As short interruptions are due to automatic switching actions, their recording requires automatic monitoring equipment. Unlike long interruptions, a short interruption can occur without anybody noticing it. That is one of the reasons why utilities do not yet collect and publish data on short interruptions on a routine basis. One of the problems in collecting this data on a routine basis is that some kind of monitoring equipment needs to be installed on all feeders. A number of surveys have been performed to obtain statistical information about voltage magnitude variations and events. With those surveys, monitors were installed at a number of nodes spread through the system. As with long interruptions, interruption frequency and duration of interruption are normally presented as the outcome of the survey. Again like with long interruptions much more data analysis is possible, e.g, interruption frequency versus time of day or time of year, distributions for the time between events, variation among customers.
An insulator or dielectric is a substance within which there are no mobile electrons necessary for electric conduction. However, when the voltage applied to such an insulator exceeds a certain value, then it breaks down and allows a heavy electric current (much larger than the usual leakage current) to flow through it. If the insulator is a solid medium, it gets punctured or cracked. The disruptive or breakdown voltage of an insulator is the minimum voltage required to break it down. Dielectric strength of an insulator or dielectric medium is given by the maximum potential difference which a unit thickness of the medium can withstand without breaking down. In other words, the dielectric strength is given by the potential gradient necessary to cause breakdown of an insulator. Its unit is volt/meter (V/m) although it is usually expressed in KV/mm. For example, when we say that the dielectric strength of air is 3 KV/mm, then it means that the maximum PD which one mm thickness of ...
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