Insulation resistance under DC stress and electrification characteristics of GIS epoxy insulator

Gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS) has widely been used for AC power distribution because of its high reliability and compactness. Recently, DC GIS has been developed with various investigations for dielectric breakdown characteristics of DC gas insulation. GIS insulation is composed of SF₆ gas and solid spacers, and it has been recognized that the dielectric performance of DC GIS is mainly influenced by solid spacers. Under DC stress, the electric field is directed one way, the effect of electrification for charges to be accumulated in the spacer must be taken into account and also the effect exists in AC GIS because the switching operations may leave the remnant DC charge on the AC GIS spacer. This paper first describes the effective resistivity (the bulk or the surface) of the solid spacer under the DC stress from the experimental investigation, and the critical factor on the solid spacer that causes reduced dielectric performance of the GIS insulation is studied. Second, the present paper deals with the electrification on the GIS with various levels of surface roughness of the epoxy insulator and metallic electrode. Finally, the DC insulation characteristics of GIS insulator are investigated based on the experimental results. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 168(4): 6–13, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20788     

表层非线性电导盆式绝缘子表面电荷分布与沿面放电特性

盆式绝缘子表面电荷积聚是影响直流气体绝缘输电管道(direct current gas insulated transmission line,DC-GIL)电场分布与沿面闪络的重要因素,因此探究绝缘子表面电荷积聚机理并提出调控方法,进而改善绝缘子沿面电场分布具有重要意义。该文搭建缩尺直流GIL绝缘子试验平台,研究不同Si C质量分数(23.1%、37.5%、47.4%)的非线性电导涂层对直流电压、金属微粒附着和极性反转工况下盆式绝缘子表面电荷分布与沿面闪络特性的影响规律。结果表明：环氧基Al₂O₃绝缘子的表面电荷极性取决于气固侧电流密度博弈结果,具有显著的场强依赖特性;非线性电导涂层可以自适应调控直流GIL绝缘子的表面电荷与沿面电场分布,显著提高不同工况下的沿面闪络电压。该文的研究结果为高可靠性直流GIL绝缘子的研发提供了一种潜在的解决方案。     

Surface charges on alumina in vacuum with varying surface roughness and electric field distribution

We investigated the charging characteristics of alumina in vacuum with varying surface roughness, and the electric field distribution. The charging on the alumina surface in vacuum is, in general, strongly influenced by field electron emission (FEE) and secondary electron emission avalanche (SEEA). We varied the surface roughness and the electric field distribution on the alumina surface in order to control the FEE and the SEEA. Under these conditions, we measured the 2-dimensional distribution of surface charging potential on the alumina surface. From the measurement results, we quantitatively discussed charge polarity and charge density on the surface for various types of electric field distributions. Finally, we successfully propose a concept of a charging control technique on the alumina insulator in vacuum for the improvement of electrical insulation performance on the alumina surface.     

Charging characteristics of a solid insulator in vacuum under AC voltage excitation

We have investigated charging and flashover characteristics of a polymeric or glass insulator exposed to AC voltage in vacuum in order to develop compact and reliable high voltage VCBs (vacuum circuit breakers). This paper focuses on charging characteristics of a cylindrical model insulator. The charging of an insulator is investigated using an electrostatic probe that measures the electric field near the triple junction on the grounded electrode. This method allows a time-resolved measurement of the charging process. The insulator was made of borosilicate, fused quartz or polymetyl methacrylate, and was in the shape of a right cylinder with 10 mm in thickness. It has been clarified that the charging is characterized by three sequential states; initiation, quasi-stable and stable states, and that the polarity of the charge is positive for these states irrespective of the voltage phase. The charging characteristics with AC voltage are compared to our previous results with DC voltage excitation. We find that the charge magnitude at the stable state coincides with that obtained by DC. The electric field on the grounded electrode, and therefore the charge magnitude, decreases with the surface roughness, and decreases as the insulation strength is increased. A computer simulation has been conducted to investigate the quasi-stable state, which clarifies that the transition in surface charge distribution being synchronous to the voltage phase is responsible for causing the quasi-stable state.     

