High voltage insulator waste (HVIW) eliminated from high voltage transmission lines was used in the preparation of porous mullite ceramics. The fabrication and characterisation of porous mullite ceramics are described. The relationship between phase transitions, sintering temperature and physicochemical properties of the porous mullite ceramics are analysed and compared. The results show that the complex properties are the best when the mass ratio of HVIW/clay is 4 : 1, the amount of pore former is 500 mL kg 21 and the sintering temperature is 1500uC, the cold crushing strength reaches 4?8 MPa. Increasing the sintering temperature could strengthen the specimens. The average pore diameter of the specimens enlarged with the increasing sintering temperature. Meanwhile, the crystalline and morphology of mullite grains advanced and the maximum grain diameter reached to 1?5 mm. This improvement was attributed to the fact that complex properties of specimens could be optimised by new formation of new mullite phase.

The insulator is a part of high-voltage power transmission lines. The security and reliability of power system is mainly determined by safe working of insulator. Moving mechanism of insulator inspection robot is developed to inspect potential risk and operating status of insulator, which has important application in power engineering. Considering the working condition of insulator and mobile program of existing inspection robot, a novel foot-simulated moving mechanism of insulator inspection robot is proposed. Mobile program and structural configuration are determined, structural parameters are designed and kinematics analysis are completed. Finally, a 3D virtual prototyping of the moving mechanism is built with Solidworks, the moving process on insulator string of the mechanism is simulated with Adams, kinematic performances are calculated by simulating. The simulation results verify structural rationality of the moving mechanism and correctness of kinematic analysis proposed in this paper.