Aging Degree Detection of Insulator Umbrella Skirt Based on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Composite insulators, which are primarily made of silicone rubber, are widely used in power systems. However, the aging of these insulators due to factors such as electric field, mechanical stress, and climate environment poses a threat to the safe and stable operation of the power grid. As a fast, on-line, and remote chemical analysis method, Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is expected to achieve the remote on-site measurement of the umbrella skirt conforming to the insulator. This study aims to utilize monopulse fiber optic LIBS equipment to detect the laser-induced breakdown spectra of insulator samples and obtain effective spectral information. The analysis reveals that the spectrum and characteristic lines of different umbrella skirts which is at different positions on the same insulator string do not exhibit consistent changes. Through spectral analysis, it is observed that the spectral line intensity of each element varies with different running years, indicating differences in the element composition of insulator samples with varying degrees of aging. By comparing the intensity of characteristic spectral lines of elements, the study identifies the variation patterns of Fe, Ca, Si, and other significant elements with the running year. Spectral lines of Fe and Ca are proposed as potential standards for measuring the aging degree of the insulator umbrella skirt. The feasibility that LIBS technology is applied to insulator aging degree detection is demonstrated.