Smart pH sensor for condition monitoring of insulators in the smart grid

The interconnected nature of the power system makes economical use of the power generated and generally improves overall reliability. However, this increase in reliability comes at a price of increased risk associated with the possibility of a minor disturbance propagating and resulting in complete shutdown of the whole system. The insulation used on the line is one of the critical areas prone to failure as this insulation is exposed to the effects of pollution which accumulate on its surface. To avoid excessive build-up of pollution the utilities regularly go for washing of insulators, which is an expensive exercise. This paper proposes the use of pH level of the contaminant as a pollution severity indicator and its measurement using a smart sensor for condition monitoring of outdoor insulation.