ABSTRACT

Partial discharge represents a physical phenomenon, in which discharges are involved in

electrically weak regions of solid insulation materials (most often gaseous or liquid inclusions).
They cause damage of the insulation and often start from the voids enclosed in it and/or at
interface defects. The time, during which technical insulation is still in good operation condition,
is of great practical interest. The same is valid for effects of partial discharge resulting in failure
of the dielectric much before the expected life-time. This project will be conducted by simulation
base on partial discharges extended equivalent circuit in order to understand the characteristic of
partial discharges in solid dielectric material. In this project, partial discharges mechanism in
solid dielectric material will be modeled using Simulink in MATLAB software. After doing a
little study about MATLAB, circuit then constructed in Simulink before the simulation. This
project is focus on the result of the partial discharges in solid dielectric with cavity. Voltage
applications are AC source with 50Hz frequency. As a result, the simulation was successfully
done even the result was little bit different from the experiment. This maybe because of the
simulation neglected a few parameters compare to real experiment.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

A partial discharge (PD) is defined as an electrical discharge that is localized within only a
part of the insulation between two separated conductors. In the real world, PD is caused by the
existence of a void in insulation. Even if the local electrical field in the void exceeds a threshold
and a discharge occurs, it is limited within the void because the surrounding insulation is strong
enough to avoid a complete breakdown. PD in a void are considered to be harmful, especially in
high-voltage systems from the viewpoint of engineering because they cause energy loss and
gradually degrade the insulation.

Figure 1.1 A schematic diagram of partial discharge in a void

PD usually begins within voids, cracks, or inclusions within a solid dielectric, at conductordielectric interfaces within solid or liquid dielectrics, or in bubbles within liquid dielectrics.
Since discharges are limited to only a portion of the insulation, the discharges only partially
bridge the distance between electrodes. PD can also occur along the boundary between different
insulating materials.
Partial discharges are electrical sparks that do not completely bridge the electrodes and
which exist in nearly all high voltage electrical machinery. The phenomena results in high
frequency, low voltage signals on the phase leads. Over time, the degradation and discharges
become larger until a full discharge is obtained leading to failure of the equipment. Partial
discharges are small electrical sparks that occur within the electric insulation of switchgear,
cables, transformers, and windings in large motors and generators. Partial Discharge Analysis is
a proactive diagnostic approach that uses partial discharge (PD) measurements to evaluate the

integrity of this equipment. Each discrete PD is a result of the electrical breakdown of an air
pocket within the insulation. PD measurements can be taken continuously or intermittently and
detected on-line or off-line. PD results are used to reliably predict which electrical equipment is
in need of maintenance. Just as every material has a characteristic tensile strength, each material
also has an electrical breakdown (dielectric) strength that represents the electrical intensity
necessary for current to flow and an electrical discharge to take place. Common insulating
materials such as epoxy, polyester, and polyethylene have very high dielectric strengths.
Conversely, air has a relatively low dielectric strength. Electrical breakdown in air causes an
extremely brief (lasting only fractions of a nanosecond) electric current to flow through the air
pocket.
1.2 Problem Statements
The circuits that represent PD behavior have been developed long time ago. People have
to figure out a new and improving circuit to change the old one. A lot of improving circuit has
been developed by many people in the means to get better understanding about PD. In old model
circuit did not consider space charge roles but it can be solve in improving equivalent circuit.

1.3 Methodology
Three main actions will be taking to finish this project. The first thing to be done before
doing this project is to have a clear understanding about the whole idea of the project. Besides,
literature review was done on various topics like the basic knowledge about behavior of PD and
also dielectric material. Second is to design the circuit using MATLAB software before it can
be simulate to produce a result of PD. Lastly is analyzed the result from the simulation.

1.4 Causes of Partial Discharge

Partial discharge can occur at any point in the insulation system, where the electric field
strength exceeds the breakdown strength of that portion of the insulating material. Partial
discharge can occur in voids within solid insulation, across the surface of insulating material due
to 6 contaminants or irregularities, within gas bubbles in liquid insulation or around an electrode
in gas (corona activity). Partial discharge may originate at one of the electrode or occur in a
cavity in the dielectric. The air or gas cavities are one of the most wide spread types of localized

defect. Due to the fact that the dielectric permittivity of air is few times less than the dielectric
filed intensity in the gas layer can considerably exceed the average field intensity in the insulator.
Therefore in the number of cases ionization process start even the working voltage. The sum
total of this ionization process is called the partial discharge since they cover a small part of
total distance between the electrodes. Once begin PD causes progressive deterioration of
insulating materials ultimately leading to electric breakdown. PD can be prevented through
careful design and material is confirmed using PD detector equipment during the manufacturing
stage as well as periodically through the equipments useful life. PD prevention and detection are
essential to ensure reliable, long term operation of HV equipment used by electric power
utilities.
Partial discharge occurs from electrical breakdown of defect in the insulation medium or in
the surface of insulation medium when the applied electric field is higher than a dielectric
strength of insulation medium. PD occurs in insulation system of HV cable due to inhomogeneity of electric field distribution as a result of the presence of the defects. The power
cable with extruded insulation is very sensitive to the presence of PD due to the absence of liquid
impregnating medium that can extinguish any partial discharges and the barrier effect from
multi-layer insulation system in paper-oil power cable. Consequently, the newly-installed
extruded insulation power cable needs a completely free from PD which is verified by means of
after-laying test.

