Electric field and potential distributions along non-ceramic insulators with water droplets

The electric field and potential distributions along wet nonceramic insulators are calculated using COULOMB, a three-dimensional electric field analysis program. The electric field intensification on the surface of the water droplets on a flat hydrophobic silicone rubber (SIR) sheet is analyzed. The conductivity of the water droplets is also an important factor in the electric field intensification. Under rain or fog conditions, the potential distributions influenced by the water droplets on the weathershed of the insulator are calculated. The plots of equipotential lines for a few typical cases (modeling dry-and-clean, rain, and fog conditions) are also shown.