Solovyev, Yury

Operational Experience with Composite Insulators at HVDC Substations

Dr. Solovyev graduated in Electrical Engineering from Saint-Petersburg State Polytechnic University with an M.Sc. degree in 2007 and his Ph.D. degree in 2015. He has a decade of experience in high voltage technology, including diagnostic of outdoor insulation, condition assessment, failure investigation and reliability of high voltage installations. His past positions before joining Hitachi Energy in 2017 have included Assistant Professor at PEIPK in Russia and Specialist at STRI in Sweden. He has published more than 50 technical papers.

After 40 years of operating experience, composite insulators for HVDC applications are now recognized as a mature alternative to porcelain, with low flashover rates and no significant ageing or deterioration observed. With a growing HVDC technology market due to sharply increased power demand, the number of composite insulators for DC applications is expected to increase greatly by 2030 due to their advantages when installed at UHV DC stations in polluted regions. This presentation reviews service experience based on assessment of DC composite insulators and bushings in operation at outdoor DC yards at HVDC stations. Moreover, it provides recommendations for qualification of composite insulators for HVDC applications with respect to crucial design parameters, including material and shed design.