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.     

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.     

Partial discharge and breakdown mechanisms in ultra-dilute SF6/N2 gas mixtures

With the goal of reducing SF₆ gas usage, we investigated partial discharge (PD) and breakdown (BD) mechanisms in ultra-dilute (0 to 1%) SF₆/N₂ gas mixtures. The experimental results and discussions are given in this paper. In particular, we focused our research on the transition characteristics of the electrical insulation performance with an extremely small amount of SF₆ content, the PD behavior on the applied voltage, and the relation among prebreakdown streamer, return stroke and BD. Moreover, we discussed the PD and so mechanisms with reference of space charge behavior. From these results, the transition threshold at which the influence of SF₆ gas on the discharge characteristics began to appear, was clarified to be SF₆ content k=10 ppm for a total pressure of 0.1 MPa     

Space charge behavior in SF6 gas and sequentialgeneration of PD pulses

We observed time-resolved partial discharge (PD) characteristics under ac and dc conditions in order to demonstrate the effects of space charge behavior and the corona stabilization effect in SF₆ gas. From the experimental results, we found that the charge magnitude of the first PD in the positive half cycle of applied ac voltage depended only on the instantaneous voltage. Under dc conditions we found that the magnitude of the PD charge related closely to the time interval between PD pulses. Space charge behavior and the PD generation mechanism are interpreted diagrammatically, and we describe how positive ions reduce the magnitude of PD charge and activate the corona stabilization effect and that the negative ions shorten the time interval between PD pulses     

Effect of gas type on high repetition rate performance of a triggered, corona stabilised switch

This paper reports on the work undertaken to determine the effect of the gas type on the high repetition rate performance of a triggered corona stabilised (TCS) closing switch at a charging voltage of 23 kV. The voltage/pressure (V/p) characteristics as well as the ability of the switch to operate at high repetition rates were measured with SF/sub 6/, air and six different SF/sub 6//air mixtures having an SF/sub 6/ concentration ranging from 75 to 2% by pressure. The high repetition rate tests were conducted with a high-power facility at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) ranging from 500 Hz up to a maximum of 3 kHz. During the investigation, it was found that for the given nonuniform switch geometry the high repetition rate performance of the device was closely associated with the efficiency of corona stabilisation, as measured from the V/p characteristics. This was clearly manifested by the superior performance of most of the SF/sub 6//air mixtures tested, which displayed a more efficient corona stabilisation compared to pure SF/sub 6/. In contrast, air displayed the worst performance of all the gases tested, due to the weak V/p characteristic and inefficient corona stabilisation.     

Space charge behavior under ac voltage in water-treed PE observedby the PEA method

The pulsed electroacoustic method (PEA) has been applied to observe space charge formation under ac application (7 kV_pk, 50, 0.1 and 0.001 Hz) in water-treed polyethylene samples in order to understand the degradation mechanism of water trees. A system with phase-resolving capability has been developed to measure the space charge distribution at any phase angle of the applied ac voltage. By comparing the observed charge distributions with theoretically predicted ones, it has been shown that the interfacial polarization due to the difference in conductivity between the treed and the regions without trees dominate the space charge behavior. It has become clear that the PEA method can be a powerful nondestructive method for evaluating water tree length     

不均匀电场下CF_3I/N_2混合气体工频击穿特性试验

从工频击穿性能的角度探讨CF_3I/N_2混合气体替代SF6气体用于气体绝缘设备的可能性。通过工频击穿试验探究气压、混合比和电极间距三种因素对CF_3I/N_2混合气体工频击穿电压的影响,并与相同条件下的SF6/N2混合气体进行对比分析,提出使用协同效应指数C值判定混合气体协同效应类型及协同效应强弱的定量分析方法。结果表明,随着混合比、气压的升高,CF_3I/N_2混合气体工频击穿性能逐渐接近SF6气体,较高气压下的CF_3I/N_2混合气体更具有应用潜力。CF_3I/N_2混合气体工频击穿电压呈正协同效应,而且CF3I气体具有优良的自恢复绝缘性能。综合考虑工频击穿性能、液化温度和环境影响三种因素,在特定的场合下,CF3I含量为20%~50%的CF_3I/N_2混合气体有可能替代SF6气体用于气体绝缘设备。     

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.     

