The Influence of the Partial Discharge Physical Processes Parameter on Partial Discharge Magnitude of Spherical Cavity

Abstract

This paper presents partial discharge (PD) modeling within a spherical cavity in solid insulation through the Finite Element Method (FEM) by using Ansys Maxwell. The model consists of an insulation material of 2 mm thickness and 5 mm radius which contain a spherical cavity with a diameter of 1.4 mm at the center. The model was used to study the influence of the PD physical processes parameter which are the PD inception field, PD extinction field, and statistical time lag due to electron generation rate on PD magnitude in terms of the PD's first discharge. The PD inception field was varied while other parameters are fixed to identify the influence on PD magnitude. The same method was implied on the PD extinction field and statistical time lag. Based on the results, the PD magnitude of the first discharge depends on the PD inception field and statistical time lag but it is slightly less dependent on the PD extinction voltage unless its value is higher than 1 kV/mm.