Applicability of dimensional analysis for the prediction of pollution performance of insulators: an experimental study

In this research work, dimensional analysis is used to determine the maximum withstand pollution severity level (represented as volume conductivity) of an insulator as a function of its profile parameters and applied voltage. To validate the derived dimensional equation, the maximum withstand severity (MWS) tests have been carried out on 15 different profiles of cap and pin insulators for 220 and 400 systems by salt fog test method. The developed dimensional equation is used as a predictive model to determine MWS of insulator by assuming corrective constants. By analysing the mean square error and root mean square error, the proposed model is found to be in agreement with experimental results.