The effect of relative humidity on the flashover strength of solid insulation

R. W. Macpherson; M. P. Wilson; I. V. Timoshkin; S. J. MacGregor; M. J. Given

doi:10.1109/PPPS34859.2019.9009915

The effect of relative humidity on the flashover strength of solid insulation

R. W. Macpherson, M. P. Wilson, I. V. Timoshkin, S. J. MacGregor, M. J. Given

Electronic And Electrical Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution book

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Abstract

This paper informs on the flashover strength of 3 materials: Delrin (Polyoxymethylene), HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and Ultem (Polyetherimide) with 'smooth' and 'knurled' surface finishes, in zero-grade air at -0.5, 0 and 0.5 bar gauge, and at <; 10%, ~50% and >90% relative humidity (RH). All tests were completed using a 10-stage Marx generator, producing HV impulses with a nominal 100/700 ns waveshape. Each test conformed with the ASTM D3426-97 standard of 'step up' testing, to find the average flashover voltage for each set of conditions. The electrode system with each dielectric material demonstrated a decrease in breakdown voltage as the RH was increased. In high humidity environments, the knurled surface finish was seen to have a positive effect on the flashover strength of Delrin and Ultem samples, compared to a smooth, machined surface. Increasing pressure yielded an increase in the flashover strength also. For samples with a smooth surface finish, a decrease in flashover strength was found as the permittivity of the material increased, irrespective of humidity and pressure. However, a knurled surface finish had a much more erratic effect on flashover strength, with no discernible trend with increasing material permittivity

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2019 IEEE Pulsed Power & Plasma Science (PPPS)
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	1-4
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9781538679692
ISBN (Print)	9781538679708
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PPPS34859.2019.9009915
Publication status	Published - 27 Feb 2020
Event	2019 IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science - Orlando, United States Duration: 23 Jun 2019 → 29 Jun 2019 https://ppps2019.github.io/

Publication series

Name	IEEE Pulsed Power Conference
Publisher	IEEE
ISSN (Print)	2158-4915
ISSN (Electronic)	2158-4923

Conference

Conference	2019 IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science
Abbreviated title	PPPS 2019
Country/Territory	United States
City	Orlando
Period	23/06/19 → 29/06/19
Internet address	https://ppps2019.github.io/

Keywords

flashover
dielectric
gas breakdown
air
humidity
humidity control
impulse breakdown
high voltage
flashover voltage
discharge voltage
electric discharges
insulation
insulation materials
insulation testing
insulation systems
pulsed power
pulsed power technology

Access to Document

10.1109/PPPS34859.2019.9009915

Macpherson-etal-IEEE-PPPS-2021-The-effect-of-relative-humidity-on-the-flashover-strength-of-solid-insulationAccepted author manuscript, 412 KB

Cite this

@inproceedings{85efad6ab5ef417383b6da87b6ebcda7,

title = "The effect of relative humidity on the flashover strength of solid insulation",

abstract = "This paper informs on the flashover strength of 3 materials: Delrin (Polyoxymethylene), HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and Ultem (Polyetherimide) with 'smooth' and 'knurled' surface finishes, in zero-grade air at -0.5, 0 and 0.5 bar gauge, and at <; 10%, ~50% and >90% relative humidity (RH). All tests were completed using a 10-stage Marx generator, producing HV impulses with a nominal 100/700 ns waveshape. Each test conformed with the ASTM D3426-97 standard of 'step up' testing, to find the average flashover voltage for each set of conditions. The electrode system with each dielectric material demonstrated a decrease in breakdown voltage as the RH was increased. In high humidity environments, the knurled surface finish was seen to have a positive effect on the flashover strength of Delrin and Ultem samples, compared to a smooth, machined surface. Increasing pressure yielded an increase in the flashover strength also. For samples with a smooth surface finish, a decrease in flashover strength was found as the permittivity of the material increased, irrespective of humidity and pressure. However, a knurled surface finish had a much more erratic effect on flashover strength, with no discernible trend with increasing material permittivity",

keywords = "flashover, dielectric, gas breakdown, air, humidity, humidity control, impulse breakdown, high voltage, flashover voltage, discharge voltage, electric discharges, insulation, insulation materials, insulation testing, insulation systems, pulsed power, pulsed power technology",