Modeling of epoxy resin spacers for the 1 MV DC gas insulated line of ITER neutral beam injector system

The spacers for the Gas Insulated Transmission Line for the ITER neutral beam injector will be designed to withstand the operating voltage of 1 MV dc. Electric charging processes of the spacer surface are then expected to play an important role in the final electric field distribution. Aim of the paper is to investigate the effects of the different conductivity properties of the SF6-Spacer insulating structures on the surface charge set-up, and to identify a procedure to minimize this charge. Based on the most updated literature, the paper presents and discusses the results of two newly developed simulation tools: the first consisting of a quasi-static non linear model for epoxy spacer based on finite element method code ANSYS?, the other consisting of a spacer profile optimization package, whose kernel is based on a genetic algorithm. The numerical tools have been applied to post and disk spacer models of the gas insulated line; in particular, the optimization package has been used on the disk spacer, and the comparison between un-optimized and optimized spacer in terms of electric charge accumulated are presented and discussed.     

Charging characteristics and electric field distribution on alumina as affected by triple junctions in vacuum

This paper describes the dependence of the charging characteristics on the electric field distribution on the alumina (Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/) surface as affected by the triple junction in vacuum. For HV electrical insulation design of vacuum interrupter, surface flashover in vacuum is very important problem to be solved. Attention should be paid to the fact that the insulation characteristics on the dielectric surface are strongly influenced by field emission of electrons from the triple junction and the accumulated charges on the dielectric surface. In order to clarify the charging mechanism, we measured the charging characteristics for various types of triple junctions. In particular, we focused on the influence of the electric field distribution along the solid dielectrics and near the cathode triple junction (CTJ) on the charging characteristics. The results confirmed that the electric field distribution strongly affected the 2-dimensional (2D) distribution of the surface charge on the dielectric sample. Consequently, it was found that positive charging was generated on alumina, when the incident angle of the electric line of force on the alumina surface became >60/spl deg/.     

Influence of surface roughness on the charging of insulating spacers in vacuum

This paper describes the charging phenomena of cylindrical insulators made of PMMA, PTFE, or Al₂O₃ under ramped and stepped dc voltage. It is primarily concerned with the influence of surface roughness on the formation of charging for various insulating spacers. By using an electrostatic probe located on the cathode, we conducted real‐time observations of the electric field induced by the surface charge. It was found that the surface roughness positively affects the charging, which becomes more pronounced in insulators polished to a higher degree. Furthermore, polished insulators are characterized by a shorter time lag. These results show the importance of surface treatment for insulating spacers in vacuum. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 135(3): 16–25, 2001     

Charge accumulation mechanism in oil/pressboard composite insulation system based on optical measurement of electric field

It is important to investigate electrostatic charging phenomena in insulating oil pressboard (PB) composite system in electrical insulation design of oil-immersed power transformers. Our research aim was to clarify the charge accumulation mechanism at the oil/PB interface under static and flowing oil. In this paper, we directly measured the time variation of the electric field in the insulation system using a Kerr electro-optic technique. Results show the time decaying characteristics of an electric field in oil by charge accumulation. The results are influenced by oil flow conditions. Based on the measurement results, we propose a theoretical model for charge accumulation to clarify the process quantitatively. In the model we took the oil volume contributing to the charge accumulation into account, and analyzed the charge behavior. Finally, we clarified the charge accumulation mechanism at the oil/PB interface under oil flow conditions both with and without charging.     

真空中固体绝缘沿面闪络现象的研究进展

针对长期以来高电场下复合绝缘系统的耐电性能受绝缘材料的沿面闪络现象所限制,严重制约了很多电气电子系统的整体性能的现状,迫切需要深入研究真空中绝缘子沿面闪络现象,为此,综述了国内外相关研究现状和进展,认为此现象是一种发生在高电场下的复杂界面(电极与材料的交界面)和表面(材料的表面)的物理现象。闪络过程在本质上反映出高电场下的电荷行为,由体内(材料的表层内)和体外(材料的表面及表面以上)2过程支配。需综合考虑绝缘材料的介电常数、电阻率、二次电子发射特性、表面陷阱分布等影响因素,进而提出表征和改善真空中沿面闪络特性的综合评价体系,最终达到认识新的物理现象并将之有效调控的目的。     

Application of functionally graded material for solid insulator in gaseous insulation system

Functionally graded materials (FGM) have spatial distribution of a material property in order to achieve efficient stress control. An application of the FGM to a solid insulator (spacer) for a gaseous insulation system, like gas insulated switchgear, is expected to improve electric field (E-field) distribution around the spacer. In this paper, we describe the applicability of the FGM spacer to gas insulated power equipment. In the FGM spacer, we gave spatial distribution of dielectric permittivity to control the E-field distribution inside and outside the spacer. This paper includes following key results for the applications of the FGM. Firstly, E-field simulation results when applying the FGM by a finite element method are presented, in which we show the effective reduction of the maximum field strength by applying the FGM. Next, a fabrication technique of the FGM spacer sample with not only step-by-step but also continuous changes of permittivity is presented by use of centrifugal force. Finally, dielectric breakdown tests using FGM samples which are accurately controlled the spatial distribution of permittivity are carried out under lightning impulse voltage applications. The test result indicates the increase of breakdown voltage (BDV). From these results, we verified the applicability and the fabrication technique of FGM spacer for improvement of the dielectric strength in the gaseous insulation system.     

