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Modeling and Simulation of Internal Partial Discharge in Solid Dielectrics under

Variable Applied Frequencies

Conference Paper · December 2016

DOI: 10.1109/MEPCON.2016.7836959

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 Modeling and Simulation of Internal Partial Discharges in
Solid Dielectrics Under Variable Applied Frequencies
Tarek S. Negm Mostafa Refaey
tarek.negm@alexu.edu.eg moustafa.refaey@alexu.edu.eg
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Alexandria
Alexandria,Egypt
Abstract – Partial Discharges PD are events that must be
regarded in order to avoid many problems with high voltage
equipments. There are different types of discharges and
different factors that affect the nature of these discharges that
will be discussed in this paper. In addition, analysis of the PD
modelling is included. Frequency dependence of PD is included
and the effect of some time constants on PD magnitude and
number of PDs per cycle is discussed. In addition, a developed
model is established in order to study the effect of applying
higher frequency on the behaviour of PDs. The magnitude of
frequency of the applied voltage was studied as well as cavity size
and location in the dielectric. The model can be used to study
samples of different types of dielectrics and a complete H.V.
equipment can be investigated.
Index Terms – partial discharge, frequency dependence,
modeling and cavities.
I. INTRODUCTION
Partial Discharges (PD) in high voltage equipment is
considered one of the most significant phenomena to be
investigated in order to determine defects and degradation in
electrical insulation and the lifetime of apparatus. Gas-filled
cavities in the dielectrics contribute to its failure; where it
causes nonuniform electric field leading to stress
concentration, microchannels, treeing and hence its complete
breakdown. Cavities always cannot be avoided due to
manufacturing processes or during service, so its harmful
effects must be investigated in order to protect the insulation
of high voltage equipment.
The frequency of applied voltage affects the characteristics of
the internal PD due to some characteristic time constants
related to the nature of the insulation material and conductivity
of cavity walls. Studying the effect of frequencies other than
the power frequency becomes a necessity because of harmonic
frequencies in the electrical grids. These higher frequencies
are common nowadays due to grid-tie power stations based on
renewable energy particularly solar energy. Solar power
stations get tied to the grid through inverters with electronic
components are considered a main source of harmonics and
other higher frequencies other than power frequency 50 Hz.
The aim for this paper is to introduce a developed model of
PD that is dependent on the applied frequency. This model is
to investigate the frequency impact on number of PDs per
cycle and PD magnitude.
978-1-4673-9063-7/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE
Ahmed A. Hossam- Eldin
a.hossamudn44@yahoo.com
II. TYPES OF DISCHARGE
Discharges in dielectrics can be classified into three main
types: corona, internal and surface discharges [1]. Corona
discharge has been extensively discussed [2], it is caused by
locally enhanced field due to sharp points on the electrodes.
There are five modes of corona discharge, the first three
modes are related to the positive half period of the applied
voltage, and they are Streamers, Glow, and Breakdown
streamers. Every mode has its own onset voltage. On the
negative half period, two modes appear, they are Trichel
Pulses and Negative Glow.
Internal discharges can be considered as two-level discharge
that starts with cavity discharge due to voids in the dielectric,
however this cavity is electrode bounded or completely
surrounded by insulation. Some sources of discharges lead to
the next level of internal discharge i.e. treeing [3].
Surface discharges i.e, discharges occurring at surface of
insulation and this type depends on conductivity of surface or
cavity walls. Corona discharge can lead to surface discharge
as a later stage [4]. In particular, Partial Discharge (PD) in
solid dielectrics can be classified into five types, as Streamer
discharges, Townsend discharges, Swarming partial micro-
discharges, Pseudo-glow discharges and Glow discharges.
III. PD MODELS
Although practical results from PD measurements and test
objects are the main source to investigate and discuss the PD
phenomenon, but also modeling and simulations play
a significant role in PD studies. A good model for PD can save
time of practical experiments that can be achieved during
hours or days and can predict insulation lifetime without
performing the tedious long lifetime tests .
There are many theoretical models that can be considered the
base of which is the numerical modeling of PD [5]. PD
modeling is classified into two main criteria as physical
models and stochastic models. Physical models are based on
equivalent circuits and 2D and 3D simulations of the electric
field through the dielectric [6].
The main equivalent circuit describing PD behavior is the
lumped capacitance model as described and developed in [7].
This equivalent circuit includes the material properties e.g.
relative permittivty, conductivity, cavity geometry, inception
and extinction voltage.
For better understanding of various PD phenomena, it is
important to determine the electric field distribution within the
dielectric material. The simulation of electric field is
performed using Finite Element Method (FEM) or Finite
Difference Method (FDM) as in [8-10].
On the other hand, stochastic models have been developed and
used in a wide range to simulate PD. The main advantage of
this type of modeling is by considering the memory effect of
PD and the influence of previous pulses on the next PD
events.

