Method for cleaning non-flat surface of power transmission line insulator through laser-induced bubbles

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for cleaning a non-flat surface of a power transmission line insulator through laser-induced bubbles. The method comprises the steps that firstly, pretreatment on the power transmission line insulator is executed; and then the laser cleaning system is used for conducting laser irradiation on the preprocessed power transmission line insulator, so that laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-flat surface of the power transmission line insulator is achieved. According to the method, an efficient and non-contact cleaning technology can be provided, and compared with a traditional electrified manual cleaning method, the technology effectively avoids high risks caused by electrified cleaning of the surface of the insulator of the high-voltage transmission line in the cleaning process, so that the operation difficulty and potential safety hazards of cleaning personnel are greatly reduced. According to the cleaning mode, the safety is improved, the completeness of the insulator is guaranteed, and potential mechanical damage is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of laser cleaning technology in the field of high-voltage transmission lines and electrical systems, and in particular to a method for cleaning non-flat surfaces of transmission line insulators by using laser-induced bubbles. Background Art

[0002] Cleaning high-voltage line insulators is crucial for ensuring the safe and stable operation of power systems. However, as they age, dust particles float and settle in the air. Long-term accumulation on the insulator surface can have significant impacts. Due to the charge and water absorption of dust particles, they easily aggregate and settle around the insulators. Charged ions contained in these pollutants increase leakage current on the insulator surface. Excessive dust deposition reduces the dielectric strength of the insulators, potentially leading to air breakdown and discharges due to excessive electric field strength. This can cause electrical failures, outages, or even widespread power outages, posing a serious threat to grid security. Therefore, cleaning high-voltage line insulators is crucial for ensuring the stable operation of power systems. It not only effectively prevents flashovers and breakdowns, reducing the risks of power failures and fires, but also extends the service life of insulators and improves the economic efficiency of the system. However, existing technologies face significant challenges in cleaning efficiency, effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact.

[0003] Manual cleaning is a traditional cleaning method, and cleaning operations are usually performed using aerial work platforms, lifts, or hanging ropes. Cleaning personnel use brushes, sprayers, and other tools to clean dirt from the surface of the insulators, and use special chemical solvents (such as cleaning fluids and acidic solutions) to clean the surface of the insulators. This method can remove stubborn dirt and has certain sterilization and anti-fouling functions. However, there are serious safety hazards in high-altitude operations. Workers are prone to accidents due to equipment failure, improper operation, or weather factors. Friction cleaning methods may cause wear on the surface of the insulators, and chemical cleaners may pollute the environment. In addition, high-pressure water gun equipment can be used to clean insulators with water jets, but the water flow may cause electrical accidents if it contacts live parts, and the water consumption is large, which can easily waste environmental resources. This has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a method for cleaning non-flat surfaces of transmission line insulators using laser-induced bubbles to address the shortcomings of the existing technology. This method provides an efficient and contactless cleaning technology. Compared to traditional live manual cleaning methods, this technology effectively avoids the high risks associated with live cleaning of high-voltage transmission line insulator surfaces, significantly reducing the operational complexity and potential safety hazards for cleaning personnel. This cleaning method not only improves safety but also protects the integrity of the insulators, avoiding potential mechanical damage.

[0005] One embodiment of the present application provides a method for cleaning non-planar surfaces of transmission line insulators by laser-induced bubbles, the method comprising:

[0006] Placing transmission line insulators on a three-dimensional mobile platform of a laser cleaning system;

[0007] performing pretreatment on the transmission line insulator;

[0008] The laser cleaning system is used to irradiate the pre-treated transmission line insulator with laser light, so as to achieve laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator.

[0009] Optionally, performing pre-processing on the transmission line insulator includes:

[0010] A liquid solvent is coated on the surface of the transmission line insulator to form a thin liquid film on the surface of the transmission line insulator; wherein the liquid solvent includes pure water or an active agent.

[0011] Optionally, the laser cleaning system includes: a laser optical path and a computer control system.

[0012] Optionally, the laser optical path includes: an XY scanning galvanometer, a reflecting mirror, an aperture, a half-wave plate and a Glan-Taylor prism.

[0013] Optionally, the laser optical path further includes: a femtosecond laser with a central wavelength of 1030 fs, a pulse width of 290 fs, and a laser repetition frequency of 10 kHz.

[0014] Optionally, the computer control system uses a SAMLight marking program to set the laser cleaning path and draws a path pattern of the laser scanning in the SAMLight marking program.

