Streamer propagation and breakdown under ac voltage in very largeoil gaps

This paper presents a study of prebreakdown and breakdown phenomena under ac voltage in mineral oil in very large gaps (⩽80 cm). The investigations presented concern the measurement of breakdown voltages together with the recording of streamers in rod-plane and sphere-plane electrode systems, at different gap sizes. A breakdown mode specific to ac voltage is found, in which `bursts' composed of streamers initiated at each half cycle appear. This mode leads to the lowest breakdown fields recorded under ac. Values of the average stress required for burst or direct breakdown modes are deduced from the experiments. Positive streamers are responsible for breakdown in large gaps: their propagation is easy and does not depend on the gap geometry and on the presence of particles. On the other hand, the propagation of negative streamers is quenched when not very divergent fields are used     

Positive streamer propagation in large oil gaps: experimentalcharacterization of propagation modes

This paper presents an experimental study of positive streamer propagation in mineral oil, in large point-plane gaps under impulse voltage. A systematic investigation was done concerning the influence of gap distance (⩽35 cm), and voltage from streamer inception up to large overvoltages. The measurements presented concern breakdown voltage measurements, time to breakdown, visualization of streamers (streak and still photographs), electrical measurements (transient current, charge), light emission intensity. Streamers are characterized and then classified into different modes (2nd, 3rd and 4th modes) according to their propagation velocities up to more than 100 km/s. According to the applied voltage, transitions between modes are observed, and correlations are established between charge, shape, and streamer velocity. The physical mechanisms as well as practical consequences are then discussed     

Particle-initiated breakdown in a quasi-uniform field intransformer oil

The breakdown voltage induced by single metallic cylinders of millimeter lengths in a quasi-uniform AC field are reported. A particular electrode arrangement, including forced oil circulation, has been designed in order to avoid particle ejection out of the gap. Breakdown occurred in the range 25 to 80 kV/cm depending on the particle dimensions, and always when the particle was in contact with the positive electrode. These breakdown levels are clearly lower than those measured with a fixed particle subjected to a positive step voltage. All these measurements were sensitive to the influence of carbon contaminants, especially under step impulse voltage. As concerns free particles, the breakdown is thought to be controlled in our experimental conditions by the initiation of positive streamers. Calculations showed that the initiation field at the particle tip is not constant but mainly depends on the particle diameter     

Prebreakdown phenomena at high voltage in liquid nitrogen and comparison with mineral oil

This paper presents a study of prebreakdown phenomena (usually called streamers) occurring at high voltage in liquid nitrogen. A special cryostat has been constructed to allow dielectric measurements in liquid nitrogen up to 200 kV, and 0.5 MPa hydrostatic pressure. Streamers are detected and studied with various techniques: high speed visualization, streak camera, and recording of transient currents and emitted light. The propagation of positive and negative streamers is investigated at gap distances up to 80 mm. Streamers are then compared to similar phenomena observed in mineral oil. In liquid nitrogen, streamers are different compared to mineral oil. A transition from slow to fast positive streamers (velocity about 10 km/s) is observed at a threshold voltage below the breakdown voltage. The hydrostatic pressure has almost no influence on this phenomenon. Some experiments carried out with a solid barrier perpendicular to the gap axis are also presented. The practical consequences for the design of HV insulation in superconducting systems are then discussed.     

负极性冲击电压下油–屏障绝缘的放电行为

考虑到运行过程中油浸式电力设备会承受双指数型与双极性振荡型冲击电压的作用,该文旨在通过研究两类冲击电压下油–屏障绝缘的放电行为,为油–屏障绝缘结构的优化与油纸放电机理的探究提供参考.利用搭建的油纸绝缘光电联合诊断平台,该文基于阴影成像法拍摄了负极性双指数冲击电压与双极性振荡冲击电压下油–屏障绝缘中流注的典型发展过程,并...     