2. BASIC CONCEPTS OF PARTIAL DISCHARGE (PD)

2.1 Partial Discharge

According to IEC (International Electro technical Commission) Standard 60270, Partial
discharge is a localized electrical discharge that only partially bridges the insulation between
conductors and which may or may not occur adjacent to a conductor. In general partial
discharges are a consequence of local electrical stress concentrations in insulation or on the
surface of insulation. Such electrical discharges are appeared as impulses i.e., various forms of
voltage impulse and current impulse having duration of much less than 1sec. PD activity usually
observed in high voltage power equipment like transformer, cable, bushings etc.
Most of insulators are in impure form. Due to presence of air impurity bubbles (void) are
created within the insulating material. It weakens the insulation region and responsible for
appearance of PDs. The reason behind it is, the dielectric constant of the void is less than of its
surroundings. So it causes insulation failure in high voltage equipments. Partial discharges are
always occurs at void, bad conductor profiles in HV equipments. Though such discharge has less
magnitude but it is responsible for degradation. Due to occurrence of discharge ultimately failure
occurs in the insulation system. Because of the above reason PD detection and measurement is
necessary for prediction of insulation life for HV power equipments.

2.2 Classification of Partial Discharge

2.2.1 Corona Discharge- These occur due to non-uniform field on the sharp edges of the
conductor subjected to high voltage especially when the insulation provided is air or gas or
liquid, Shown in fig 2.1. In electricity, a corona discharge is an electrical discharge brought on
by the ionization of a fluid surrounding a conductor that is electrically energized. The discharge
will occur when the strength (potential gradient) of the electric field around the conductor is high
enough

to

form

conductive

region,

but

not

high

enough

to

cause electrical

breakdown or arcing to nearby objects. It is often seen as a bluish (or other color) glow in the air
adjacent to pointed metal conductors carrying high voltages. Spontaneous corona discharges are
undesirable where they waste power in high-voltage systems or where the high chemical activity

in a corona discharge creates objectionable or hazardous compounds, such as ozone. Controlled

corona discharges are used in a variety of filtration, printing and other processes.

Fig. 2.1 Corona Discharge

Fig.2.2 Surface Discharge

2.2.2 Surface Discharges- On the interfaces of different dielectric material such as gas/solid
interface as the gas gets overstressed r times the stress on the solid material (where r is the
relative permittivity of solid material) and ionization of gas results Shown in fig 2.2. Surface
discharge occurs in the interface of two insulation materials where substantial high tangential
field strength is present. Surface discharge can be initiated when there is a high enough of stress
component in parallel with the insulation surface to cause discharges. Surface discharges are
often occurred in cable accessories due to missing outer semi-conductive screen or incompletely
removed of outer semi conductive screen in the area after the stress cone. The surface discharges
will occur as a result in field enhancement in the edge of the semi-conductive screen. The
inception voltage of this type of discharge for the edge of plane-plane configuration is relatively
low; depend on the thickness and permittivity of insulation material and also the sharpness of the
electrode edge.
2.2.3 Cavity Discharges- When cavities are formed in solids or liquid insulators, the gas in the
cavities are over stressed and discharges are formed Shown in fig.2.3. Internal cavity frequently
occurs in the form of spherical or elliptical gas-filled cavity. If the voltage is applied to the
insulation system, the electric field in the cavity will be higher than the surrounding insulation
medium due to the lower dielectric constant of the gas inside the cavity than the dielectric
constant of the insulation medium. The shape and location of the cavity will also determine the

electric field enhancement in the cavity. If the cavity is perpendicular to the field directions, the
field enhancement in the cavity will be times the normal electric field in the dielectric, where
is the permittivity of the insulation material. There are several typical possibilities for the type of
this cavity as depicted in Figure.

Fig. 2.3 Cavity Discharge

Fig. 2.4 Treeing Channel

2.2.4 Treeing Channels- High intensity fields are produced in an insulating material at its sharp
edges and this deteriorates the insulating material. The continuous partial discharges so produced
are called Treeing Channels, Shown in fig.2.4. Electrical treeing in extruded dielectric cable
insulation represents a tree-like path of electrical deterioration through the dielectric body. The
radial growth of treeing is in line with the electric field lines and when it bridges the electrodes
the complete breakdown in the insulation will occurs. Even though extruded insulation has
intrinsic electrical strength many times higher than electrical stresses that probably occur in
actual operation, the electrical treeing can occurs in much lower stress than intrinsic strength of
insulation material. The reason is the presence of the defects in the insulation material that result
in electric field enhancement and produce PD in the form of electrical trees. Treeing can be
initiated from sharp point in the electrodes or by erosion of the edge of internal cavity in the
insulation. Electrical trees can also result from the conversion of water trees. The cable
accessories which exposed to high moisture condition are susceptible for moisture penetration
that can result in generation and development of water trees. Water trees result in local stress
enhancement that can be converted to initiation of electrical trees. The electrical tree discharges

form a special case of internal discharge due to its characteristic that very unstable and the trees
may grow rapidly [9] and usually consists of many branches. Electrical tree normally produce
higher PD magnitude than in the case of PD from cavity. Furthermore, once this electrical tree
has been initiated, the fast complete breakdown of cable insulation may occur.