[0015] Optionally, the laser cleaning system further includes:

[0016] A CCD microscopic observation system is used to monitor in real time the cleaning effect of laser-induced bubble cleaning on the non-flat surface of the transmission line insulator, so as to obtain the best cleaning effect by adjusting the laser power, single pulse energy, irradiation time and scanning trajectory.

[0017] Optionally, after using the laser cleaning system to irradiate the pretreated transmission line insulator with a laser to achieve laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator, the method further includes:

[0018] utilizing an automatic feedback control system to monitor in real time the effect of laser-induced bubble cleaning on the removal of contaminants from the non-planar surfaces of the transmission line insulators, and sending feedback results to the computer control system;

[0019] According to the feedback result, the system parameters of the laser cleaning system are dynamically adjusted to ensure that every area of ​​the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator can be cleaned.

[0020] Optionally, the system parameters of the laser cleaning system include:

[0021] Laser wavelength, power density, irradiation time and laser beam focusing method.

[0022] Compared to existing technologies, this invention first pre-treats the transmission line insulators; then, using the laser cleaning system, laser irradiates the pre-treated insulators to achieve laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-planar surfaces. This provides an efficient and contactless cleaning technology. Compared to traditional live manual cleaning methods, this technology effectively avoids the high risks associated with live cleaning of high-voltage transmission line insulators, significantly reducing operational complexity and potential safety hazards for cleaning personnel. This cleaning method not only improves safety but also protects the integrity of the insulators, avoiding potential mechanical damage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic flow chart of a method for laser-induced bubble cleaning of non-flat surfaces of transmission line insulators provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of surface pretreatment of a transmission line insulator sample provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the optical path of a laser cleaning system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a process for generating bubbles in a liquid film on the surface of an insulator by laser induction according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a bubble collapse method for removing contaminants from the surface of an insulator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the effect of different laser powers on insulator cleaning performance according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing an experiment on cleaning the surface of a transmission line insulator using laser-induced bubbles, provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 8A schematic diagram of the cleaning effect of laser-induced bubble impact on the insulator surface provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0032] Traditionally, surface insulator cleaning methods for high-voltage transmission lines rely on contact cleaning, requiring manual labor to climb high and sweep the insulators. This carries significant risks and creates mechanical forces on the insulator surface, potentially damaging it. Furthermore, the cleaning medium can adhere to the surface being cleaned and become difficult to remove, resulting in secondary contamination.

[0033] In recent years, laser technology has been used in the cleaning field as a precise surface treatment method. However, existing laser cleaning methods, including thermal ablation, phase explosion, and plasma shock, usually cause melting damage to the material surface at a higher threshold, and cannot fully remove stubborn oil, dust, and tiny pollutants at lower energy.

[0034] In response to the problems of low cleaning efficiency on the surface of traditional transmission line insulators, high operational risks and difficulty for personnel, unsatisfactory cleaning effects, and serious environmental pollution, this application proposes a method for cleaning pollutants on the surface of transmission line insulators using non-contact laser-induced micro-nano bubbles. The flexible controllability, non-friction contact, and economical and energy-saving nature of the laser in the cleaning process make these problems easily solved. This application specifically involves the use of laser irradiation on the liquid film on the surface of the insulator, and the interaction with the liquid to stimulate the generation, expansion, and collapse of bubbles, thereby quickly and efficiently removing pollutants such as dust particles on the surface of the insulating material, reducing the risks to operators and the surrounding environment. At the same time, drones are used to regularly perform high-altitude operations on transmission line insulators, and pollution monitoring and cleaning maintenance of high-voltage line insulators are carried out by installing high-precision sensing and imaging devices.

[0035] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 A schematic flow chart of a method for laser-induced bubble cleaning of non-planar surfaces of transmission line insulators provided in an embodiment of the present invention may include the following steps:

[0036] S101: Placing a transmission line insulator on the 3D mobile platform of a laser cleaning system.

[0037] First, the transmission line insulators are fixed on a three-dimensional mobile platform to ensure that the operator can accurately and stably adjust the relative position of the insulator and the laser during the laser cleaning process using the laser cleaning system.

[0038] For example, a transmission line insulator can be hammered to a suitable size (such as 20 cm×20 cm) using a small hammer or other tool, and then placed on a three-dimensional movable platform of a laser cleaning system, and then the transmission line insulator substrate is fixed on the three-dimensional adjustable movable platform.