Toepler's spark law in a GIS with compressed SF/sub 6/-N/sub 2/ mixture

This paper deals with the experimental measurements and analysis of the formative time lags to breakdown and an estimation of the Toepler's constant for gas gaps, under the application of 50 Hz AC voltage. The experiments were carried out in a 145 kV gas insulated system (GIS) bus duct with pure N/sub 2/, pure SF/sub 6/ and SF/sub 6/-N/sub 2/ mixture as insulating media. The formative time lags to breakdown in the gas gaps were measured using a fast response capacitive sensor. Toepler's spark law has been used to explain the breakdown phenomenon in the GIS and the values of Toepler's constant (k/sub t/), which gives an estimation of the formative time lags, were determined. Results show that the formative time lags vary inversely with gas pressure and the gas mixture concentrations for two gaps studied (0.46 mm and 0.61 mm). In the case of another gap (0.20 mm), the variation in the formative time lags with pressure as well as SE, concentration in the mixture has been found to be negligibly small between gas mixtures, although significant variation can be seen between pure SF/sub 6/ and pure N/sub 2/. Toepler's constant, k/sub t/, increases with gas pressure as well as SF/sub 6/ concentration in the mixture for the gaps studied. Hence, k/sub t/ is a function of the gas pressure and the concentrations of SF/sub 6/ in the gas mixture for the above-mentioned gaps.     

交流与雷电冲击叠加电压下SF6气体中沿面局部放电测量与数值计算

由冲击过电压所引发的环氧绝缘沿面局部放电往往会造成严重的绝缘事故,威胁设备的运行安全。采用不同的测量方法对交流与雷电冲击叠加电压下SF6气体中环氧绝缘沿面局部放电进行测量。分析讨论冲击叠加相位和冲击电压极性对沿面局部放电激发过程的影响。基于试验结果的讨论分析和沿面局部放电基本物理过程,建立交流与冲击叠加电压下沿面局部放电激发过程的数学模型,对不同极性冲击叠加在交流电压不同相位后沿面局部放电的放电时延、放电量进行数值计算。同时,对放电所产生的沿面、空间电荷衰减过程进行定量分析,实现了电荷衰减过程中电荷记忆效应对沿面局部放电影响的量化描述。该研究结果为沿面局部放电过程的分析提供了一定的试验及理论依据。     

Movement of particles in compressed SF6 GIS withdielectric coated enclosure

In compressed GIS (gas insulated switchgear), the control of wire particle contamination by dielectric coating of enclosure is demonstrated in this paper. Assuming that a particle acquires free charge through a partial discharge, the modeling of particle movement when the inside surface of a horizontal section of GIS/GITL (gas insulated transmission line) enclosure is coated is described. Under an applied 60 Hz ac voltage, the maximum height reached above the enclosure by a particle is much lower for a coated than for an uncoated enclosure. When the applied ac voltage varies, the maximum height reached depends on the magnitude of the applied voltage, phase and velocity at which the particle hits the enclosure. Typical results show that by coating the enclosure, the maximum height reached by a wire particle in a coaxial system can be reduced, thus inhibiting particle movement and minimizing the possibility of insulation breakdown     

Temporal development of partial discharge and its application tobreakdown prediction in SF6 gas

The authors measured the temporal change of partial discharge (PD) characteristics leading to breakdown in SF₆ gas for AC voltage application. At the final stage close to the breakdown, positive PD pulses with relatively high magnitude began to take place in the phase region near the applied voltage peak. This event was interpreted in terms of the change of PD type in SF₆ gas from streamer to leader. Optical observation also revealed that PD type transition occurred. With the results considered, the mechanisms of PD were discussed. Moreover, they discussed the possibility of breakdown prediction in GIS. An attempt was made to find a breakdown prediction parameter which characterized the change of PD type: the ratio R_L of maximum charge to the average charge of PD pulses appearing in the phase region near the peak in positive half cycle. It was found that R_L allowed to predict the time to breakdown successfully within the error of 4~20%     

