초록
In this study, degradation was observed by irradiating UV rays to the polymer insulators which have been widely used in outdoor electric power facilities. For an indoor accelerated UV test, 0.55 w/m2 of UV rays were applied using a xenon-arc method. A UV detection system with 65 ${\phi}mm$ in diameter, 100 mm in length and 1.0 of brightness (F/#) has been designed. Even though efflorescence on the surface of polymer insulators wasn't observed according to the accelerated UV test. UV rays were detected at around 50% and 40% of insulation breakdown in EPDM and silicone-type insulators respectively. As degradation continued because of an indoor accelerated UV test, breakdown voltage with which UV rays can be detected in an early stage decreased as well. A silicone polymer insulator would be severer than EPDM polymer insulator in terms of surface degradation because of UV strength against $V_m/V_{BD}$ was high in silicone polymer insulators. UV strength in silicone-type insulators increased at 1,000 $kJ/m^2$ because contact angle at the intial stage sharply decreased to from $113^{\circ}$ to $92.1^{\circ}$.
