Smart Insulators: Embedded Sensor Technology & Self-Powered Communications (Fully Funded)

Overhead line insulators are an essential component used in significant volumes across the world. They provide mechanical support to overhead line conductors and ensure electrical separation of the live conductor and the earthed tower. There is a need to develop better ways to understand the condition of these overhead line insulators and to identify imminent failure (whether this be mechanical or electrical). Inspection of every single overhead line insulator by hand is not practical owing to the numbers installed across the power system and the need to switch out circuits to protect the safety of the workers.

This project will seek to develop embedded sensor technology (maybe fibre optic with a means of self-powering communication or energy storage to drive the unit) that can be placed within the structure of the composite insulator. The monitoring would be completely autonomous and intelligent to communicate with other devices or parts of the structure. Parameters to be monitored could include mechanical stress / strain, vibration, electric field and surface condition.