Propagation of positive and negative streamers in oil with andwithout pressboard interfaces

Inception and propagation of streamers in a point-plane gap, with and without pressboard interface parallel to the field, have been studied. Current and light emission have been recorded. Positive streamers propagate at ~2 to 4 mm/μs at voltages to 2× the minimum breakdown voltage. Above this voltage, a fast event (>100 mm/μs) may occur, preceded by streamers propagating with velocities in the 10 to 20 mm/μs range. The negative streamers have ~2× the breakdown voltage as the positive ones. Even negative streamers may develop into a slower kind of fast event. Solid pressboard parallel to the field does not change the breakdown voltage, but makes inception of fast events easier. The breakdown process in oil shows several similarities to a gas breakdown     

Streamer propagation under impulse voltage in long point-plane oilgaps

A 67 mm point-plane gap immersed in transformer oil, at atmospheric pressure, stressed with a 1/180 μs impulse, has been studied by recording gap current and light emission. Time-resolved images were obtained by use of an image converter camera. Minimum breakdown voltages were twice as high for negative as for positive points. All streamers at these and higher voltages were supersonic, with negative streamer velocities ⩽50 km/s. The speed of the positive streamer gradually increased to 19 km/s with increasing voltage, where it saturated. At high stresses the propagating positive streamer has been observed to switch to a faster mode which propagates with speeds in the 65 to 200 km/s range. Positive streamers were bush shaped to 2× the minimum breakdown voltage, the branching diminishing with increased voltage. Negative streamers were coarsely bush shaped or usually tree shaped. For both polarities, light emission consisted of a background light, with superposed pulses corresponding to 15 ns wide current pulses of up to 10 A. The pulses are caused by very bright, brief re-illuminations of single streamer channels. The tips of positive streamers are considerably more luminous than the channels, indicating that electron multiplication may take place at the tips. A model of the streamers as being plasma filled channels may explain the re-illuminations     

Dielectric behavior of insulating materials under liquid nitrogen

Measurements were made to assess the AC breakdown voltages in liquid nitrogen (LN/sub 2/) with different electrode configurations such as sphere-sphere, needle-needle, hemisphere-hemisphere, plane-plane, sphere-needle, etc. Experimental results reveal that the breakdown voltage is a function of electrode geometry and gap length. This study also addresses the effect on the breakdown strength of solid insulating materials under LN/sub 2/ environment with a sphere-sphere electrode configuration. In this paper, special emphasis has been attributed to the effect on loss index of a variety of dielectrics dipped in LN/sub 2/. The measured values of breakdown strength and loss index have been compared with those obtained under atmospheric condition. The study reveals that the breakdown strength of cellulosic materials like paper or pressboard increases manifold while the loss index decreases significantly when dipped in LN/sub 2/ with variations of the order of 50% to 90%. However, for impervious noncellulosic materials like Perspex (acrylic glass) or presspahn, the increase in breakdown strength is not that pronounced and the decrease in loss index is of the order of 2 to 30%.     

Impulse partial discharge characteristics and their mechanisms under non-uniform electric field in N/sub 2//SF/sub 6/ gas mixtures

We have investigated impulse partial discharge (PD) and breakdown (BD) characteristics of a needle-plane gap in N/sub 2//SF/sub 6/ gas mixtures under positive lightning impulse voltage application, and discussed their physical mechanisms. The 50% probability PD inception voltage (PDIV/sub 50/), leader discharge onset voltage (LOV) and BD voltage (BDV/sub 50/) were measured and analyzed as a function of gas pressure and SF/sub 6/ content. Experimental results revealed the stepwise propagation process of the impulse PD and enabled us to classify the impulse PD in N/sub 2//SF/sub 6/ gas mixtures into two types, the streamer discharge and the leader discharge. We also discussed the impulse PD propagation mechanisms in terms of PD parameters such as propagation length, time interval and current pulse magnitude, and suggested a sequential relationship in the PD propagation process under non-uniform electric field.     

Prebreakdown phenomena in mineral oil under step and ac voltage inlarge-gap divergent fields

This paper presents an experimental study of the propagation of prebreakdown phenomena in transformer oil, in large point-plane gaps (5 to 20 cm), in positive polarity under step and ac voltages. The prebreakdown phenomena are characterized via the simultaneous recordings of transient currents, charges, photocurrents, and high-speed photographs of the emitted light. In these experimental conditions, prebreakdown phenomena in oil are basically composed of weakly luminous branched filaments, most of the time not connected to the point electrode, and propagating continuously. Bright luminous fast discharges reilluminate periodically the main branch of the propagating discharge from the point electrode to the extremity of these weakly luminous filaments. Below the breakdown voltage, streamers stop at an average length which increases linearly with the voltage. Above a critical length, they cannot stop any more and lead to breakdown. The main propagation velocity remains constant throughout the propagation. These observations, which present a number of similarities with leader phenomena in gases, are then discussed     

