Toshiaki Rokunohe

Development of SF

This paper describes the fundamental insulation characteristics of environmentally friendly gases; dry air, N2 and N2 O2 mixed gas. Conventional gas insulated switchgear (GIS) generally uses SF6 as against over 72.5 kV class. We have proposed GIS with a vacuum circuit breaker against from 72.5 kV class to 170 kV class as SF6-free GIS. Because the insulation gas of this type of SF6 -free GIS has the hardly unnecessary current interception performance, the optimal insulation gas can be selected based on fundamental insulation performance. From the standpoints of insulation performance and economical efficiency, we selected compressed dry air as the optimal insulation gas for this type of SF6-free GIS. However, the dielectric strength of dry air is approximately one-third that of SF6 gas. Therefore, to achieve roughly the same size as conventional GIS, some strategies must be employed to enhance insulation performance. This paper investigates the influence of gas pressure and a gas/solid hybrid insulation structure. The insulation performance of the gas/solid hybrid insulation structure using an insulation coating was found to be better than that of a barrier. Moreover, the dielectric strength of particles adhering to a spacer under the compressed dry air was about 1.5 times higher than that under N2. Thus, the high insulation reliability of the gas/solid hybrid structure was high against particles was confirmed. In view of these investigative findings, this type of SF6-free 72.5 kV GIS which was designed and manufactured, was confirmed to comply with the IEC standard.

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In this paper, we aim to clarify the discharge mechanism leading to breakdown under non-uniform electric field in air, especially on the propagation process of discharge current channel. The discharge measurement was performed in a needle (φ1 mm)-plane electrode system with gap length g=15-100 mm in 0.1 MPa dry air under applying a positive impulse voltage. We observed discharge current waveform and fast-framing images of light emission with image intensifier controlled by a nanosecond pulse. We found out two types of breakdown mechanisms from streamer initiation to breakdown (BD); secondary streamer progress and leader progress. In addition, we investigated the transition region between both types of BD mechanism, focusing on the case of gap length (g=30 mm). Finally, we found that the secondary streamer propagation would dominate the formation process of the discharge channel and the mechanism leading to BD. Also, we found the criterion of impulse breakdown mechanism in air.

-Free 72.5 kV GIS

Discharge phenomena in a needle-plane electrode in air were studied with nano-second time resolution by means of synchronous measurement of streak image, light intensity, discharge current and fast-framing image. When positive impulse voltage was applied, a primary streamer initiated from the needle tip and propagated to the grounded plane electrode. A secondary streamer initiated after the primary streamer arrived at the plane electrode. There are close relations between the applied voltage, the primary and the secondary streamer current and the initiation time of the secondary streamer. The breakdown can start when the secondary streamer have arrived at the plane electrode. Moreover, the time to breakdown becomes shorter with the increase in the secondary streamer current.

Impulse breakdown mechanism based on discharge propagation process under non-uniform electric field in air

We discussed the development mechanism of the streamer channel leading to breakdown in a short air gap, by using an ultra-high speed measuring system. We clarified that the initiation of the secondary streamer leading to breakdown is attributed to an electron injection from the grounded plane electrode to the residual channel made by the primary streamer. In addition, by selective measurement of the discharge current waveform of single streamer channel leading to breakdown, the breakdown was verified to be dominated by the development of the secondary streamer and the subsequent Joule heating process focusing on the single streamer channel.

Positive streamer propagation and breakdown characteristics in non-uniform air gap

We have clarified that the primary and secondary streamers have a significant impact on breakdown mechanism in air. In this paper, we focused on the highly-conductive channel progress breakdown, and considered the initiation condition of highly-conductive channel from the viewpoint of the secondary streamer initiation. We revealed that the highly-conductive channel initiation voltage in the case with the grounded electrode covered by a dielectric barrier was higher than that without the barrier. We suggested that the electric field relaxation effect of the residual positive space charges formed by the primary streamer is greater than that by the secondary streamer. The highly-conductive channel is initiated from the region where the electric field relaxation is weak.