i) Capacitive model

Gemant and Philippoff were the first to try to model cavity

discharge using capacitive equivalent circuit in 1932 as
reported in [11] as shown in Fig.1. A spark gap is connected in
parallel with the capacitor CV representing the cavity. In
addition, a series capacitor CS connected to represent the
healthy part of the insulation. Moreover, R is a resistor
representing protection or source impedence.
Fig.2: Capacitive partial discharge model, after [14].
(a) Characteristic circuit elements (b) transient currents flowing through the
equivalent partial discharge circuit.

Fig.1: spark capacitive model, after [11]

In 1951 the circuit of Fig.1 was modified by Whitehead [12]

by replacing the spark gap by a controlled device to represent
the discharge. In addition, another parallel capacitor was
introduced to represent the bulk dielectric between electrodes
Fig.3: Dipole model of PD [14]
and this modification was proposed by Kreuger in 1989 [13].
In 1980s, Pederson has proposed the dipole model as shown in
The most common model is shown in Fig.2; where Ca
Fig.3 instead of lumped capacitive model [15]. He refused to
represents the bulk dielectric, Cb represents the healthy parts
represent the cavity by a capacitor, so the PD event was not
of insulation between cavity and test electrodes, and Cc is the
represented by discharging of a capacitor but a dipole moment
cavity capacitor model which is shunted by the controlled
model has been used as a simulation model describing the PD
switching device represents the discharge event with respect to
event and electric field distribution between test electrodes.
the inception and extinction voltages.
IV. FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE OF PARTIAL
i) Dipole model: DISCHARGES

