.

5

What are the practical implications of this study for power system engineers, and what future research could be conducted?

By strategically installing booster sheds, particularly on the second layer of the ZSW-35/4-4 ceramic insulator, power system engineers can significantly reduce the risk of flashovers and minimize power disruptions in coastal environments. This approach offers a cost-effective solution compared to replacing entire insulators or implementing more complex mitigation strategies. Further research could explore the application of these findings to other types of insulators and environmental conditions, as well as investigate the long-term performance and maintenance requirements of booster shed installations.

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