[0039] It should be noted that the laser cleaning system was subsequently activated, and the XY plane moving platform was adjusted to ensure that the transmission line insulator was in the laser irradiation area. The Z-axis lifting and adjusting device was used to adjust the transmission line insulator to the vicinity of the laser focus. Because the laser was not expected to damage the insulator surface during the experiment, the three-dimensional moving platform was adjusted so that the transmission line insulator was just below the laser focus, about 500μm to 1mm away from the brightest point of the laser spot (bright white fluorescence when the laser interacts with the sample), to ensure that the laser could be focused into the thin liquid film and would not ablate the surface of the transmission line insulator (the laser in the defocused state appears yellow-green at this time).

[0040] By adjusting the three-dimensional mobile platform, the transmission line insulator sample was precisely positioned within the laser processing area. Subsequently, it was necessary to select an appropriate laser source and laser processing parameters, including laser wavelength, power density, exposure time, and laser beam focusing method. The generation of laser-induced bubbles is closely related to these laser parameters. For example, the laser wavelength and power density determine the depth and intensity of the interaction between the light and the liquid surface, which in turn affects the size of the bubbles, the expansion rate, and the cavitation effect.

[0041] To meet different cleaning needs, cleaning accuracy can be flexibly adjusted by adjusting the size of the laser's active area. For cleaning small areas of contaminants, a smaller laser active area can produce a more concentrated beam, resulting in a stronger bubble expansion and collapse effect in the local area, helping to accurately remove small contaminants. For cleaning larger surface areas, the laser's active area can be expanded to evenly distribute the laser energy, thus meeting the cleaning needs of larger areas.

[0042] S102: Perform pre-processing on the transmission line insulator.

[0043] Specifically, performing pre-processing on the transmission line insulator may include:

[0044] A liquid solvent is coated on the surface of the transmission line insulator to form a thin liquid film on the surface of the transmission line insulator; wherein the liquid solvent includes pure water or an active agent.

[0045] To facilitate subsequent cleaning, the surface of the transmission line insulator can be coated with a thin layer of liquid solvent, see Figure 2 , Figure 2 Schematic diagram of surface pretreatment of a transmission line insulator sample provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown in the figure, since transmission line insulators are primarily composed of ceramics with good hydrophilicity, additional surface treatment or coating is generally not required. However, to ensure that laser-induced bubbles can be generated and expanded more efficiently, a liquid solvent, such as pure water, needs to be sprayed or gently scraped on the surface. This thin liquid film serves as the necessary medium for the interaction between the laser and the liquid, allowing the laser energy to be absorbed more efficiently and allowing bubbles to form on the surface for subsequent cleaning processes.

[0046] S103: Using the laser cleaning system, irradiating the pre-treated transmission line insulator with laser to achieve laser-induced bubbles, followed by bubble expansion and cavitation to clean the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator.

[0047] Specifically, the laser cleaning system may include: a laser optical path and a computer control system.

[0048] The laser optical path may include: an XY scanning galvanometer, a reflecting mirror, an aperture, a half-wave plate, and a Glan-Taylor prism.

[0049] In an optional embodiment, the laser optical path may further include: a femtosecond laser with a central wavelength of 1030 fs, a pulse width of 290 fs, and a laser repetition frequency of 10 kHz.

[0050] The computer control system may use the SAMLight marking program to set the laser cleaning path and draw the path pattern of the laser scanning in the SAMLight marking program.

[0051] Because the femtosecond laser has a short pulse width, high peak power, and can be precisely focused on the active area, it has the advantages of small thermal effect, high precision, and flexible operation. This application can use a femtosecond laser with a central wavelength of 1030fs, a pulse width of 290fs, and a laser repetition frequency of 10kHz to build a laser cleaning system. The specific optical path diagram is as follows: Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the optical path of a laser cleaning system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The relevant experimental components and materials may include: a femtosecond laser, computer-aided software (primarily a computer control system), an insulator sample, a reflector, a galvanometer, an aperture, a half-wave plate, a Glan-Taylor prism, and a CCD microscopic observation system.