The apparent charge concept deducted from the capacitive

Some time-constants are identified to describe the frequency
equivalent circuit is not truly representing the true charge
dependence of PD [16]. These characteristic constants depend
within the cavity. Another drawback in the capacitive model is
on the insulation material and the properties of cavity walls.
the assumption that the applied test voltage induces a charge
These constants represent the statistical time lag Tstat, decay
carriers at the anode side and the cathode side of the cavity
time constant Tdecay, trap time constant Ttrap, the void
boundary. This means that, the internal charge has been
relaxation time Tvoid, and the dielectric time constant of the
already produced before the PD occurrence.
bulk material Tmaterial.
The relation between these time constants and the periodic
time of applied voltage determines the frequency dependence
of PD. As long as these time constants are smaller or larger
than the periodic time of applied voltage, the magnitude and
the number of PDs per cycle are frequency dependent. These
time constants and in turn the frequency dependence of PD are
controlled by the applied voltage amplitude and cavity size
and location with respect to the electrodes [17]. Due to
statistical time lag Tstat, PD events are not always initiated at
the minimum inception voltage but are shifted forward in
phase and occur at higher voltage. So it can be noted that this
time constant results in fewer PDs per cycle but with relatively
higher magnitudes and more spread in phase. At low applied
frequency, the effect of Tstat can be neglected due to higher
periodic time of applied voltage. As the frequency increases,
i.e. the periodic time of applied voltage decreases and
becomes smaller as Tstat then its effect on PD events becomes
more considerable.
The void relaxation time Tvoid, and the dielectric time constant
of the bulk material Tmaterial are determined in terms of circuit
parameters from the modified equivalent circuit of Fig.4 using
equations (1) and (2).
(1)
(2)
Fig.4: Modified equivalent capacitive circuit
At high frequencies, the void and material time constants are
negligible because they are much longer than the period time,
but at lower frequencies their effect must be regarded. If Tvoid
is smaller than Tmaterial, number of PDs will decrease with
decreasing frequency due to more conductivity of the inner
surface of the void. If Tvoid is longer than Tmaterial, number of
PDs will increase at lower frequencies due to increasing the
voltage across the void; this will occur when the void is
a delamination or crack perpendicular to the applied field.
The remaining two time constants, Tdecay and Ttrap, are related
to the charge transport on the cavity surface and through the
insulation [18]. Tdecay that depends on the surface conductivity
and void geometry represents surface charge decay. At low
frequencies, i.e. Tdecay is in the range of periodic time of
applied voltage, the field and the number of PDs in the cavity
decrease. At higher frequencies, this effect is negligible.
The second charge transport related time constant Ttrap
represents diffusion of charge from shallow traps into deeper
traps in the cavity surface, and into the bulk insulation. The
previous two time constants affect the statistical time lag due
to lack of free electrons to release starting avalanche.
There are additional two main factors affecting frequency
dependence of PD. They are cavity size and cavity location
[19]. For larger cavities the maximum number of discharges is
concentrated at lower frequencies. This is due to the longer
distance for charges to move on the surface of a larger cavity,
which causes the shielding effect to appear at a lower
frequency. Moreover, PDs in smaller cavity can be considered
as a complete cavity discharge event, but in larger cavities,
discharge often partially affects the cavity. The total charge
per cycle increases with increasing size of cavity, which
simply reflects the fact that larger cavities have larger
capacitance. The second factor affecting frequency
dependence is the cavity location which can be electrode
bounded or insulation surrounded.
V. DEVELOPED MODEL
In order to investigate the effect of statistical time lag on trap
time constant beside the effect of variable frequency on PD
magnitude and distribution, the model in Fig.5 is established.
It represents the insulation sample under the test. The selected
material in the model has a relative permittivity equals 4 as
this value is common in materials that are used in medium and
high voltage components. All other model parameters are
summarized in table.1.
Fig.5: Frequency dependent PD developed model.
Table.1: model parameters
Relative Permittivity εr 4
Conductivity 10 S. m
Number of cavities 1 (air-filled)
Cavity dimensions 1.5 1.5 1 mm
Sample dimensions 35 35 2 mm
Inception voltage Vinc 4.5 kV
Extinction voltage Vext 0.5 kV
Trap time constant Ttrap 2 ms
Simulation step time dt 1/ 2000f s
Applied voltage 11 kV
The air filled cavity is represented by capacitance Cc and
a parallel resistance Rc which represents the conductivity
through and around the cavity. The second part of the
insulation that is in series below and above the cavity is
modeled by Cb and Rb representing the permittivity and
conductivity of this part of insulation. Ca and Ra are used to
model the remaining insulation of the sample.
When the applied voltage V becomes greater than inception
value, there will be a probability to generate an avalanche, but
this event depends on the probability of generation of the first
electron. This probability can be predicted by developing Fig.6:PD pattern at 50Hz and 100Hz during 500 cycles of applied voltage.
a probability distribution function "P" that relates the electron
generation with the trap time constant Ttrap and the history of When frequency increases, the periodic time of applied
electron generation rate due to previous discharges as shown voltage decreases and gets closer to the statistical time lag.
in equation (3). This makes the statistical time lag to have a more considerable
effect, where a certain time lag exists between reaching the
inception voltage and generating sufficient free electrons to
If P is greater than some generated random function, then start a PD. As a result, PD occurs at higher voltage level with
there will be a PD event. But if P is less than the random higher charge magnitude. The impact of the statistical time lag
function, there will not be a probability to start a PD event. is clear in Fig.6. It is obvious that PDs are concentrated near
. (3) zero crossing points at 50Hz, but PDs are shifted some little
bit away from zero crossing points at 100Hz. Spread in PD
Where N is the electron rate that is estimated from distribution can also be considered at higher frequency.
equation (4).