2.3 PARAMETERS ON WHICH PARTIAL DISCHARGE DEPENDS

The various parameters on which partial discharge depends are:

Supply voltage
Area of the void
Supply frequency
Upper threshold voltage of the Schmitt trigger
Lower threshold voltage of the Schmitt trigger.

2.4.1 Dependence on supply voltage - The partial discharge patterns are dependent on the
magnitude of the supply voltage. The greater the supply voltage more is the slope and early the
partial discharge occurs. And if the supply voltage is reduced the slope decreases and there is
some delay in partial discharge.

2.4.2 Dependence on the supply frequency- The partial discharge is also dependent on the supply
frequency. If we raise the supply frequency, the rate of change of the voltage becomes high and
the partial discharge occurs at lower voltage.

2.4.3 Dependence on the upper and lower threshold voltage- The partial discharge patterns are
also dependent on the upper threshold voltage and the lower threshold voltage (of the Schmitt
trigger used here). The PD patterns are mainly dependent on the difference of the upper and the
lower threshold voltage as the charge transfer is dependent on the difference: Q (VUT-VLT)
More is the difference between VUT and VLT more early the PD occurs. If we fix the VUT and

start increasing the VLT the PD starts at higher voltage and vice versa. Same case occurs when
we fix the VLT and start decreasing VUT.
2.4.4 Dependence on the Area of the void - The partial discharge patterns are heavily dependent
on the area of the void i.e. the void size. The relative permittivity of the void is nearly equal to 1,
as the void is mainly the air gaps present in the dielectric. If there is no void then the electric
field line would go straight without any deviation, and there will be no partial discharge.

Fig.2.5
When the void size is very small then deviation is observed in the patterns of the electric field
lines. Instead of going straight these lines bend towards the higher permittivity region as they
have the tendency to pass through the higher permittivity. The bent field lines gives rise to the
horizontal and the vertical component of the voltage. The vertical voltage is mainly responsible
for the breakdown. As the overall voltage is divided into horizontal and the vertical voltages, the
vertical component gets reduced and thus more amount of voltage is required for the inception of
the partial discharge.

Fig.2.6

Fig.2.7

When the void size is quite large, there is absence of horizontal component and the vertical
component is mainly present. So less amount of voltage (as compared to the previous case) is
required for the inception of partial discharge.

3. THE PARTIAL DISCHARGE EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT

If there are any partial discharges in a dielectric medium, these can be measured only across its
terminal. The show in figure a simple capacitor arrangement in which a gas filled void is present.
The partial discharge in the void will take place as the electric stress in the void is r times the
stress in the rest of the material where r the relative permittivity of the material is. Due to
geometry of the material various capacitances are formed as shown in figure. Flux lines starting
from electrode and terminating at the void will form one capacitance Cb1 and similarly Cb2
between electrode B and cavity. Cc is the cavity capacitance. Similarly Ca1 and Ca2 are the
capacitances of the healthy portion of the dielectric on the two sides of the void.

Ca=Ca1 +Ca2
And
Cb=Cb1Cb2 / (Cb1+Cb2)

Where,
Ca1 and Ca2 = The capacitances of the healthy portion of the dielectric on the two sides of the
void.
Cb1 and Cb2= Capacitor representing insulating material around cavity.
Cc = The cavity capacitance.

Fig. 3.1 Equivalent circuit

Closing of switch S is equivalent to simulating partial discharge in the void as the voltage Vc
across the void reaches breakdown voltage. The discharge results in a current ic. Suppose voltage
V is applied across the electrode A and B and the sample is charged to this voltage and source is

removed. The voltage Vc across the void is sufficient to breakdown the void. It is equivalent to
closing the switch S. as a result the current ic(t) flows which releases a charge,
qc = VcCc
This is dispersed in the dielectric material across the capacitance Cb and Ca. Here Vc is the
drop in voltage Vc as a result of discharge. The equivalent circuit during redistribution of charge
qc is shown in fig5.2.

Fig. 3.2 Equivalent of fig. 3.1

The voltage across AB

Ordinarily Vc is in kV whereas V is a few volts since the ratio Cb/Ca is of the order of 10-4
to 10-3. The voltage drop V even though can be measured but as Cb and Cc are normally
known neither Vc nor qc can be obtained. Also since V is in kV and V is in volts the ratio
V/V is very small= 10-3, therefore the detection of V/V is a tedious task. A coupling
capacitor should have low inductance. It holds up low level partial discharge at a particular
applied voltage for measurement of discharge magnitude when coupling capacitor is connected
in series with the measuring system. A higher level of partial discharge is measured when
coupling capacitor and measuring system is connected separately. This happens when measuring
system is connected in series with the test objet.