[0052] The laser optical path can include optical components such as an XY scanning galvanometer, a reflector, an aperture, a half-wave plate, and a Glan-Taylor prism. The XY scanning galvanometer can focus and deflect the laser. Combined with a computer control program, it can focus the laser within the liquid film and clean the surface of the transmission line insulator sample according to the actual path. The reflector is used to adjust the laser direction. The aperture is used to limit the spot diameter and field of view, and also acts as a filter. The half-wave plate can adjust the polarization direction of the laser, and the Glan-Taylor prism has excellent polarization purity. Together, they control the laser pulse energy.

[0053] By adjusting the X, Y, and Z knobs of the mobile platform, experimenters can control the movement and lifting of the transmission line insulator sample so that the transmission line insulator sample is located in the laser action area for subsequent experiments.

[0054] The computer control system can use the SAMLi ght marking program to set the laser cleaning path. By drawing the laser scanning path pattern (such as ellipse, rectangle, arc, etc.) in the program, it can achieve flexible and high-precision cleaning of non-flat surfaces of transmission line insulators, and at the same time achieve high-efficiency cleaning of difficult-to-clean surfaces such as grooves on the surface of transmission line insulator samples.

[0055] It should be noted that the high scanning speed and adjustability of lasers enable them to effectively clean complex areas on insulator surfaces, such as curved surfaces and other subtle locations that are difficult to clean manually. By precisely controlling the focus and scanning path of the laser beam, laser cleaning can effectively remove contaminants from these difficult-to-clean areas without the need for additional manual intervention or complex tools.

[0056] When the laser irradiates the liquid surface, the laser energy is absorbed by the liquid, and the local temperature rises sharply, causing the liquid in the area to evaporate rapidly and form bubbles, such as Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the process of laser-induced bubble generation in a liquid film on the surface of an insulator provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The expansion and collapse process of bubbles is the most critical phenomenon in laser cleaning. When the volume of the bubbles increases rapidly, the generated airflow interacts with the surface tension of the liquid, further exacerbating the bubble expansion process. At this stage, the bubbles violently collide with contaminants (such as dust particles, oil stains, etc.) on the surface of the ceramic insulator, generating a certain impact force. This impact force can effectively stir up the contaminants from the surface and start preliminary cleaning.

[0057] As the bubble expands to its maximum, when the external liquid boils slightly or pressure changes occur inside the bubble, the bubble will experience severe cavitation and collapse. During this process, the gas inside the bubble is rapidly compressed, releasing high-energy heat and pressure. At this time, the multiple effects of laser-induced high-pressure waves, liquid flow and air flow work together to enable the shock wave generated by the bubble collapse to break through the adhesion between oil and pollutants and the surface, and completely remove pollutants (such as dust, oil, etc.) from the surface of the ceramic insulator. Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a bubble collapse method for removing contaminants from an insulator surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Bubble collapse can also generate shock waves, which can further intensify the impact on contaminants, allowing even smaller particles to be removed. The tiny, localized high-temperature zones and intense airflow generated by bubble collapse also help disrupt the adhesion between oil and dust particles, allowing these contaminants to more easily fall off the sample surface.

[0058] Therefore, during laser cleaning of insulator surfaces, cleaners can precisely control the laser energy, exposure time, and cleaning path, thereby flexibly adjusting the cleaning range, cleaning accuracy, and cleaning degree. This high-precision cleaning method can remove a variety of contaminants, such as dust and oil, without damaging the insulator surface. This flexible and convenient cleaning method does not require special surface treatment, making it highly adaptable and convenient.

[0059] In an optional embodiment, the laser parameters of the laser cleaning system are set and adjusted, and parameters such as laser power, single-point exposure time, scanning path, and dot-marking time interval are adjusted according to the transmission line insulator sample to ensure that the expansion and collapse of micro-nano bubbles can be effectively induced under laser irradiation. For example, the laser power can be set to 600mW, 700mW, and 800mW, the laser single-point irradiation time can be set to 60ms, 80ms, and 100ms, and the laser cleaning path can be set to a 5cm×5cm rectangle and a 3cm diameter circle. This is to explore the laser power and single-point irradiation time that achieve the best cleaning effect. The specific cleaning range can be determined according to the actual situation.

[0060] Laser parameters can also be adjusted according to the material and cleanliness of the transmission line insulator sample. The processing power has a great influence on the cleaning effect and surface integrity of the sample. The experimental results can be seen in Figure 6 , Figure 6A schematic diagram showing the effect of different laser powers on the cleaning effect of insulators provided in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) represents an uncleaned sample surface; (b) represents an effect diagram when the laser power is too low (less than 500mW) to completely remove surface contaminants; (c) represents an effect diagram when the power is appropriate to remove surface dust and other contaminants; and (d) represents an excessive laser power (over 800mW) causing damage to the sample surface.