Surface charging and flashover on insulators in vacuum

Investigations have been carried out on right cylindrical Teflon spacers in vacuum under dc stress to study the effect of cathode geometry on surface charging and flashover. Three cathode support arrangements were used. Type 1 involved a recess in the cathode into which the spacer was located, type 2 was a simple flat plate cathode, while type 3 had a raised insert on the cathode surface over which the spacer was located. In all cases the surface charge density and distribution is primarily dependent upon the magnitude of the electric stress. Using the type 1 arrangement inception for charge deposition was always ~10 kV even when the spacer had been subjected to repeated flashovers. At applied voltages higher than this the density of the charge, which was fairly uniformly distributed around the surface, was more or less proportional to the applied voltage. For the type 2 and type 3 arrangements, a distinct, uniformly distributed negative charge of ⩽20 μC/m² was always detected at low values of applied stress and at a fairly well-defined transition voltage this gave way to a distribution which was substantially uniform in the case of type 2 but quite filamentary in type 3, and both involved the deposition of positive charge     

Dielectric strength coordination and generalized spacer design rules for HVAC/DC SF/sub 6/ gas insulated systems

The problems of HVAC/DC gas insulated systems (GIS) dielectric strength coordination and support spacers design criteria are discussed in this paper. The most important challenge is to protect the spacers against flashover and consequently exclude them from consideration when coordinating an insulation of GIS. Both experimental and numerical studies demonstrate that electric field formation mechanisms and insulation behavior at SF/sub 6//epoxy interface are substantially different for AC and DC voltage excitations. Nevertheless, in actual power systems, HVDC apparatus are frequently subjected to impulse and time-varying voltages, implying capacitive field grading, and vice versa, HVAC apparatus can actually be subjected to harmful pseudo-DC voltages occurring in certain operating modes. Therefore, the above-mentioned problem is considered in order to find generalized criteria which will provide a reliable spacer performance in both HVAC/DC gas insulated systems. To illustrate the specificity of SF/sub 6//epoxy insulation behavior at HVDC stress, static V-T characteristics for post-type spacer models were studied experimentally. Dielectric strength coordination requirements and constraints arising for AC/DC GIS conditions were discussed. Some design and technological alternatives directed to improve the DC spacer reliability were analyzed. Based on these results, generalized design criteria for AC/DC conical and post type spacers were formulated. For conventional range of GIS operating stress and insulation parameters, it has been shown that proposed design rules can be realizable with no additional enlargement of apparatus dimensions. Such an approach provides unification and interchangeability of support spacers in HVAC/DC SF/sub 6/ apparatus, which could be technologically worthwhile and economically beneficial for manufacturers and power utilities.     

GIS中绝缘子表面电荷积聚的观测与分析

在高电压绝缘研究领域,绝缘子表面电荷的测量属于静电测量的范畴,不能用常规的仪器仪表进行测量,特别是在真空或SF6气体等特殊环境中。为了能准确地反映绝缘子表面的带电情况,采用反馈式静电计及其相应的静电探头,对积聚在绝缘子表面的电荷进行了研究,发现电荷量随着施加电压幅值的不同而不同。利用有限元分析软件对相同结构的绝缘子进行了电场计算,与测量结果对比分析表明,绝缘子表面的法向场强分量是气-固交界面处引起表面电荷积聚的根本原因。     

真空中绝缘子沿面预闪络现象的研究

真空中绝缘子沿面闪络现象是制约真空系统电绝缘性能的一个重要因素。通过实时观察冲击电压作用下真空中绝缘子上的冲击电压波形,以及相应的冲击电流和绝缘子表面的发光信号,并在线测量真空中绝缘子的表面电荷分布,研究了高纯度Al2O3陶瓷绝缘子在真空中的沿面预闪络现象。研究结果表明,绝缘子预闪络现象与施加冲击电压的大小、施加次数等有关,同时,沿面预闪络现象也与表面电荷分布有关,根据试验结果提出了一种关于绝缘子预闪络现象的模型,该模型能够较好的用来解释真空中绝缘子沿面预闪络现象以及沿面闪络发展过程。     