Streamer development mechanism under non-uniform electric field in air

A system has been developed for detecting and visualizing small amounts of oil leakage from a transformer. The system uses a method of detecting fluorescence emitted from oil when it is irradiated by black light. Image processing using the relationship between saturation and intensity in a hue-saturation-intensity color space is used to recognize the leaked oil. According to the saturation-intensity relationship, the intensity of a surface without oil adhesion linearly increases as saturation increases. The oil-adhered area on the surface showed higher intensity. An algorithm was constructed for automatically setting a threshold value line to recognize the oil. On the other hand, in order to recognize the specular reflection light noise, images obtained after black light irradiation from two directions were compared. The developed system using the algorithm can detect and visualize oil leakage from a transformer at an amount of less than 1 mL.

Influence of space charge by primary and secondary streamers on breakdown mechanism under non-uniform electric field in air

A calculation model for predicting the inception of partial discharge (PD) in a non-uniform air gap on the basis of theories of electron avalanche and streamer phenomena is proposed. “Partial discharge inception voltages” (PDIVs), under an assumed absolute humidity of less than 20g/cm3, calculated using the proposed model were compared with experimentally measured ones and found to be almost equivalent. Furthermore, the relationship between negative ions and humidity was incorporated into the calculation model, and it was confirmed that the calculated and measured PDIVs tend to be the roughly the same under a wide humidity range under various gap length between electrodes. The proposed partial-discharge inception model based on theories mentioned above was therefore judged to be effective for predicting changes in PDIV when humidity changes.

A system to detect small amounts of oil leakage with oil visualization for transformers using fluorescence recognition

To clarify the breakdown mechanism and the conditions leading to the breakdown under non-uniform electric field in air, we studied the details of breakdown characteristics and mechanism in air by using an ultra-high speed measurement system. We clarified that there were two types of breakdown mechanism in air. The one is the channel heating breakdown, and the other is the leader-type channel development breakdown. These breakdown mechanisms are dominated by three conditions: arrival of secondary streamer from high-voltage anode to opposite grounded cathode, channel heating, and leader-type channel initiation. We studied these conditions quantitatively, and revealed the conditions leading to the breakdown, and the breakdown mechanisms in air were classified. Finally, we clarified the factors, e.g. critical instantaneous power for the secondary streamer arrival, dominating these conditions based on the breakdown mechanism under non-uniform electric field in air.

Calculation model for predicting partial-discharge inception voltage in a non-uniform air gap while considering the effect of humidity

In Europe and the USA, the use of gas-filled bushings with hollow composite insulators has increased. Hollow composite insulators are superior in that they are light, explosion proof, and pollution resistant, and their economic efficiency is advantageous at larger classes especially. However, developing compact gas-filled bushings by improving electric field distribution is important. The main issue for making design more compact is finding a way to reduce electric field strength on the outside hollow composite insulator around the inside grounded electrode tip. A new-type inner grounded electrode structure which consists of ring-shaped electrode and cylindrical electrode is proposed. This paper describes the effect of reduction of maximum value of electric field strength on the outside hollow insulator by the new-type one. Finally, the insulation performance of the prototype of 800-kV gas-filled bushing is described with a discussion of the results of testing fundamental insulation and overvoltage.

Classification of impulse breakdown mechanisms under non-uniform electric field in air

Insulation design with discharge simulation based on physical phenomena is used in designing electrical instruments to facilitate their miniaturization and obtain high insulation reliability. We developed a model to calculate partial discharge inception in a non-uniform air gap by considering how environmental factors, especially humidity, affect insulation performance. We upgraded the calculation model that built in the distribution of negative ion density using the amount of moisture on the electrodes. As a result, we can estimate the discharge inception voltage with high accuracy. Additionally, we attempted to extend the simulator for three-dimensional creep analysis.