Nonstandard High Voltage Electric Insulation Models

T. Christen[1]
[1]ABB, Corporate Research, Zürich, Switzerland
Published in 2012

The design of modern electric insulation devices for medium and high voltage (HV) applications requires computational work that goes beyond solving just a Laplace equation for the electric potential, and limiting the electric field below critical values. Both field calculation and determination of breakdown limits are often challenges for the development of HV insulation systems. Two examples are discussed. First, it is shown how the field distribution is modeled and simulated if injected space charge dominates the electrical behavior, which occurs particularly in gas insulation with Corona discharge or in in HV direct current (HVDC) solid polymer insulation. Secondly, a recipe is provided for modeling and simulation of dielectric breakdown of gases via electric sparks in the form of streamers.