[0061] It should be noted that the laser power is adjusted by a half-wave plate to ensure that the energy is concentrated at the focal position. The single-point irradiation time and laser cleaning path can be set in the SAMLight software. After experimental exploration, the optimal processing parameters are 700mW laser power, 150uJ single pulse energy, and 100ms single point exposure time. Figure 7 , Figure 7 Figure 1 shows an experiment using laser-induced bubbles to clean the surface of a transmission line insulator, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. When irradiated with laser light, micro-nano bubbles rapidly expand and collapse, generating impact force and jets to remove contaminants from the insulator surface. (a) shows the laser focused in the liquid; (b) shows the laser sweeping across the insulator surface, inducing the generation of dense bubbles (the cleaned area becomes noticeably cleaner); (c) shows the laser continuously inducing bubbles to clean the insulator; and (d) shows that cleaning is complete.

[0062] After the laser irradiation is completed, an inverted microscope or high-definition camera can be used to observe the removal of contaminants on the surface of the transmission line insulator sample. The cleaning effect is as follows: Figure 8 As shown, Figure 8 This diagram illustrates the cleaning effect of laser-induced bubble impact on an insulator surface, as provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The impact force and jet effect generated by the expansion and collapse of laser-induced micro-nanobubbles significantly remove contaminants, particularly stubborn dirt and particulate matter. Laser parameters can be adjusted or repeated irradiation performed as necessary based on the cleaning effect.

[0063] This solution utilizes the laser-induced collapse of micro-nanobubbles to remove contaminants. The intense impact force and localized jet flow generated during this process effectively remove contaminants from the insulator surface. Compared to traditional cleaning methods that rely on large amounts of water, this solution significantly conserves water resources, reduces energy consumption, and effectively lowers cleaning costs. Furthermore, this solution avoids the use of toxic chemical solvents, contributing to environmental protection.

[0064] In an optional embodiment, the laser cleaning system may further include:

[0065] A CCD microscopic observation system is used to monitor in real time the cleaning effect of laser-induced bubble cleaning on the non-flat surface of the transmission line insulator, so as to obtain the best cleaning effect by adjusting the laser power, single pulse energy, irradiation time and scanning trajectory.

[0066] For example, the CCD microscopic observation system can record the laser cleaning process in real time so that researchers can observe the cleaning effect and make further adjustments to the laser power, single pulse energy, irradiation time and scanning trajectory.

[0067] To evaluate the effectiveness of contaminant removal on the treated surface of transmission line insulators, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) can be used to observe surface cleanliness. The surface roughness of the cleaned sample can be characterized and compared with that of the uncleaned sample. Alternatively, a CCD can be used to capture images of the sample surface before and after cleaning. Matlab can then be used to process the images and extract their grayscale values. A higher grayscale value in the cleaned sample image indicates a better cleaning effect.

[0068] In another optional embodiment, after using the laser cleaning system to irradiate the pre-treated transmission line insulator with a laser to achieve laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator, the method further includes:

[0069] Step 1: Using an automatic feedback control system, real-time monitoring is performed on the removal effect of pollutants on the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator by laser-induced bubble cleaning, and feedback results are sent to the computer control system.

[0070] Step 2: Dynamically adjust the system parameters of the laser cleaning system according to the feedback result, so that every area of ​​the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator can be cleaned.

[0071] To achieve the best cleaning effect, an automatic feedback control system can be used. A high-speed camera can be used to monitor the removal effect of pollutants in real time, and the feedback is fed back to the computer control system. Researchers can then dynamically adjust the position and power of the laser beam to ensure that each area is effectively cleaned. For stubborn pollutants that are difficult to remove, multiple laser scans may be required. After each scan, the removal of pollutants is observed, and the laser parameters (such as power density, scanning speed, etc.) are adjusted in a timely manner to gradually complete the cleaning work.

[0072] When the laser cleaning is completed, most of the liquid on the surface of the insulator has evaporated. At this point, the sample surface enters the natural drying stage. After the surface is completely dry, use a microscope to observe the surface and check the cleaning effect. By observing the particle deposition on the sample surface, the cleaning effect can be quantitatively analyzed. At the same time, tools such as surface roughness analysis, optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can be combined to conduct a more in-depth characterization of particle deposits on the cleaned surface to confirm the removal effect of pollutants and whether the surface is damaged. If a certain amount of microscopic damage is caused to the surface under high power density, the insulator surface can be slightly repaired or protected later, such as coating a protective layer or performing surface smoothing treatment to ensure the long-term performance of the insulator.

