Electricity has a long way to go from where it is generated to your house. Whether the energy source is hydroelectric, coal, or wind, electricity must be transported from where it was produced to where the energy can be used to power anything that requires electricity.
During this trip, extremely high voltages are usually involved. There are many definitions of high voltage, but in my opinion any voltage sufficient to cause bodily harm can be classified as high. From the generation source, the flow of electrons goes through various substations and distribution lines that adjust the potential until the level is suitable for household appliances.
Extremely high voltages are used to transmit electricity from the generation site to the substation. After the substation, the voltage is reduced by transformers to the point where it can be converted to the normal household voltage levels seen in the home. The use of this high potential requires systems and facilities to protect the environment and personnel from the associated dangers.
The equipment used to support the transportation high voltage is referred to as Heavy Electric. Some of the equipment used in the heavy electrical industry are components made of epoxy. Among them are switchgear (solid-insulated and gas-insulated) devices used to isolate electrical equipment. Switchgear is used both for shutting down equipment to allow work to be done and for troubleshooting downstream, transformers (power and potential) that set the voltages and current to the required levels, insulators that take electricity from earth and bushings disconnects, which are components that allow the conductor to be safely routed through a grounded metal wall or enclosure. All of these use the electrical properties of epoxy to insulate against the high voltages.
An important part of using epoxy in these applications is the process of making the parts. This is crucial to ensure that once manufacturing is complete, the result is a piece with optimal properties. There are currently three different manufacturing processes for shaping the resin-hardener mixture. The first is the compression mold, where high pressure is applied during the molding process. The second is the vacuum casting process, in which the casting is performed in a vacuum apparatus, and the last to be developed is automatic pressure gelation (APG), in which applied pressure is applied to the resin system during curing. Parts manufactured by APG are known for excellent void and shrinkage resistance.
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