Electrical isolator

An electrical isolator, comprising:

• an isolator body mainly extending along an isolator axis between a first end, suitable for being electrically connected to an electrical conductor of an electrical line, and a second end, suitable for being electrically connected to ground, the isolator body comprising a load-bearing structure and an outer covering made of polymeric material which at least partially covers the load-bearing structure, and
• at least one leakage current measurement sensor at least partially embedded in the isolator body and configured to measure leakage currents circulating on a surface of the isolator body, wherein the leakage current measurement sensor is self-powerable by electric energy produced by the leakage currents,
• wherein the leakage current measurement sensor comprises:
• at least one electrode suitable for capturing the leakage currents flowing along the outer covering and an electronic board connected to the at least one electrode, the leakage current measurement sensor being embedded in the isolator body, or
• two annular-shaped electrodes suitable for capturing the leakage currents flowing along the outer covering and placed around the isolator body and spaced axially apart, each annular-shaped electrode being electrically connected to a respective end of an electronic board, the electronic board being embedded in the isolator body between the two annular-shaped electrodes,
• wherein the electronic board comprises all electronic circuits and components necessary for processing electrical signals detected by the at least one electrode, transmitting data to an external receiving unit, and storing the electric energy required to self-power the leakage current measurement sensor,
• wherein the electronic circuits and components comprise a microcontroller configured to manage electronics for detecting and measuring the leakage currents, electric energy storage, and communication of data towards outside and/or other sensors,
• and wherein the electronic circuits and components further comprise an input circuit configured to rectify a sinusoidal shape of the leakage currents so as to obtain a direct current used to progressively charge an energy storage capacitor battery, wherein the input circuit is operatively connected to a capacitor battery charging circuit which, upon reaching a minimum energy required for the leakage current measurement sensor to self-power, is configured to send an activation signal to the microcontroller.

A method for measuring surface leakage currents in an electrical isolator, wherein the electrical isolator comprises an isolator body mainly extending along an isolator axis between a first end, suitable for being electrically connected to an electrical conductor of an electrical line, and a second end, suitable for being electrically connected to ground, the isolator body comprising a load-bearing structure and an outer covering made of polymeric material which at least partially covers the load-bearing structure, the method comprising:

• at least partially embedding at least one leakage current measurement sensor in the isolator body, the leakage current measurement sensor being configured to measure leakage currents circulating on a surface of the isolator body,
• electrically powering the leakage current measurement sensor with electric energy produced by the leakage currents,
• wherein the leakage current measurement sensor comprises:
• at least one electrode suitable for capturing the leakage currents flowing along the outer covering and an electronic board connected to the at least one electrode, the leakage current measurement sensor being embedded in the isolator body, or
• two annular-shaped electrodes suitable for capturing the leakage currents flowing along the outer covering and placed around the isolator body and spaced axially apart, each annular-shaped electrode being electrically connected to a respective end of an electronic board, the electronic board being embedded in the isolator body between the two annular-shaped electrodes,
• wherein the electronic board comprises all electronic circuits and components necessary for processing electrical signals detected by the at least one electrode, transmitting data to an external receiving unit, and storing the electric energy required to self-power the leakage current measurement sensor,
• wherein the electronic circuits and components comprise a microcontroller configured to manage electronics for detecting and measuring the leakage currents, electric energy storage, and communication of data towards outside and/or other sensors,
• and wherein electrically powering the leakage current measurement sensor with the electric energy produced by the leakage currents comprises:
• rectifying a sinusoidal shape of the leakage currents input to the sensor to obtain a direct current;
• progressively charging an energy storage capacitor battery with the direct current, and
• upon reaching a minimum energy required for the leakage current measurement sensor to self-power, sending an activation signal to the microcontroller.