author = "Macpherson, {R. W.} and Wilson, {M. P.} and Timoshkin, {I. V.} and MacGregor, {S. J.} and Given, {M. J.}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting /republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.; 2019 IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science, PPPS 2019 ; Conference date: 23-06-2019 Through 29-06-2019",

year = "2020",

month = feb,

day = "27",

doi = "10.1109/PPPS34859.2019.9009915",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781538679708",

series = "IEEE Pulsed Power Conference",

publisher = "IEEE",

pages = "1--4",

booktitle = "2019 IEEE Pulsed Power & Plasma Science (PPPS)",

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Macpherson, RW , Wilson, MP , Timoshkin, IV , MacGregor, SJ & Given, MJ 2020, The effect of relative humidity on the flashover strength of solid insulation. in 2019 IEEE Pulsed Power & Plasma Science (PPPS). IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, IEEE, New York, pp. 1-4, 2019 IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science, Orlando, United States, 23/06/19. https://doi.org/10.1109/PPPS34859.2019.9009915

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T1 - The effect of relative humidity on the flashover strength of solid insulation

AU - Macpherson, R. W.

AU - Wilson, M. P.

AU - Timoshkin, I. V.

AU - MacGregor, S. J.

AU - Given, M. J.

N1 - © 2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting /republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.

PY - 2020/2/27

Y1 - 2020/2/27

N2 - This paper informs on the flashover strength of 3 materials: Delrin (Polyoxymethylene), HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and Ultem (Polyetherimide) with 'smooth' and 'knurled' surface finishes, in zero-grade air at -0.5, 0 and 0.5 bar gauge, and at <; 10%, ~50% and >90% relative humidity (RH). All tests were completed using a 10-stage Marx generator, producing HV impulses with a nominal 100/700 ns waveshape. Each test conformed with the ASTM D3426-97 standard of 'step up' testing, to find the average flashover voltage for each set of conditions. The electrode system with each dielectric material demonstrated a decrease in breakdown voltage as the RH was increased. In high humidity environments, the knurled surface finish was seen to have a positive effect on the flashover strength of Delrin and Ultem samples, compared to a smooth, machined surface. Increasing pressure yielded an increase in the flashover strength also. For samples with a smooth surface finish, a decrease in flashover strength was found as the permittivity of the material increased, irrespective of humidity and pressure. However, a knurled surface finish had a much more erratic effect on flashover strength, with no discernible trend with increasing material permittivity

AB - This paper informs on the flashover strength of 3 materials: Delrin (Polyoxymethylene), HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and Ultem (Polyetherimide) with 'smooth' and 'knurled' surface finishes, in zero-grade air at -0.5, 0 and 0.5 bar gauge, and at <; 10%, ~50% and >90% relative humidity (RH). All tests were completed using a 10-stage Marx generator, producing HV impulses with a nominal 100/700 ns waveshape. Each test conformed with the ASTM D3426-97 standard of 'step up' testing, to find the average flashover voltage for each set of conditions. The electrode system with each dielectric material demonstrated a decrease in breakdown voltage as the RH was increased. In high humidity environments, the knurled surface finish was seen to have a positive effect on the flashover strength of Delrin and Ultem samples, compared to a smooth, machined surface. Increasing pressure yielded an increase in the flashover strength also. For samples with a smooth surface finish, a decrease in flashover strength was found as the permittivity of the material increased, irrespective of humidity and pressure. However, a knurled surface finish had a much more erratic effect on flashover strength, with no discernible trend with increasing material permittivity

KW - flashover

KW - dielectric

KW - gas breakdown

KW - air

KW - humidity

KW - humidity control

KW - impulse breakdown

KW - high voltage

KW - flashover voltage

KW - discharge voltage

KW - electric discharges

KW - insulation

KW - insulation materials

KW - insulation testing

KW - insulation systems

KW - pulsed power

KW - pulsed power technology

UR - https://ppps2019.github.io/

U2 - 10.1109/PPPS34859.2019.9009915

DO - 10.1109/PPPS34859.2019.9009915

M3 - Conference contribution book

SN - 9781538679708

T3 - IEEE Pulsed Power Conference

SP - 1

EP - 4

BT - 2019 IEEE Pulsed Power & Plasma Science (PPPS)

PB - IEEE

CY - New York

T2 - 2019 IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science

Y2 - 23 June 2019 through 29 June 2019

ER -

The effect of relative humidity on the flashover strength of solid insulation

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