University PhD Research Studentship
School of Engineering and Built Environment
Power Systems Diagnostics
Reference Number: SEBE_AN_2014_1
Studentship Project Title: Spectroscopic investigation of flashover on contaminated
insulators
Applications are invited for a full-time PhD research studentship at Glasgow Caledonian University within
the School of Engineering and Buitl Environment. The studentship is for a period of three years, subject
to satisfactory progress and provides payment of tuition fees at the UK/EU rate plus an annual stipend of
£14,800 [please note that students from outside the EU are required to pay the difference between
International and EU fees, currently this would amount to £7,100 per annum]. The successful candidate
will carry out up to 6 hours of academic-related work per week as part of their research training.
Research Discipline
Outdoor insulator, Contamination flashover, electric arc, Optical emission spectroscopy
Research Theme
Power Systems Diagnostics
Research Project Summary
Scotland, with considerable length of power transmission lines passing close to the shoreline, is
very exposed to salt spray from the sea. The design and selection of outdoor insulators for
overhead transmission lines is to a large extent based on their performance under contaminated
and wet conditions. Under such conditions HV insulators are most vulnerable to external
flashover. The contaminants deposited on the insulator surface can range from sea-salt to
fertilizers, fly ash to cement dust, exhausts from factories and vehicles to chemicals used for deicing streets. When the contaminant layer formed on the insulator surface becomes wet, the
surface conductivity increases. This will cause increasing leakage current, initiation of partial
discharge and under certain conditions, can lead to flashover and possibly power outage.
Spectroscopic plasma diagnostic methods have provided some important advantages of interest
to researchers for a long time. This technique enables the capture of a large amount of
information about discharge plasmas without disturbing the plasma. This project is aimed at
investigating the flashover phenomenon of polluted insulators employing the non-destructive
test method of optical emission spectroscopy. The spectra of emitted light during discharge
activities provide valuable information on the arc such as ionization reactions, temperature,
electron density and the state of thermal equilibrium. The experiments will be performed inside
the new state-of-are climate chamber within the HV lab of GCU which is uniquely designed to
test insulators under controlled wet conditions.
The output of the project will improve knowledge concerning the flashover of contaminated
insulators and will lead to better design of insulators and consequently better reliability of
power system. This will help also to increase the reliability of power transmission from marine
renewable energy power plants. The continuity of supplying reliable energy to industries related
to oil and gas is also vital and could be increased by relevant research in this area.
Required background and/or experience of the candidate:
The candidate should possess a relevant 1st or 2.1 honours degree. Candidates whose first language is not
English are expected to hold a current IELTS qualification with an overall score of 6.5 with no element below
6.0
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Supervisory Team
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Dr. Azam Nekahi
School of Engineering & Built Environment
Glasgow Caledonian University
Prof. Scott McMeekin
School of Engineering & Built Environment
Glasgow Caledonian University
Prof. Masoud Farzaneh
University of Quebec, Canada
Staff Contact
Dr. Azam Nekahi
Tel: +44 1412731767
Email: azam.nekahi@gcu.ac.uk
How to Apply
Applicants should complete the University Research Application Form, available from:
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/research/phdresearchopportunities/
Please send the form, stating the studentship project title and reference number, with a CV, copies of
academic qualifications, references, and any other required documentation to:
researchapplications@gcu.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is 14th April 2014
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