PD characteristics in an air-filled void at room temperature undersuperimposed sinusoidal voltages

Partial discharge in an artificial air-filled void under superimposed sinusoidal voltages is investigated at room temperature in order to clarify the effect of voltage superposition. The applied voltage waveform is composed of a 60 Hz fundamental sinusoidal wave and a high frequency sinusoidal wave of 300 Hz to 1.2 kHz. It was found that PD started when the peak value of the superimposed voltage reached the PD inception voltage under 60 Hz sinusoidal voltage. Also, PD occurrence frequency increased remarkably when the peak value of the high frequency component exceeded a critical value, which is smaller than the PD inception voltage under 60 Hz sinusoidal voltage. PD characteristics under such conditions were discussed as the effect of the residual voltage, caused by the surface charge deposited in the void by the preceding PD. The obtained experimental results suggest that the superposition of high frequency component accelerates the degradation of the solid insulator containing void defects     

Continuous monitoring of SF/sub 6/ degradation in high voltage switchgear using Raman scattering

In high voltage SF/sub 6/ insulated switchgear, the level of SF/sub 6/ concentration needs to be monitored regularly because of its degradation by switching arcs and on-going partial discharges or coronas. In the work reported here, measurements of SF/sub 6/ dissociation rate following 75 /spl mu/A positive and negative coronas have been made using a mass spectrometer and Raman spectroscopy. The two sets of data correlate well, the rates of degradation of SF/sub 6/ and production of gaseous by-products being shown to be proportional to the charge transported by the corona. SF/sub 6/ provides a particularly strong Raman signal at 773.5 cm/sup -1/, and the results demonstrate the feasibility of using Raman scattering to monitor SF/sub 6/ degradation in high-voltage switchgear.     

A new partial discharge detection method for live UHV/EHV cable joints

Partial discharge (PD) detection on live UHVEHV power cables and accessories is one of the most important techniques to prevent cable systems from serious difficulties caused by slight errors in joining the cables. A new PD detecting method is proposed in this paper. A resonance-type partial discharge (REDI) sensor is developed for detecting PD occurring inside the joints of live XLPE insulated cables. This sensor picks up the high-frequency components of PD current pulses on the surface of live cables, hence the output signals can clearly be observed at the noiseless area (for example, 10-60 MHZ). This new method was applied to the initial ac breakdown tests with three different types of joints of UHV/EHV power cables. The PD pulse sequence was detected before their breakdown in all cases. The charge quantity and the number of pulses increased tremendously just before the breakdown. In addition, the phase of PD pulse against the applied voltage (?-q characteristics) changes with time or with the progress of deterioration. According to these experimental results, the REDI sensor can be applied to the insulation diagnosis of live power cable joints.     

Time-resolved space charge and electroluminescence measurements in polyethylene under ac stress

Time-resolved space charge (SC) and electroluminescence (EL) measurements are carried out on polyethylene films stressed under ac voltage at industrial frequency to probe injection, trapping and recombination of charge. SC is measured by pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) technique at each zero voltage cross-over point of the ac voltage, thereby getting rid of the capacitive charge. EL is detected using photon counting techniques with a time resolution down to 50 /spl mu/s. Both SC and EL exhibit a threshold response as a function of the applied voltage. Numerical values of these thresholds are in good correspondence for SC and EL measurements in every tested material. Observations are consistent with a model of bipolar injection with an unbalanced situation in positive and negative charge behavior. It is also shown that different polyethylene materials behave differently relative to the field above which the charge is detected, providing thereby a way to compare the space charge behavior of those materials under ac field.     

