Degradation of Insulation in Switchgear (Why You Should Take It Seriously) - EEP
Degradation of Insulation in Switchgear (Why You Should Take It Seriously) - EEP
Degradation of Insulation in Switchgear (Why You Should Take It Seriously) - EEP
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DegradationofInsulationinSwitchgear(WhatsReally
Happening)
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DegradationofInsulationinSwitchgear(whyyoushouldtakeitseriously)photocredit:SchneiderElectric
PartialDischarge(PD)
Electricalinsulationissubjectedtoelectricalandmechanicalstress,elevatedtemperatureandtemperature
variations,andenvironmentalconditionsespeciallyforoutdoorapplications.Inadditiontonormaloperating
conditions,thereareahostofotherfactorsthatmaytriggeracceleratedagingordeteriorationofinsulation.
Switchingandlightningsurgescanstartionizationinanalreadystressedarea.Mechanicalstrikesduring
breakeroperationcancausemicrocracksandvoids.Excessivemoistureorchemicalcontaminationofthe
surfacecancausetracking.Anydefectsindesignandmanufacturingarealsoworthmentioning.
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Bothnormalandacceleratedagingofinsulationproducethesamephenomenonincommon
PartialDischarge(PD).
PartialdischargeactivityonMVcablesinsulation(photocredit:eatechnology.com)
PDisalocalizedelectricaldischargethatdoesnotcompletelybridgetheelectrodes.PDisaleadingindicatorof
aninsulationproblem.QuicklyacceleratingPDactivitycanresultinacompleteinsulationfailure.
PDmechanismcanbedifferentdependingonhowandwherethesparkingoccurs:
Voidsandcavitiesarefilledwithairinpoorlycastcurrenttransformers,voltagetransformersandepoxy
spacers.Sinceairhaslowerpermittivitythaninsulationmaterial,anenhancedelectricfieldforcesthe
voidstoflashover,causingPD.EnergydissipatedduringrepetitivePDwillcarbonizeandweakenthe
insulation.
ContaminantsormoistureontheinsulationinducetheelectricaltrackingorsurfacePD.Continuous
trackingwillgrowintoacompletesurfaceflashover.
CoronadischargefromsharpedgeofaHVconductorisanothertypeofPD.Itproducesozonethat
aggressivelyattacksinsulationandalsofacilitatesflashoverduringperiodsofovervoltage.
F eaturesofpartialdischargeactivity,suchasintensity,maximummagnitude,pulserate,longterm
trend,areimportantindicationsoftheinsulationscondition.
HealthyswitchgearhasverylittleornoPDactivity.IfPDactivityissignificant,itwilleventuallydeteriorate
insulationtoacompletefailure.Highervoltagesproducehigherintensitypartialdischarges,thusPDdetectionin
gearwithhighervoltages(13.8kVandup)ismorecritical.
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Partialdishargeonbusbars
Photosaboveshowdamagesresultingfrompartialdischargeactivity.Completefailureoftheinsulationinthese
examplescanbepreventedbypartialdischargemonitoring.
Possiblelocationsofpartialdischargeinswitchgear:
1.Mainbusinsulation
2.Circuitbreakerinsulation
3.Currenttransformers
4.Voltagetransformers
5.Cableterminations
6.Supportinsulators
7.Nonshieldedcablesincontactwithotherphasesorground
Usuallyininsulation,thedeteriorationprocessisrelativelyslowandtheproblemcanbedetected,locatedand
fixed.Learnmoreaboutmaintenancemanagementofswitchgear.
WhatisPartialDischarge?(VIDEO)
Cantseethisvideo?ClickheretowatchitonYoutube.
Reference:PredictiveDiagnosticsforSwitchgearEATON
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