Hyperspectral imaging of high voltage insulating materials subjected to partial discharges

Abstract

Abstract Partial discharges are complex and dynamic phenomenon appearing in high voltage insulation systems. They are characterized by physical and chemical effects that occur in the microstructure of insulating materials which lead to their deterioration or breakdown. Much research and scientific effort is devoted to the understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms of partial discharge and the development of diagnostic methods. Long-term partial discharge activity results in micro- and macroscopic changes in the structure of the system, leading to the insulation breakdown. The goal of this paper is to highlight the hyperspectral analysis as a novel assessment techniques of dielectric surface aging, especially of materials used for high voltage insulation. The experiments have been performed on insulation specimens containing a tiny void subjected to high electric field causing partial discharges. In order to test the performance of the method, various classes of dielectric materials were investigated. The presented methodology revealed the effects of insulation erosion and deterioration. It was demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging can localize the aged clusters in different wavelengths spectral regions. The promising advantage of this methodology is a potential for diagnostic applications of power equipment in the field.