Developing a mathematical model to optimize polymeric insulators configuration in order to minimize leakage current under polluted conditions.

Outdoor insulators are usually exposed to air pollution and severe weather conditions. Therefore, studying the discharge characteristics of insulators in such conditions is manditory. Optimization of polluted composite insulators shed parameters to minimize leakage current and electric field inlensity is the subject of this paper.Validity of the results extracted from a mathematical optimization model has been checked by experimental out comes to obtain reliable values for effective parameters. In particular, optimal values for shed spacing, shed angle, and the ratio of shed overhang to shed spacing have been investigated. Inorder to reach the above- mentioned goals, an optimization tool was implemented. To set up the problem, an objective function was developed, using an existing profile for a polymeric insulator in literature. Consequently, the constraints, recommended by IEC standard were added to the model. Finally, a computer simulation was performed, based on finite elements method ((FEM)) to visualize leakage current and electric field intensity reduction, resulted from the proposed design.