Partial and complete electrical breakdown in simulated hightemperature superconducting coils

The partial breakdown (PBD) and complete breakdown (BD) phenomena in a composite insulation system of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) and liquid nitrogen are investigated to find the PBD and BD characteristics in high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils at quench. The electrode system used is made from a coaxial spiral coil-to-cylindrical electrode with an insulation barrier and spacers, and is immersed in liquid nitrogen. A heater is mounted inside the coil electrode to generate boiling which occurs on quenched superconducting coils. The experimental results show that (1) the polarity of PBD initiation under 60 Hz ac applied voltage depends on the width l_c of the cooling channel, (2) PBD appears through a gas bubble locked between the coil and concentric insulation barrier due to the electrical gradient and the spacer, (3) breakdown voltages are affected severely by the risetime of the applied voltage and the current amplitude associated with PBD, (4) two kinds of BD mechanisms are found depending on the shape of the spacer, length of cooling channel and heater power     

交流电压下C4F7N/CO2混合气体中线性金属微粒放电特性研究

为了研究环保型气体C4F7N的绝缘性能,本文开展了绝缘子表面线性金属微粒在C4F7N/CO2混合气体下的放电特性实验并结合仿真和理论对实验结果进行了分析。研究结果表明,在0.1MPa气压条件下,C4F7N/CO2混合气体中,绝缘子表面附有金属微粒时,闪络电压会随金属微粒和接地电极之间距离的增加而先增大后减小。分析上述原因,线性金属微粒端部电晕放电产生的空间电荷削弱了空间电场的畸变程度;同时,C4F7N/CO2混合气体分解产生的CF3CN分子是一种高电气强度的物质,也会促使闪络电压升高。绝缘子倾角的变化对C4F7N/CO2混合气体闪络电压的影响要大于对SF6气体闪络电压的影响。绝缘子倾角为90度条件下,C4F7N/CO2混合气体下的闪络为SF6气体下闪络电压的0.96倍,两种气体绝缘性能相当。但C4F7N/CO2混合气体对不均匀电场的敏感性要高于SF6气体,电场不均匀系数由1变化到1.84时,C4F7N/CO2混合气体条件下闪络电压降低约26%。     

Use of zeolite filter in portable equipment for recovering SF/sub 6/ in SF/sub 6//N/sub 2/ mixtures

We propose using zeolite filter in portable processing equipment to separate and recover SF/sub 6/ from SF/sub 6//N/sub 2/ mixtures. Testing of a prototype filter has shown that SF/sub 6/ is completely adsorbed by the filter, and the exhaust gas from the filter is pure N/sub 2/ (i.e., at an undetectable level of SF/sub 6/ measured by a gas chromatograph). The SF/sub 6/ fraction of the sorbate phase (solid phase) has been evaluated from the tests, and it is a high fraction as expected. For example, 70% sorbate corresponding to processing a mixture of 5% SF/sub 6/, and 83% sorbate corresponding to processing a mixture containing 10% SF/sub 6/. The process of releasing the SF/sub 6/ from the filter and renewing the filter by thermal swing adsorption (TSA) technique has also been investigated to determine a commercial operating temperature of 150/spl deg/C. The feasibility of applying this new concept in a portable SF/sub 6//N/sub 2/ mixture processing equipment is discussed and compared with an alternative system that the authors developed previously which was based on pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technique and also using zeolite.     

Calibration methods of carbon nanotube gas sensor for partial discharge detection in SF/sub 6/

The authors proposed a new type of gas sensor for high sensitive detection of decomposition products generated by partial discharge (PD) in SF/sub 6/ gas. The sensor employed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as gas sensing transducer and was fabricated by electrokinetic manipulation of CNTs using dielectrophoresis. Due to complicated gas decomposition process of SF/sub 6/ gas, calibration of the CNT gas sensor is an essential and challenging subject in order to realize reliable and stable detection of PD under practical conditions. In this paper, two methods for the CNT gas sensor calibration were proposed and tested. The first method was based on initial conductance dependence of the CNT gas sensor response. The CNT gas sensor response to PD increased almost linearly with the amount of CNT trapped onto the sensor electrode, which could be quantified by the initial conductance of the sensor. However, the calibration accuracy of this method was about 50 % and was not high enough for practical use. The second method employed NO/sub 2/ (nitrogen dioxide) as calibration gas because of the similarity in the CNT sensor response to PD decomposition products and NO2. It was found that the accuracy of the NO/sub 2/ calibration was about 10 % and far better than the first method. Finally, effectiveness of the NO/sub 2/ calibration was demonstrated by a PD monitoring test in which two CNT sensors were simultaneously exposed to SF/sub 6/ decomposition products with identical concentration.