A novel technique for partial discharge and breakdown investigation based on current pulse waveform analysis

A novel technique for partial discharge (PD) measurement and analysis (PD-CPWA; PD current pulse waveform analysis) is developed and introduced in this paper. PD-CPWA is expected to be utilized to discuss PD mechanisms and physics in electrical insulating materials, focusing on the PD current pulse waveform and its time transition from PD inception to breakdown (BD). In this paper, the concept and principle of PD-CPWA are described, and the applications of PD-CPWA to (1) epoxy spacer samples under thermal and electric combined stresses in GIS, (2) creepage PD on epoxy spacers in SF/sub 6/ gas and (3) liquid nitrogen/polypropylene laminated paper composite insulation system for high temperature superconducting cables are introduced and discussed.