Retardation of electrical tree propagation by resin degradation

Abstract

SUMMARYIn order to improve insight into the effect of delaminations between the conductor and the groundwall insulation on the ageing of high voltage rotating machinery insulation, the influence of the polymer degradation on tree growth has been studied. Simultaneous partial discharge measurements and photograhic observations have been conducted in order to investigate the effect of the degradation of the resin on electrical tree propagation. The photographic observation indicates that the degradation of the resin retards the tree propagation after the tree having failed to penetrate a mica barrier. As the resin is degraded and in part rendered conducting, the partial discharges change both in magnitude and in terms of phase resolved partial discharge patterns. These partial discharge measurements are promising to improve insight into the processes involved in winding insulation ageing, when photographic observations are unattainable. Moreover the differences found between various resins offer an explanation why various types of winding insulation have been found to differ in their capability to withstand thermal cyclic ageing.