[0073] Step 3: Regularly monitor and maintain the cleaned insulators. The laser cleaning technology introduced in this application has significant advantages in improving the efficiency of removing pollutants from the surface of insulators and the environmental protection performance. However, due to the long operating life of the cleaned insulators, this application cannot completely eradicate the subsequent accumulation of pollutants caused by various reasons such as the natural environment and industrial emissions. Therefore, in order to ensure the continued efficient and safe operation of high-voltage lines, especially key components such as insulators, a comprehensive maintenance strategy can be adopted. For example, combining a regular drone monitoring system with laser cleaning technology to form an efficient and accurate maintenance plan. With its flexible and maneuverable nature and wide coverage, drones can perform high-altitude operations on a regular basis, and through the high-precision sensors and imaging equipment on board, it can realize real-time monitoring and data analysis of the contamination status of the insulator surface. This non-contact monitoring method not only reduces the risk and cost of manual intervention, but also greatly improves the accuracy and timeliness of monitoring.

[0074] Based on the detailed contamination data obtained by drone monitoring, the timing and frequency of laser cleaning operations can be scientifically and rationally planned. Specifically, a comprehensive laser cleaning operation is recommended every six months to effectively remove accumulated contaminants and restore the cleanliness of the insulator surface, thereby ensuring the long-term performance of key components such as insulators.

[0075] Through the above steps, laser-induced micro-nano bubble splitting technology can be effectively used to clean contaminants on ceramic insulators, which can not only reduce the high repair costs caused by sudden failures or system aging, but also ensure long-term stability and avoid major failures caused by contamination.

[0076] The laser-induced nanobubble cleaning technology proposed in this application provides a novel and efficient method for removing contaminants from the surface of insulating materials. By regulating the laser power, single pulse energy, action time, scanning path and cleaning range, the non-flat surfaces of the insulator, including the difficult-to-clean parts such as the chamfers of the grooves, can be efficiently cleaned. At the same time, the appropriate liquid properties and laser energy distribution can be selected for different pollutants (such as dust, oil, etc.) for precise cleaning. The expansion, collapse and cracking process of the bubble is the core physical mechanism of this method. In this way, the surface contaminants of the material can be efficiently removed in a non-contact manner with almost no damage to the surface of the material. In addition, this application can also introduce an unmanned aerial vehicle operation team equipped with a small laser to timely monitor and feedback the contamination status of the insulator surface, and clean the corresponding contaminated area.

[0077] In summary, combined with regular drone monitoring, it is possible to regularly perform aerial work on transmission line insulators. Using the high-precision sensors and imaging equipment onboard, real-time monitoring and data analysis of insulator surface contamination are possible. This efficient, low-risk, and low-cost cleaning method offers a new solution for the maintenance and management of high-voltage transmission lines.

[0078] It should be noted that the embodiment of the present invention adopts an infrared femtosecond laser because of its advantages such as low thermal effect and high operational flexibility. The laser source can also be replaced with other types of lasers according to different needs. For example, nanosecond lasers or continuous lasers can also effectively clean the surface of insulating materials. The choice of different laser sources will directly affect the generation of bubbles and the effect of bubble cavitation, thereby affecting the efficiency of the cleaning process. In addition, short-wavelength lasers (such as ultraviolet lasers) generally have stronger optical absorption capabilities than long-wavelength lasers (such as infrared lasers), thereby effectively generating bubbles in liquids.

[0079] The pretreatment of this application adopts artificial coating of liquid film to simplify the experimental operation. In a real application scenario, the surface insulators of the transmission line can be cleaned with the help of rainwater. After the rain, a thin layer of water film is still attached to the surface of the insulator, and at the same time, it will absorb dust in the air. After the rain evaporates, due to the existence of the coffee ring effect, large and small water stains will remain on the surface of the insulator, and dust will adhere to the surface of the insulator to cause pollution. Therefore, the present invention can also use the liquid film left by rainwater on the surface of the insulator for laser cleaning. Similarly, by using a long-distance laser to focus it on the rainwater on the surface of the insulator, it can induce it to generate micro-nano bubbles, and the surface pollutants are removed by the impact force generated by the cavitation collapse of the bubbles.

