Watson remarks that, based on years of conducting these ESDD measurements, he has noticed surface contaminants become progressively more difficult to remove before replacing each washed disc for future measurement. He attributes this to a thin film of surface pollution that builds up and somehow becomes embedded in the glass.
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Watson checks rain gauge installed at test site( top photo).
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DDG test sites in locations where future network expansion planned( right and bottom photo).
Photos: INMR ©
Vosloo refers to all the data being gathered by Watson as well as to tests conducted for years at KIPTS and notes that both allow Eskom engineers to better understand pollution and how it impacts their network. Says Vosloo,“ we believe that doing natural ageing is necessary to complement whatever testing is being done at laboratories. Only by monitoring insulators in the field do we get the true story of how they react to the natural environment. This
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