The chosen design of the SIDI-ECO insulator proved to be helium-tight <10-6 mbar l/sec in tests with 5bar overpressure. The explosion safety could be demonstrated in a water pressure test in comparison with a DIN porcelain insulator. As Figure 1 shows, the porcelain insulator was already leaking and damaged at pressures below 2.5Mpa. The silicone insulator remained tight to above 6Mpa. The burst pressure was not reached with the silicone insulator because the maximum permissible pressure of the test vessel was reached.
Water pressure test, porcelain and silicone insulator
The compression test shows that the SIDI-ECO bushing plays an important role with regard to explosion safety.