直流支柱绝缘子电场影响因素分析

直流支柱绝缘子是换流站支撑、固定高压设备,保证电气外绝缘的重要设备。为对直流支柱绝缘子特性影响因素进行分析,针对±500 kV德阳换流站支柱绝缘子放电故障,使用有限元分析软件并结合现场实际,用2D直流场计算雨水、污秽和消防水管对直流支柱绝缘子电场分布的影响情况。结果显示:(1)污秽的存在使得场强增大1.20倍;(2)雨滴的存在使得场强增大1.71倍;(3)消防管道、污秽和雨滴共同存在使得场强增大2.42倍,并且消防管道的对应位置场强增大5倍。电场的增大容易引起放电故障的发生,这对今后直流换流站相关设备的外绝缘优化设计、结构优化、运行维护和故障分析具有重要理论参考意义。     

The electrical degradation threshold of polyethylene investigatedby space charge and conduction current measurements

Measurement of dc charging current and space-charge observations, performed on specimens made by low-density polyethylene (PE) and crosslinked PE, are considered for dc electrical threshold investigation. The threshold is inferred from charging-current measurements through steady-state voltage-current characteristics, as well as from the total trapped charge, obtained by space-charge measurements carried out at 0 V and under short-circuit after poling for a pre-selected time. It is shown that both techniques provide similar information regarding the electrical threshold values, which vary for the two tested materials. Being the threshold associated with mechanisms of charge storage, its evaluation can help in insulation design and material characterization when electric field, especially dc, is a significant stress in service. Other significant information for design purposes comes from the rate of charge accumulation as function of the applied field, which is estimated through the charge-field characteristic derived from space-charge measurements     

直流气体绝缘输电线路的绝缘设计

气体绝缘输电线路(gas insulated transmission line,GIL)与架空线路相似但占地空间小、损耗低,在高压直流输电和特高压直流输电领域具有较大的应用空间。通过分析表面电荷和金属导电微粒对绝缘子沿面放电的影响,指出了绝缘子表面电荷积聚和自由金属导电微粒附着是降低直流GIL绝缘性能的重要原因。采用了使电场分布合理的方法,即半圆锥形盆式绝缘子的优化和表面电阻率阶梯分布的覆膜。设计了包括电极覆膜、微粒陷阱、驱赶电极和屏蔽环的直流GIL的绝缘结构。     

Charge behavior in flowing oil in oil/ pressboard insulation system by electro-optic field measurement

The electrical insulation structure of most power transformers is a combination of insulating oil and solid materials. One of the crucial problems we face in transformer operation is flow electrification, which occurs at a flowing oil/solid material interface. Thus, for the transformer insulation design, we need to clarify the now electrification phenomena. In this paper, we measured the electric field strength in an oil/pressboard composite insulation system using an electro-optic method of the Kerr effect. We obtained the time variation of electric field distribution in both flowing uncharged and charged oil. It is notable that we could quantitatively clarify the electric field distortion in flowing charged oil by flow electrification. Furthermore, we measured the leakage current from divided electrodes and derived a charge density distribution along the flow direction. Finally, we quantitatively discussed the electric field distribution and the charge behavior from the measurement results.     

Real-time observation of surface charging on a cylindricalinsulator in vacuum

By using an electrostatic probe located close to the triple junction on the cathode surface, we have conducted real-time observations of the change in electric field due to surface charging of an insulator in vacuum. A cylindrical sample made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or Al₂O₃ has been exposed to HVDC. An axisymmetric simulation based on the secondary electron emission electron avalanche (SEEA) theory has been performed. The measured results agreed with the simulation concerning the polarity of the accumulated charge as well as the field strength. The simulation also predicts the inception of charging at a voltage well below the measured flashover voltage. These results clearly support the SEEA theory as a macroscopic mechanism of surface charging of an insulator in vacuum     

750kV GIS隔离开关用绝缘拉杆炸裂原因分析

盆式绝缘子、绝缘拉杆、支柱绝缘子等绝缘件作为GIS设备内部重要的绝缘、传动部件,故障率仅次于异物放电。通过绝缘拉杆运动特性分析、X射线成像检测、异物分析、微观分析、电场仿真分析等方法,对一起750 kV GIS 设备隔离开关交接试验过程击穿炸裂进行分析。针对分析结果给出了隔离开关的故障原因为连接机构侧的绝缘管粘接面加工操作不当造成了绝缘管层间疏松,导致粘接面存在气隙缺陷,缺陷逐渐延伸扩展,最终诱发绝缘拉杆层间连续放电通道。