WITHSTAND VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF INSULATOR STRING COVERED WITH SNOW OR ICE

This paper describes the results of an investigation into the withstand voltage characteristics of an insulator string covered with snow or ice and the application of these results to the insulation design and maintenance of a transmission line in a heavy snow area. It has become clear that the characteristics of withstand voltage were affected by the specific gravity of snow, the conductivity of water melted from snow, the height of snow and the ratio of snow-covered length. The withstand voltage was greatly reduced under snowing conditions.