Abstract: Tracking is one of the major causes of failure in outdoor polymeric insulators used in high-voltage power systems. Early identification of such degradation is important to improve reliability and prevent insulation breakdown. In this work, a dual optical measurement approach combining fluorescent optical fiber sensing and optical emission spectroscopy is proposed for early-stage tracking detection. The developed system captures both temporal and spectral characteristics of discharge activity during the degradation process.

Experiments were carried out under IEC 60587 inclined plane test conditions on silicone rubber insulation samples. Different discharge stages, including surface discharge, dry-band formation, localized bright spots, and tracking, were investigated using optical measurements. The extracted optical features were further analyzed using unsupervised clustering techniques for distinguishing degradation stages. The proposed method provides a non-contact, electromagnetic interference immune, and low-computational-cost approach for monitoring insulation condition. All are cordially invited.

Event Details
Title: Dual Optical Measurement for Early Detection of Tracking in Polymeric Insulators Using Fluorescent Fiber and Emission Spectroscopy
Date: May 11, 2026 at 01:30 AM
Venue: Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/iem-rbra-gpe)
Speaker: Mr. Akash R (EE22D034)
Guide: Dr. Sarathi R
Type: PHD seminar

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