Why Clean High Voltage Insulators of Live Transmission Lines with Drones?

1.What Is the Main Function of Powerline Insulators?

Transmission lines operate at very high voltage levels. The primary function of power line insulators on high-voltage transmission towers is to electrically isolate the conductors from the tower structures, preventing short-circuit faults in electrical equipment. Additionally, insulators must withstand various mechanical forces, including vertical loads (such as the weight of the conductors and ice accumulation) and horizontal loads (such as wind forces). Under harsh weather conditions, such as strong winds, when the conductors experience significant horizontal tension, insulators ensure the conductors remain securely fixed to the towers, preventing excessive swinging that could cause short circuits.

2.Why Need to Clean High Voltage Insulators?

Since power insulators are exposed to outdoor environments for extended periods, their surfaces gradually accumulate dust and dirt. In humid conditions, such as foggy or light rain days, these pollutants can form conductive paths, reducing the insulator’s resistance. When large amounts of dust absorb moisture, surface leakage currents increase, which in severe cases may lead to flashovers, causing transmission line trips and affecting the reliability of power supply. Furthermore, contaminants can also corrode the insulators over time. Therefore, regular cleaning is essential to slow down the aging of insulators, extend their service life, and ensure reliable power transmission.

3.How to Clean HV Electric Insulators

Traditional Method: Traditionally, cleaning involves scheduled power outages, with workers manually climbing towers and scrubbing each insulator disc using steel brushes. This process is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and disrupts power supply.
In contrast, using heavy-lift drones equipped with custom-developed high-pressure water jetting devices allows insulator cleaning without the need for power outages. This method features simple operation, lower risk, and shorter working times. It effectively extends the insulator’s lifespan, ensures stable grid operation, overcomes difficult terrains, significantly improves efficiency, and saves time costs.

Cleaning Insulators with Drones: Heavy-lift drones equipped with self-developed high-pressure water cleaning devices can carry up to 10 liters of purified water, with a takeoff weight of around 100 kilograms. The nozzle can be adjusted in four directions — up, down, left, and right — to meet different cleaning angle requirements. A camera mounted on the drone provides a first-person view to monitor the nozzle angle, and an additional supporting drone is used during long-distance operations to vertically observe the nozzle position and maintain a safe distance from surrounding environments. The drone hovers near the designated insulator on the transmission line, and the specialized nozzle uses a multi-pass high-pressure water spray method to clean each insulator sequentially according to voltage levels. This approach precisely removes dirt from the surfaces of high-voltage transmission line insulators. A total of 711 glass insulators were successfully cleaned within 3 days.

4.What are the benefits of using drones to clean insulators?

Significantly Enhancing Operational Safety

Avoiding High-Altitude Manual Work: Traditional cleaning methods rely on personnel climbing transmission towers, posing risks of falls and electric shocks. Drone operations, being fully remote-controlled, ensure the safety of workers.
Feasibility of Live-Line Operations: Through insulation treatment or non-conductive cleaning technologies (such as dry ice blasting or laser cleaning), drones can perform operations without power outages, minimizing the risk of electric shocks.
Ensuring Continuous Power Supply: No Need for Power Outages: Traditional cleaning often requires planned outages, disrupting electricity supply and economic activities. Drone technology enables live-line cleaning, ensuring the stable operation of the power grid.
High Efficiency and Flexibility, Suitable for Complex Environments: Rapid Deployment and Coverage: Drones can quickly reach operation points, especially in areas difficult for manual access, such as mountains or rivers, greatly improving efficiency.
Precise Operation: Equipped with high-precision navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, drones can accurately locate insulators and avoid damaging equipment.

Reducing Overall Costs

Lower Labor Demand: Saves costs associated with tower climbing and safety measures.
Minimizing Outage Losses: Avoids indirect economic losses caused by industrial shutdowns or commercial disruptions due to power outages.

Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation

Water Conservation and Emission Reduction: Using dry cleaning techniques (such as compressed air) or minimal water mist cleaning reduces water consumption and chemical pollution.
Extending Equipment Lifespan: Regular and efficient cleaning slows insulator aging, reducing replacement frequency and resource waste.

Improving Maintenance Quality and Intelligence Level

Deep Cleaning Effect: Drones can clean from multiple angles, thoroughly removing stubborn dirt and reducing flashover risks.
Integrated Inspection Functions: Some drones are equipped with cameras or sensors, allowing for simultaneous defect detection (such as cracks or damages) during cleaning, achieving integrated "inspection and maintenance."

Supporting Sustainable Development

Reducing Carbon Emissions: Compared to traditional large machinery or outage-based operations, drones have lower energy consumption, aligning with the trend of green grids.

Promoting Technological Upgrades: Encourages the application of drone and artificial intelligence technologies in the power industry, accelerating the digital transformation of the sector.

🤝 Contact Nooa Electric:
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