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PDM_01-Intro_ENU
PDM_01-Intro_ENU
If we talk about partial discharges, we have to talk about electric fields. Electric fields are also present in nature.
Under normal weather conditions there are electric fields of some hundred volts per meter. Under overhead lines the electric field
strength is about 5 kV per meter.
In an electrical storm the electrical field rises up to 20 000 Volts per meter before the voltage discharges in a lightening flash with
currents up to 200 000 Amps.
Only few insulation materials are resistant to PD, e.g. mica - a silicate (phyllosilicate) mineral.
Mica insulations are used for example in the end windings in generators.
Outer corona, however, can harm the solid insulation close to its place of discharge. Furthermore, it can make it hard to measure
inner discharges at the same time.
Inside solid insulation material void discharges can grow as „Electrical Trees“ through the insulation, finally forming a breakdown
channel.
If this would have happened in a real-case scenario, the total power (charge) inside the cable would have discharged at this very
spot. This discharge power (in a real-case scenario) would have destroyed a much larger area around the discharge point.
The left photo shows an RBP bushing with massive traces of partial discharge (black lines).
The photo on the right shows the destruction inside a transformer.
Almost all foreign particles in the solid insulation will have a higher conductivity than the solid insulator. Therefore the electrical
field will be influenced, leading to areas of lower and higher concentration of the electrical field.
An increased concentration of the electrical field might result in partial discharges at this very point.
The channels/tunnels formed by partial discharges, have the strong tendency to “follow“ the electrical field lines. This takes into
account that every channel/tunnel will change the electrical field on its own.
Since the discharges are within a glass housing, the conductivity on the right side is very limited. Therefore, new
channels/tunnels can be created even though others have already reached the right side. Without the glass bottom of the jar on
the right side, the first channel/tunnel reaching the right side would result in a total breakdown – destroying most of the silicon
around it.
The channels/tunnels formed by partial discharges, have the strong tendency to “follow“ the electrical field lines. This takes into
account that every channel/tunnel will change the electrical field on its own.
Since the discharges are within a glass housing, the conductivity on the right side is very limited. Therefore, new
channels/tunnels can be created even though others have already reached the right side. Without the glass bottom of the jar on
the right side, the first channel/tunnel reaching the right side would result in a total breakdown – destroying most of the silicon
around it.
Charge is measured in Coulomb [C]. Commonly, discharge values will be displayed in pico Coulombs [pC] or nano Coulombs
[nC].
Only places with almost no interferences from other electrical devices (e.g. shielded rooms), the background noise can be
measured in femto Coulombs (fC).
Furthermore, every laboratory cable between the measurement system and the volt meter would have a capacitance, inductance
and resistance of its own. Therefore it would change the behavior of the whole partial discharge measurement system.
Furthermore, more PD processing functions are included in the hardware, such as thresholds and adjustable preamplifiers.
The voltage signal is digitized as well. All of this information is transmitted via fiber optical cables. These fiber optic cables and
the battery allow the user to use the measurement system on high voltage. The information about PD and voltage is processed
further in the computer. A recording of the entire measurement is possible.
The lower part of the diagram in red shows the applied testing voltage at the test object over time (11m 10s).
The green curve represents the discharge values correlated to the voltage and therefore time.
The voltage was raised to around 245kV; the discharge values was raised to around 1.1nC.
Corona discharge:
- Occurs in gaseous dielectrics in the presence of inhomogeneous fields, usually not inside of objects
(One can hear the PD of overhead lines in a substation (transformer / distribution station)
Treeing:
- Continuous impact of discharges in solid dielectrics forming discharge channels (treeing) in organic materials (e.g. cable
insulation).
PD activity can occur on the surface or/and inside insulations. The cavity discharge and treeing are the most dangerous
processes for assets’ insulation systems being almost impossible to accurately localize them.
The first fault (left picture) is a tip or conductive particle concentrating e-field lines.
This erosion phenomenon propagates where the stress is high, i.e. at the sharpest point.
The second fault (right picture) is a void with gas, e.g. air, inside.
The electric field rises inside the tiny void for two reasons:
1. The epsilon (permittivity) of the isolation is different.
2. The electrical conductance kappa is different as well.