Decrease Of Flashover Voltage Research Articles

Research on methods to increase the flashover voltage of supporting insulators in Tesla transformers.

This paper presents three methods aimed at enhancing the flashover voltage of the supporting insulator in a Tesla transformer. These methods include optimizing the maximum electric field on the insulator surface, adjusting the overall structure of the insulator, and changing the surface structure of the insulator. Ten insulator samples with different structures were designed based on electric field simulation. Subsequent experiments were conducted to validate the effectiveness of these methods in improving flashover voltage. On this basis, the supporting insulator of the Tesla transformer was redesigned, leading to an increased output voltage. The results are summarized in the following. First, optimization of the shielding rings of the cathode and anode reduces the electric field at the triple junction, which significantly increases the flashover voltage. Second, extending the inclination starting position of insulators with the same inclination angle effectively reduces the surface electric field intensity and increases the flashover voltage. Third, increasing the inclination angle within a certain range while keeping the inclination starting position constant extends the creepage distance and enhances the flashover voltage. However, excessively large inclination angles may lead to a decrease in flashover voltage due to excessive normal electric field. Fourth, grooving on the insulator surface at appropriate locations can inhibit the development of the streamer and improve flashover voltage. Finally, the supporting insulator of the Tesla transformer was redesigned based on these results, elevating the output voltage from 750kV to over 1 MV.

Particle traps constructed on the insulator of conductive slip rings for surface flashover mitigation under particle adhesion

The generation of abrasive particles is an unavoidable consequence of sliding electrical contact wear in conductive slip rings (SRs). The adhesion of abrasive particles to the insulators may lead to a decrease in flashover voltage, posing a risk to satellite power transmission. In this paper, the effect of abrasive particles on flashover is first studied. Surface abrasive particles can distort the surface electric field of the dielectric, absorb scattered electrons, and then re-emit them, thereby accelerating the development and formation of secondary electron avalanches. Flashover test results indicate that surface abrasive particles lead to a significant reduction in flashover voltage. To mitigate the impact of particle adhesion on flashover, a method of constructing particle traps on the surface of insulators is proposed. The location and structural parameters of the particle trap are further optimized and determined. The flashover test results using planar dielectric samples and SR insulator samples both demonstrate that the optimized particle trap can significantly improve the flashover voltage. The dielectric maintains high electrical strength even when particles are trapped in particle traps. The physical details of the impact of particles on flashover and the effect of particle traps are analyzed utilizing an electron movement simulation, corroborating the experiment from a microscopic aspect.

Diverse effects of gases on surface flashover in a wide pressure range from atmospheric to near vacuum pressure

Investigations into surface flashover characteristics and underlying mechanisms in the range from atmospheric to near vacuum pressure are significant for developing high-power equipment based on the application of gases used for flashover prevention. In this work, polyetherimide (PEI) films with controllable outgassing properties were prepared. Then, the gas-related factors, namely, gas pressure, the type of gases, and outgassing were clarified by investigating the DC surface flashover of films in a wide pressure range (10−4–105 Pa) in different gas atmospheres. In all conditions, the variation of flashover voltage was found to be divided into three regions with pressure increasing, while its deeper reason is that the number density of molecules of the gas layer is affected by outgassing and ambient gas pressure, which affects the collision of electrons. In region I, the surface flashover voltage is closely related to outgassing and shows the highest value. In region II, the surface flashover is jointly affected by outgassing and ambient gas, along with a rapid decrease of flashover voltage with increasing pressure. In region III, the surface flashover is dominated by ambient gas, and the surface flashover voltage shows a U-shaped curve with increasing pressure. Transition points of the three regions shift significantly with the change of outgassing properties. In region I, the desorption of adsorbed gas has little effect on the surface flashover voltage, while the escape of dissolved gas dominates. Finally, a model of the diverse effects of gases on surface flashover in a wide pressure range was established.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of AC and DC arc propagation on polluted insulators surface