Electrical strength of paper-oil insulation subjected to compositevoltages

The results of a composite voltage, ac with lightning impulse (LI) tests of a paper-oil insulation model are presented. It was demonstrated that the presence of the background ac voltage leads to a decrease in LI breakdown voltage. This is particularly conspicuous at opposite polarities. The dispersion of LI breakdown voltages decreases save for the case when the LI is superimposed on the opposite polarities. The dispersion of LI breakdown voltages decreases save for the case, when the LI is superimposed on the opposite polarity peak value of the ac sinusoid. In this critical case the combined breakdown voltage (ac+LI) may be even lower than the ac one     

ns脉冲液体介质击穿实验研究综评

介绍了目前液体介质击穿研究的实验内容(电压极性、电压波形、外界静态压力等)、实验方法(电学与光学结合)、研究成果(经验公式、击穿机理);指出单次ns脉冲击穿的电压脉宽窄(ns级)、击穿电压幅值高,重频ns脉冲电压击穿下液体介质的电场累积效应(极化效应)显著,这些ns级液体介质击穿的特点有助于揭示液体介质击穿的本质特性。结合研究成果讨论了窄脉冲电压液体介质击穿的概率与击穿机理。     

Electrical breakdown of SF6 at small values of theproduct pd

The breakdown of SF₆ when static and impulse voltages are applied at small values (from 10^-4 bar-mm to 1 bar-mm) of the product pd was investigated. It was found that the prevailing breakdown mechanism up to 8×10^-3 bar-mm was the Townsend mechanism. Between 8×10^-3 and 5.5 bar-mm the Townsend and streamers mechanisms combined, whereas from 5.5 bar-mm on the streamers mechanism took over. The Paschen law was found to hold for the points lying to the right of the minimum when static voltage was applied, whereas edge-type breakdown occurred on the points lying to the left of the minimum. When impulse voltage was applied, the Paschen law was valid only for the points to the right of the 1 bar-mm point. The electrode material affected the static and impulse breakdowns through the values of its work function     

Impulse partial discharge and breakdown characteristics of rod-plane gaps in N/sub 2//SF/sub 6/ gas mixtures

Impulse partial discharge (PD) and breakdown (BD) characteristics of rod-plane gaps in N/sub 2//SF/sub 6/ gas mixtures were investigated for different gap geometry, gas pressure and SF/sub 6/ gas content. Experimental results revealed that the 50% probability breakdown voltage increased with gas pressure, which agreed with the theoretical values with consideration of discharge time lag for impulse voltage application. For the calculation of discharge inception voltage, the volume-time theory was successfully applied to the N/sub 2//SF/sub 6/ gas mixture. Furthermore, impulse PD light emission image was observed together with PD current pulse and light intensity waveforms. The long discharge with stepwise propagation and double-peak PD pulses could be observed, which corresponded to the streamer/leader transition leading to breakdown.     

Electrical insulation characteristics of cold dielectric high temperature superconducting cable

For the optimization of electrical insulation design for high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable, evaluation of electrical insulation characteristics especially for butt gap of LN/sub 2/ impregnated cold dielectric (CD) which consists of the wrapped tape insulation impregnated with LN/sub 2/ plays an important role. This paper presents partial discharge (PD) inception and breakdown characteristics in LN/sub 2/ impregnated butt gap model which modeled a weak point of the wrapped tape insulation impregnated with LN/sub 2/ and cable model with short length with polypropylene laminated paper (PPLP/sup /spl reg//), Nomex/sup /spl reg// paper and cellulose paper. PD current pulse was found to have a steep rise time of /spl sim/ ns and amplitude of /spl sim/ tens /spl mu/A at PD inception voltage region. Little dependency of breakdown stress on the insulating material is found. PD inception stress is almost independent of insulation thickness of 1 to 3 mm. The requirement insulation thickness for 66 kV class HTS cable is estimated to be /spl sim/ 5 mm under PD-free condition from viewpoint of long-term reliability.     

