Discharge characteristics in inhomogeneous fields under air flow

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of high velocity air flow on Partial Discharge (PD) patterns generated in strongly inhomogeneous fields. In the laboratory, a needle plane electrode configuration was exposed to a high electrical DC-field and a laminar air flow up to 22 m/s. The needle was connected to a variable DC potential of up to 100 kV over a grounded plate in order to trigger different corona modes. The impact of the air flow on the space charges created in the vicinity of the electrode is evaluated by means of PD measurements in time domain. The results indicate that the wind increases the frequency and magnitude of partial discharges in the vicinity of the electrode due to an increased rate of space charge removal around the tip of the needle and in the gap. The positive polarity shows higher dependency on air flow compared to the negative polarity. It is shown that positive breakdown streamer corona can be extinguished if wind speeds of more than 14.3 m/s are applied to the electrode.