To acquire new knowledge of pollution flashover mechanism of insulators, the mechanical characteristics of local arc propagation on suspension insulators surface during AC and DC pollution flashover are analyzed in this paper. The results indicate that the propagation of local arc mainly depends on the electrostatic force and thermal buoyancy. The thermal buoyancy plays a leading role in the bigger arc current, resulting in the obvious phenomenon of arc wandering. Moreover, the effect of thermal buoyancy on AC arc is less than that on DC arc at the same arc current. DC arc wandering is more significant than that of AC. With the decrease in air pressure (the increase in altitude height), the effect of thermal buoyancy rises. As a result, it will cause severe arc-levitating at high altitudes, making the flashover distance of insulators less than its creepage distance. Therefore, the arc-levitating is one of the key factors for the decrease in flashover voltage of polluted insulators in high-altitude regions.

Impulsive Flashover Characteristics and Weibull Statistical Analysis of Gas-Solid Interfaces With Varying Relative Humidity

This paper informs on the flashover strength of three materials: Delrin (polyoxymethylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and Ultem (polyetherimide) with smooth surface finishes, in zero-grade air at −0.5, 0 and 0.5 bar gauge, and at 90% relative humidity (RH). Both negative and positive polarity impulse voltages were applied to investigate the potentially asymmetrical electrical performance of the geometrically-symmetrical electrode arrangement. In all tests, high voltage (HV) impulses with a nominal 100/700 ns wave-shape were applied. Each test conformed with the ASTM D3426-97 standard of ‘step up’ testing, to find the average flashover voltage for each set of conditions. For negative polarity, each solid dielectric material demonstrated a decrease in flashover voltage as the RH was increased. For positive polarity, however, the flashover voltages were similar for all levels of RH, with the exemption of HDPE. A decrease in flashover voltage was found as the permittivity of the material increased for negative polarity, irrespective of humidity and pressure. Overall, the highest flashover voltage recorded for negative polarity was ~200 kV with an HDPE spacer, at 0.5 bar gauge and 90% RH, at a value of ~53 kV. For positive polarity, the highest flashover voltage was for a Delrin spacer at ~50% RH and 0.5 bar gauge, with a voltage of ~180 kV; the lowest flashover voltage of ~60 kV was recorded with an HDPE spacer, at −0.5 bar gauge and >90% RH.

Influence of Crystallization Effect During Icing Water Phase Transition on the Flashover Characteristics of Ice-Covered Insulators

The crystallization effect during the phase transition of icing water has a significant impact on the electrical performance of an ice-covered insulator. However, the spatial distribution of conductive ions in the ice layer remains poorly understood. In this study, the crystallization effect was confirmed through a condensation test of the potassium permanganate solution. The influence of freezing water conductivity, ice thickness and equivalent salt deposit density on the spatial distribution of conductive ions was determined by a triangular ice sample, wherein the effect on the flashover characteristics of ice-covered insulator was investigated. Results show that MnO4− migrates to the unfrozen area during freezing, thus accumulating on the droplet top. The conductivity of melted water on the exterior surface of an ice sample is considerably higher than that of icing water. The former can reach a maximum of 5.7 times the latter when the freezing water conductivity method is adopted. This value is 9.7 for a polluted ice sample. A highly conductive water film forms on the insulator surface because of the crystallization effect in the melting period, thereby improving the leakage current and reducing the residual ice resistance, which results in the decrease of flashover voltage.

Surface charge accumulation of solid insulator under nanosecond pulse in vacuum: 3D distribution features and mechanism

Surface charge accumulation can incur changes in electric field distribution, involved in the electron propagation process, and result in a significant decrease in the surface flashover voltage. The existing 2D surface charge measurement fails to meet the actual needs in real engineering applications that usually adopt the 45° conical frustum insulators. The present research developed a novel 3D measurement platform to capture surface charge distribution on solid insulation under nanosecond pulse in a vacuum. The results indicate that all surface charges are positive under a positive pulse and negative under a negative pulse. Surface charges tend to accumulate more near the upper electrode. Surface charge density increases significantly with the increase in pulse counts and amplitudes. Accumulation of surface charge results in a certain decrease of flashover voltage. Taking consideration of the secondary electron emission for the surface charge accumulation, four materials were obtained to demonstrate the effects on surface charge. Combining the effect incurred by secondary electron emission and the weighty action taken by surface charge accumulation on the flashover phenomena, the discharge mechanism along the insulator surface under nanosecond pulse voltage was proposed.

