Modeling of the transient electric field in multilayer dielectric composites under impulsive HV energization

This article presents the theoretical analysis of composite electrical insulation, formed from layered dielectric materials and subjected to impulsive energization. The 1-D planar and cylindrical geometries were considered, consisting of an arbitrary number of layers with arbitrary relative permittivity and electrical conductivity. Analytical solutions have been successfully derived for the time-dependent electric field inside the i th layer. To demonstrate the usage of the model under complex multilayer topologies where analytical solutions are nontrivial, the characteristics of a 20-layer-graded composite under microsecond and sub-microsecond impulses were analyzed and validated against a finite-element (FE) solver. Results indicate that the transient electric field response under impulsive energization is strongly dependent on the interplay between the composite relaxation time constants and the characteristic timescales associated with the applied impulse. The model is a further development for the design and coordination of functionally graded materials (FGMs) and composite insulation for high-voltage (HV) system design. This is particularly relevant under fast-rising impulsive conditions as often encountered in many pulsed power applications.