This book is a guide to the whole field of high voltage insulators as
used in electrical power networks, traction and production. It covers
the historical development of the shapes - sometimes strange ones - of
modern types, decribes the principal materials - both ceramic and
polymeric - and their fabrication, explains the physical principles of
contamination and flashover, and reviews the mass of data on research
and testing.
Practical advice is given, with worked examples and many illustrations,
on the choice of insulator, including the problems of the environment
and nuisance. The remedies that are available to deal with pollution
flashover are compared and precautions are indicated for the potentially
dangerous practices of live-washing and live-working.
Useful guiding principles for the designer of power lines and
substations are listed with the relevant international standards and
tables containing properties of materials. For the student and
researcher there are accounts of current basic R&D, and indications of
probable future trends. The particularly current topics of optical fibre
insulation, direct current and vandal-resistance are covered.
The author's first-hand experience of most of the matters which he
describes enables him to write clearly and to avoid confusing
mathematical and technical complexities. This is a book for the
intelligent layman as well as for the specialist.