Study on insulation characteristics of GIS under combined voltage of DC and lightning impulse

Operating experience shows that residual DC voltage remains in GIS bus bar for a long time after opening of disconnectors. This DC voltage will not only cause accumulation of charges and contaminants on the insulator surface, but will also easily lead to motion of free metallic particles in SF6 gas gap, weakening the insulation ability of GIS. At the time of disconnectors reclosing, impulse voltage could be generated in the bus bar and superimpose on the pre-existing DC voltage. As a result, GIS will be under combined voltage of DC and impulse. This paper experimentally studies the insulation characteristics of GIS under combined voltage of DC and lightning impulse. It is found that, for non-contaminated insulators, when DC and LI voltage are of the same polarity, flashover voltage under combined voltage is nearly the same as the flashover voltage under LI alone. However, when they are of the opposite polarity, flashover voltage decreases with increasing DC voltage. In cases there are metallic particle or powder around insulator, pre-stressed DC voltage will cause adhesion of contaminants on the insulator surface and lead to decrease of flashover voltage. Specially, for the particle-contaminated insulator, it is found that the surface charge accumulation caused by DC voltage will have big influence on the flashover voltage, and the most critical condition is when DC and LI voltage are of the opposite polarity. In addition, the breakdown characteristics of SF6 gas gap with free metallic particle are investigated. It is found that under pre-stressed DC voltage, particle will do standing motion or bouncing motion. And breakdown voltage becomes lowest when particle is doing standing motion. The results of the experiments show that residual DC voltage in GIS could deteriorate its insulation ability and the combined voltage of DC and impulse is found to be a critical condition for GIS insulation. Moreover, the combined voltage is shown to be more sensitive to detect some insulation defects in GIS than applying impulse voltage alone, especially for free metallic particles, which are commonly found in GIS but up to now no effective detection method is proposed. Therefore combined voltage of DC and impulse could be considered to serve as a supplement of field test for GIS.

Influence of insulator string positioning on AC icing flashover performance

This paper presents the relationship between ac flashover voltage and the varying positioning of iced insulator strings under different icing condition. The results were obtained through laboratory test in multifunction artificial climate chamber located at Chongqing University, China. Also difference of the ac icing flashover performance of single insulator string, double insulator strings, inverted v-type insulator strings and insulators connected with alternately large and small diameter sheds (CALSDS) were analyzed in this paper. According to test results, it is found that the distorted electric field distribution on iced insulator string is the main reason that results in the decrease of flashover voltage. With the same icing degree, the icing flashover voltage of either double insulator strings or as an inverted v-type is lower than that of single insulator string. If insulators are arranged with the type of CALSDS, the speed of icicles to bridge the insulators will decrease. To ensure the height of conductor from the earth remaining unchanged, the ac icing flashover voltage of insulator string can be increased by arranging the insulator strings as an inverted v-type or arranging the insulators with the types of CALSDS with the pattern of "3+1" or "4+1".

Creeping flashover characteristics in (N2/SF6) gas mixture under pulse voltage

The effect of a barrier between a needle electrode and a plane one in an (N2/SF6) gas mixture on creeping flashover was investigated using a microsecond pulse voltage. The SF6 gas content was varied from 0% to 100%, and the gas pressure from 0.1 MPa to 0.3 MPa. The flashover voltage increased with increasing SF6 gas content for a positive needle electrode. For a negative needle electrode, excepting the total pressure of 0.1 MPa, at which similar flashover characteristics were obtained to the positive case, a considerable decrease in flashover voltage was found in the case of a mixture of a few percent SF6 in (N2/SF6) gas mixture at elevated total pressures. The corona behavior on the barrier in (N2/SF6) gas mixture was investigated by means of a high-speed digital framing camera. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 131(1): 1–9, 2000