R. P. Tshubwana, Chandima Gomes, John van Coller, Thierry J.C. Regnier
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Microbiological growth analysis on a 275 kV transmission line composite insulator in South Africa
Transmission line silicon rubber insulators are frequently subjected to harsh environmental conditions that can change their surface characteristics and result in a transient or permanent loss of hydrophobicity. Algae, fungi, mould, and lichen are examples of biological growth that can compromise the power system’s ability to operate safely by lowering the insulator’s flashover voltage. We evaluated and identified the major microorganisms that could be responsible for the flashovers of insulators in South Africa. Due to the difficulty of accessing insulators currently in use within the electricity network, only two insulators, from two provinces in South Africa, were used in the study. Although algae were not found on the insulators, two major filamentous fungi identified as Curvularia sp. and Aspergillus sp. were isolated. The absence of algae could be attributed to the weather pattern of the two locations where the insulators were placed during their use as part of the network. According to previous studies worldwide, the high occurrence of these fungi could be linked to the reduction of flashover voltage of the composite insulators. Although a larger survey including more insulators from all provinces in South Africa should be conducted, the current study demonstrates the need for a cleaning programme for insulators using cost-effective eco-friendly antimicrobial agents.
期刊介绍:
The South African Journal of Science is a multidisciplinary journal published bimonthly by the Academy of Science of South Africa. Our mandate is to publish original research with an interdisciplinary or regional focus, which will interest readers from more than one discipline, and to provide a forum for discussion of news and developments in research and higher education. Authors are requested to write their papers and reports in a manner and style that is intelligible to specialists and non-specialists alike. Research contributions, which are peer reviewed, are of three kinds: Review Articles, Research Articles and Research Letters.