Partial Discharge Inception Voltages of Transformer Liquids under Various Electric Field Conditions

Summary

The majority of the research concerning partial discharge (PD) characteristics of insulating liquids employs needle-to-plane or needle-to-sphere electrode systems that generate highly divergent electric fields. This is because in such electric fields, discharges can be easily initiated without leading to electrical breakdown. However, the insulating liquid filled in a large power transformer is typically subjected to uniform or quasi-uniform electric fields. This research comparatively investigated the PD inception voltages of three transformer liquids, including Gemini X (a conventional mineral oil), Diala S4 ZX-I (a synthetic hydrocarbon liquid manufactured through gas-to-liquids processes) and MIDEL 7131 (a synthetic ester), under various electric field conditions. To alter the electric field condition in the experiments, this study employed a plane-to-plane electrode system with an adjustable needle protrusion (plane-needle-plane electrode system) in addition to a conventional needle-to-plane electrode system. The PD characteristics of the three liquids are compared in terms of PD inception voltage (PDIV) and PD inception field (PDIF). Results suggest that the PDIVs of the three liquids depend on electrode geometry, whereas the PDIFs do not. The average PDIFs of Gemini X, Diala S4 ZX-I and MIDEL 7131 are 1430 kV/mm, 1419 kV/mm and 1238 kV/mm, respectively.

Additional informations

Authors

Kindersberger Josef Sebastian, Claudi Albert, Wiens Christian, Finis Gernot, Guðjónsdóttir, Bezdek Zdenek