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Calculating Insulator Lifecycle Cost
Speaker 1: Insulators play a crucial role in guaranteeing the resilience of the electrical grid.
But when it comes to insulator selection, technical engineers are often required to balance
the very fine line between optimal performance and cost to meet budgetary targets.
Insulators with a lower initial cost are sometimes favored over their more expensive counterparts,
regardless of their expected lifespan.
However, to obtain a more holistic and accurate view of insulator cost efficiency, a life cycle
cost analysis should be performed.
Factors to consider: Purchase and installation cost, maintenance cost per interval, number of
maintenance intervals over lifetime, replacement cost per unit, expected number of replacements
during lifespan, costs associated with inspection, commercial losses and insulated disposal
at the end of life.
By evaluating these factors, technical engineers can select the most cost-effective insulators for their specific needs,
balancing initial cost with long term reliability and performance. The benefits of conducting
a life cycle cost analysis aren't just limited to new transmission line or substation development.
For insulators approaching the decline stage of their life cycle, a life cycle cost analysis
is a useful exercise to weigh up the cost efficiency of refurbishment versus replacement or redesign.
Reach out for further guidance on performing a lifecycle cost analysis for your grid.
But when it comes to insulator selection, technical engineers are often required to balance
the very fine line between optimal performance and cost to meet budgetary targets.
Insulators with a lower initial cost are sometimes favored over their more expensive counterparts,
regardless of their expected lifespan.
However, to obtain a more holistic and accurate view of insulator cost efficiency, a life cycle
cost analysis should be performed.
Factors to consider: Purchase and installation cost, maintenance cost per interval, number of
maintenance intervals over lifetime, replacement cost per unit, expected number of replacements
during lifespan, costs associated with inspection, commercial losses and insulated disposal
at the end of life.
By evaluating these factors, technical engineers can select the most cost-effective insulators for their specific needs,
balancing initial cost with long term reliability and performance. The benefits of conducting
a life cycle cost analysis aren't just limited to new transmission line or substation development.
For insulators approaching the decline stage of their life cycle, a life cycle cost analysis
is a useful exercise to weigh up the cost efficiency of refurbishment versus replacement or redesign.
Reach out for further guidance on performing a lifecycle cost analysis for your grid.
Background
Insulators play a crucial role in guaranteeing the resilience of the electrical grid, but when it comes to insulator selection, technical engineers are often required to balance the very fine line between optimal performance and costs. To meet budgetary targets, insulators with a lower initial cost are sometimes favoured over their more expensive counterparts, regardless of their expected lifespan.
In this video, ITG Expert Contributor Christoph Purucker explores the advantages of performing a lifetime costs analysis, and how engineers can make more informed decisions that balance initial cost with long-term performance and reliability by taking a holistic overview of insulator cost of ownership.