[0080] In the present application, pure water was used as the substrate of the liquid film for the simplicity of the experiment. However, in actual applications, in order to improve the cleaning effect, different liquid film components can be selected according to specific needs. For example, additives such as environmentally friendly surfactants or photocatalysts can significantly improve the cleaning effect of the liquid film. Surfactants help to reduce the surface tension of the liquid film, making bubble formation easier and further improving the cleaning efficiency. Photocatalysts can promote chemical reactions under laser irradiation, further decompose surface pollutants, and improve the cleaning effect. Most of these environmentally friendly solutions evaporate after laser irradiation, and the decomposed gases or substances do not cause much damage to the environment.

[0081] The examples of this application can use ceramic insulators as samples. However, in actual applications, high-voltage transmission line surfaces may use a variety of insulating materials, such as rubber and composite materials. These materials have varying physical and chemical properties, which may have varying effects on the laser cleaning process. Therefore, for different insulating materials, appropriate laser parameters, including laser power, pulse width, and wavelength, can be selected based on their properties to ensure optimal cleaning results without damaging the insulator surface.

[0082] Compared to existing technologies, this invention first pre-treats the transmission line insulators; then, using the laser cleaning system, laser irradiates the pre-treated insulators to achieve laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-planar surfaces. This provides an efficient and contactless cleaning technology. Compared to traditional live manual cleaning methods, this technology effectively avoids the high risks associated with live cleaning of high-voltage transmission line insulators, significantly reducing operational complexity and potential safety hazards for cleaning personnel. This cleaning method not only improves safety but also protects the integrity of the insulators, avoiding potential mechanical damage.

[0083] It should be noted that for the aforementioned method embodiments, for simplicity of description, they are all expressed as a series of action combinations. However, those skilled in the art should be aware that the present invention is not limited by the order of the actions described, because according to the present invention, certain steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also be aware that the embodiments described in this specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required by the present invention.

[0084] In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own focus. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0085] In the several embodiments provided by the present invention, it should be understood that the disclosed devices can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the above-mentioned units is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interface, and the indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units can be electrical or other forms.

[0086] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0087] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention may be integrated into a single processing unit, each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0088] If the above-mentioned integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable memory. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a memory and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server or network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the above-mentioned methods of each embodiment of the present invention. The aforementioned memory includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a mobile hard disk, a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0089] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above. Specific examples are used herein to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method of the present invention and its core ideas. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the ideas of the present invention, there may be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scopes. In summary, the contents of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning non-planar surfaces of transmission line insulators by laser-induced bubbles, characterized in that: The method comprises: Placing transmission line insulators on a three-dimensional mobile platform of a laser cleaning system; performing pretreatment on the transmission line insulator; The laser cleaning system is used to irradiate the pre-treated transmission line insulator with laser, so as to achieve laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The performing of pre-processing on the transmission line insulator comprises: A liquid solvent is coated on the surface of the transmission line insulator to form a thin liquid film on the surface of the transmission line insulator; wherein the liquid solvent includes pure water or an active agent.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The laser cleaning system comprises: a laser optical path and a computer control system.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The laser optical path includes: an XY scanning galvanometer, a reflecting mirror, an aperture, a half-wave plate and a Glan-Taylor prism.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The laser optical path also includes: a femtosecond laser with a central wavelength of 1030fs, a pulse width of 290fs, and a laser repetition frequency of 10kHz.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The computer control system uses the SAMLight marking program to set the laser cleaning path and draws the path pattern of the laser scanning in the SAMLight marking program.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The laser cleaning system also includes: A CCD microscopic observation system is used to monitor in real time the cleaning effect of laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator, so as to obtain the best cleaning effect by adjusting the laser power, single pulse energy, irradiation time and scanning trajectory.

8. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that: After using the laser cleaning system to irradiate the pre-treated transmission line insulator with laser to achieve laser-induced bubble cleaning of the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator, the method further includes: Using an automatic feedback control system, real-time monitoring of the removal effect of laser-induced bubble cleaning on the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator contaminants, and sending feedback results to the computer control system; According to the feedback result, the system parameters of the laser cleaning system are dynamically adjusted to ensure that every area of ​​the non-planar surface of the transmission line insulator can be cleaned.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The system parameters of the laser cleaning system include: Laser wavelength, power density, irradiation time and laser beam focusing method.

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