(4)
Where Vc is the voltage across the cavity, Vinc is the inception (a)
voltage and Nrest is the rest free electrons after trapping
through cavity walls which can be estimated by equation (5).

(5)
Where tpre is time of the previous discharge and Npre is the
initial free electrons from the previous discharge that are
starting to diffuse in material traps by time if there is no PD.
Npre can be estimated by equation (6).
(b) (c)
(6)

Where Vpre is the voltage across cavity during at start of

previous discharge, and s is some constant that can be varied
to match the simulation results with the expermintal results.

VI. SIMULATION RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The model was run five times at each applied frequency then
average values are considered. It was planned to simulate 500 (d) (e)
cycle of applied voltage as shown in Fig.6 at every trial to
insure a correct PD pattern. Fig.6 shows the PD charge
pattern at 50 Hz and 100 Hz when 500 cycles of applied
voltage simulation was achieved. These patterns represent
every PD event charge with its related phase angle of voltage
at instant of occurance. One can observe that number of PDs is
decreased at the higher frequency, although the PD magnitude
is greater at higher frerquency.
Fig.7:PD phase-charge pattern at (a) f=50Hz,( b) f=100, (c) f=200Hz,
(d) f=400Hz and (e) f=600Hz
Simulation results are shown in Fig.7, Fig.8, and Fig.9 and are
summarized in Table.2. Fig.8 shown the number of PD/cycle
at every frequency. Fig.9 shows the total charge per cycle at
every frequency. The 5 trials of each frequency and their
related median value are considered in the two figures. It is
clear that number of PDs decreases. Moreover, the charge of
every single PD event increases, whereas the decrease in
number of PDs is dominant leading to decrease in overall
charge per cycle with frequency increase.
Table.2: simulations results
Frequency Hz 50 100 200 400 600
PD/cycle 7.684 6.57 5.868 4.004 2.894 Fig.11: 5 cycles of voltage and current of the cavity at 400Hz
Qmax(+ve) pC 227 218 246.2 221 204.4
Qmax(-ve) pC 237.6 232 240.2 224.6 203.6 Fig.12 shows the PD phase-charge pattern under 50 Hz of
Total charge / cycle nC 8.294 8.25 8.102 7.25 5.75 applied voltage with different cavity size. The sample
dimensions are set to be 35x35x3 mm with cavity dimensions
of 0.5x0.5x0.5 mm (Fig.12-a) and 1x1x1 mm (Fig.12-b). The
simulations have been run for 100 cycles of applied voltage.
It is clear that PD charge level is higher for the larger cavity
size. Moreover, the total PDs per cycle for the large cavity size
is more than the small cavity. In addition, PD events are more
distributed from zero crossing for the larger cavity size.
This result is consistent with the results found in[18].

Fig.8:PDs/cycle at variable frequency

(a) (b)

Fig.12: PD phase-charge pattern under 50Hz of different cavity size

VII. CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of the applied voltage has a great effect on PD

Fig.9:total charge/cycle at variable frequency
behavior as shown in simulation results.
The voltage across the cavity with and without PD action in
addition to the PD current is shown in Fig.10 at 50 Hz and
Fig.11 at 400Hz. One can detect the decrease of PDs at higher
frequency and the increase in every PD event over the
inception voltage at higher frequency.
Fig.10: 5 cycles of voltage and current of the cavity at 50Hz
• If the frequency is increased, the intensity of internal
PD events per voltage cycle will decrease because the
periodic time of the applied voltage became quite
near the value of statistical time lag.
• At high frequency, PD event will occure after some
phase shift from the instant that the voltage across the
void exceeds the inception voltage.
• This delay of PD event at high frequencies leads to
higher magnitude of PD as it will be generated at
some voltage higher than the inception value.
• Although PD charge increases at high frequency, but
the decrease in number of PDs is a majority leading
to decrease in overall charge per cycle.
• Cavity size will have an effect on PD characteristics.
The larger the cavity size is, the higher PD charge
level and the more PDs per cycle.
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