“It is possible to improve the durability and performance of electrical systems through the use of advanced materials, appropriate protection systems and proactive maintenance approaches”
Failures in electrical components installed in tropical areas of Central America: technical analysis
The tropical regions of Central America have unique climatic conditions that significantly affect the reliability and performance of electrical components. Examining common failures in these components due to factors, such as high humidity, high temperatures, heavy rainfall and the presence of tropical fauna, biological and chemical agents is still difficult today.
The effects on cables, transformers, switchgear, solar panels and distribution systems, for example, are always analysed beforehand, providing a detailed overview of the failure mechanisms and possible mitigation measures theoretically; but the reality is completely different in practice.
Technical assessment
TECNALIA has handled the analysis of these critical factors in projects throughout Panama, El Salvador and Mexico with different electrical components, such as bushings, insulators, splices or photovoltaic fibre optic cables.
In order to assess the failure mode and the feasibility of the installation of the electrical equipment under the described conditions, TECNALIA offers the following expertise and experience in testing and analysis techniques:
- Measurement of Insulation Resistance
- Rated power and DC frequency withstand voltage test: dry and wet
- Lightning impulse withstand voltage test
- Measurement of partial discharges
- Mechanical tests: mechanical properties
- Tomography
- Microscopy and macroscopy
- Determination of the glass transition temperature
- X-ray diffraction (XRD).
- Verification of thickness and dimensions
- Visual inspection and section analysis
Actions to prevent failures in tropical areas
Possible mitigation actions that may be carried out as a conclusion of these projects, measures to prevent failures in tropical areas, include:
- Use of resistant materials: the use of corrosion-resistant materials, such as aluminium alloys and protective coatings can increase the lifetime of electrical components.
- Sealing and protection systems: the implementation of appropriate sealing and protection systems, such as airtight enclosures and impermeable coatings can prevent moisture and contaminants from entering.
- Preventive and predictive maintenance: the adoption of preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, including continuous monitoring and failure analysis, may help to identify problems before they result in catastrophic failures.
- Design adapted to tropical climates: the design of electrical systems taking into account the specific environmental conditions of tropical areas, such as the integration of ventilation and cooling systems, can significantly improve reliability and performance.
As analysed, the reliability of electrical components in tropical Central America is strongly influenced by adverse climatic conditions. Identifying common failures and understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial to developing effective mitigation strategies.