AC V-t and impulse V-N characteristics of shell-form transformer insulation model

To evaluate an appropriate level of ac test voltage for 1000-kV transformers, it is necessary to make an accurate estimation of ac V-t characteristics. For the level of impulse test voltage, V-N characteristics are important to evaluate effects of impulse stress repetition. Since both of the characteristics are dependent on insulation structures and manufacturing processes of transformers, it is important to make accurate simulations on transformer insulation for reliable insulation data. To obtain some of the basic data for 1000-kV transformer test levels, long-time ac V-t tests and impulse V-N tests of up to 1000 times voltage application were carried out on an insulation model simulating fundamental structure of shell-form transformers. The model is composed of a parallel electrodes system with a compound structure of pressboard barrier and oil gap. The tests showed the following characteristics: ac V-t characteristics of up to several ten days could be described by two lines, each representing short-time and long-time characteristics. V-N characteristics of lightning and switching impulse were expressed by relatively flat lines, which showed a decrease in breakdown voltage by less than 10 percent after 1000 times impulse application.     

Comparative laboratory evaluation of TR-XLPE and XLPE cables with Super-smooth conductor shields

This paper provides data on four commercial tree retardant crosslinked polyethylene (TR-XLPE) and one cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated 15 kV cables supplied by three manufacturers. The cables have "super-smooth" conductor shields and "extra-clean" insulation and insulation shields. AC and impulse voltage breakdown and selected other characterization data are presented for cables that were aged immersed in room temperature water (15-30/spl deg/C) up to 24 months of a planned 48 months aging program. The five cables have high ac voltage breakdown strength, three of the TR-XLPE cables, actually increased in breakdown strength during aging. The one TR-XLPE cable that had the lowest ac voltage breakdown had vented trees at the insulation shield and high dissipation factor, which the other cables did not have. The impulse voltage breakdown strength of all cables decreased during aging; the cable with the lowest ac voltage breakdown also has the lowest impulse voltage breakdown. The dissimilar performance of the TR-XLPE cables and the excellent performance of the XLPE cable indicates evaluations at longer times are required to differentiate between modern TR-XLPE and XLPE insulated cables.     

Breakdown and prebreakdown phenomena in liquids under positiveimpulse voltages

We examine the breakdown and prebreakdown behavior of two insulating liquids: benzyl-toluene and mineral oil in a nonuniform electric field at large distances (up to 20 cm) under a positive impulse voltage. We evaluate and compare the breakdown strengths of both liquids in these conditions as a function of interelectrode distance via Weibull type plots, a method commonly used when dealing with insulating gases and solids. The comparative behaviors of the liquids change greatly when the cumulative probability of breakdown is decreased from 100%. The second part of this study concerns streamer stopping lengths and the corresponding current and light emission signals     

Electrical breakdown characteristics of nitrogen and air at cryogenic temperature in a quasi‐uniform electric field

The breakdown voltages of the longer‐gap configurations in gaseous nitrogen and air that are necessary in designing superconducting electrical power apparatuses are measured at temperatures of 293 and 93 K. The quasi‐uniform electric field made by a sphere‐to‐sphere electrode with a diameter of 150 mm and a gap length of about 10 to 100 mm is used in the measurement of the breakdown voltages. When 50‐Hz ac and dc voltages are applied to the sphere‐to‐sphere gap, the breakdown voltages in nitrogen and air obey Paschen's law even at cryogenic temperatures (93 K). When a 1.4/50‐μs lightning impulse voltage is applied to the gap, the 50% breakdown voltage of nitrogen also obeys Paschen's law under UV irradiation of the cathode electrode. However, the breakdown voltage in air at 93 K is higher in the case of lightning impulse voltage applications, and the delay from impulse voltage application to breakdown occurrence is apparently longer at 93 K than at 293 K. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 132(4): 28–33, 2000     

Dielectric characteristics of oil‐filled transformer in the presence of nonstandard lightning surge waveforms

To achieve a rational insulation design for transformers, it is important to evaluate dielectric strength against surges actually impinging on equipment on‐site. This paper deals with the breakdown voltage characteristics of an oil gap under nonstandard lightning surge waveforms combined with oscillatory voltages. It is found that the breakdown voltages of the oil gap under nonstandard impulse waveforms are higher than standard lightning impulse voltages. The results can be ascribed to V–t characteristics of the oil gap in short‐time impulse voltage ranges. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 146(3): 39–45, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10229