MEK 10303

Hi h Voltage
High
V lt
Engineering
E i
i
Breakdown in Liquids
Liquids

Dr Rie

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Breakdown in Solids and Liquids:

q
Introduction

Practical insulation structures usually consist of

combination of solid and liquids
q
and / or g
gaseous
dielectrics.
As we learnt from the breakdown of gaseous
mechanisms, formation electron of avalanches is
responsible for a rapid growth of current associated
with
ith the electrical failure
fail re of gaseous
gaseo s media
media.
But this not fully applied in the case for the liquid and
solid insulations.

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Breakdown in Solids and Liquids:

q
Introduction

Numerous investigator have studied the breakdown

of liquid
q
and solid dielectrics for decades.
But the findings and theories postulated by such
investigators cannot be reconciled to produce
acceptable general theories explaining breakdown
mechanisms in liquid or solid media.
The state of knowledge in this area is still very crude
and inconclusive.
inconclusive

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Part 1

**Breakdown / Failure in Liquid Dielectrics**

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Liquid Dielectrics: Introduction

Liquid dielectrics,
dielectrics particularly hydrocarbon oils
oils, are used
in insulating media in high voltage equipment (e.g. oil
immersed transformer, oil circuit breaker, power
capacitor
it / resistor
i t / inductor
i d t etc.)
t )
In comparing with the gaseous dielectrics,
dielectrics liquid
dielectrics have higher densities (more volume).
IIn comparing
i with
i h the
h solid
lid dielectrics,
di l
i
li id dielectric
liquid
di l
i fill
the space to be insulate more easily (maximum space
usage).
g )
Moreover, liquids are better coolants and have self-arc
quenching capabilities should an arc be set up in them
(therefore have higher Vb level than that of air).
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Oil as the Choice of Dielectric Material in

P
Power
T
Transformers
f

Oil immersed transformer

Transformer oils

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Oil as the Choice of Dielectric Material in

P
Power
T
Transformers
f

Outdoor type oil filled circuit

breaker

Indoor type oil filled circuit

breaker
7

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Oil as the Choice of Dielectric Material in

P
Power
C
Cables
bl

Oil filled power cables

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Oil as the Choice of Dielectric Material in Power Cables

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Oil as the Choice of Dielectric Material in

C
Capacitors
it

Oil filled capacitors

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Problem with Liquid Dielectrics

In application, liquid insulators are used less frequently
than either gases and solids, hence their insulating
potentials remain under exploited.
exploited
There is less significant
g
activity
y in liquid
q
than solids. This
is largely because early studies allowed reasonable
models of behaviour to be established, and there is lot
less competition in material development and
engineering.
O
One off active
ti interest
i t
t att presentt is
i the
th replacement
l
t off
mineral oils in transformers with vegetables oils, to
reduce environmental impact.
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Problem with Liquid Dielectrics

Solids range from crystalline materials to semi
semi-crystalline
crystalline
polymer blends with in-organics fillers, and thus very
complicated, but give a great deal of versatility.
Liquids on the other hand are on a molecular scale more
dynamic but typically more homogenous (uniform in
dynamic,
composition)
Perhaps of this molecular freedom, experiment results
from liquids are more diverse (varies) and often their
b h i
behaviour
iis harder
h d to
t predict.
di t
It is also harder to keep liquid clean and free from
moisture.
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Conduction Process Lead to Failure in

Li id Dielectrics
Liquid
Di l t i
Can be categorised as:

A. Process seen in liquids

B. Movement of oils and
particulates contamination
C. Cavity formation
D. Chemical reaction
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

A) Conduction Process Seen in Liquids

Conduction in liquids is largely by ions. High field
conduction maybe through electrons injected from the
cathode, and thus avalanches mechanism are proposed
around this.
Dissociation of molecular species to form charged ions
may also
l play
l a part.
t
However
However, in commercial application it is not generally
held that such mechanisms applies since the field
required are well above observed critical field values.
Unlike solid, particulate defects can enter at liquid at any
time. This might
g be metallic p
particles,, carbonised
materials from discharges or degraded insulation, and
maybe, most importantly, water molecules.
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

B)

Conduction due to Movement of Oil and

Particulate
P ti l t Contaminant
C t i
t

Can be categorised into five mechanisms

i.

Dielectrophoresis

ii. Forced and Natural Convection

iii Thermal convection
iii.
iv Electroconvection
iv.
v. Static
St ti electricfication
l t i fi ti
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

i. Dielectrophoresis in Liquids
Dielectrophoresis (force is exerted on dielectric particle
when it is subjected
j
to a non-uniform field)) can lead to
collection of metallic (high permittivity) particles at high
stress regions.
This resulting in enhanced fields and localised
discharges thereby leading ultimately to insulation
fail re
failure.
Such mechanisms can also lead to forced coalescence
(combination/grouping) between droplets of water in oils
(thereby forming large drops from number of smaller
ones)
ones).
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

ii. Forced and Natural Convection

Forced and natural convection (movement / flow nature)
have the benefit of keeping a liquid cool.
However, this has disadvantage (new mechanism)
whereby defects can be moved from the benign region
(i b
(i.e.
bottom
tt
off transformer
t
f
tank)
t k) to
t one off high
hi h fifield
ld area.
Such mechanisms can also lead to conduction in liquid
dielectric due to the present of metallic / high permittivity
defects.
This may cause further damage through partial
di h
discharge
and
dh
hence material
i l degradation.
d
d i
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

iii. Thermal Convection

Conductivity in a medium (including liquid dielectric) will
create Joule heating.
Thi
This heating
h ti could
ld gives
i
rise
i to
t an increase
i
conductivity,
d ti it
which then possibly lead to the present of thermal runaway.
In addition, dielectric heating may have an adding impact to
the temperature rise. This mechanism needs no change to
the physical size / volume of the sample.
sample
Prolonged
g heating
g /ageing
g g at elevated temperature would
lead to chemical ageing of the liquid dielectric (e.g.
transformer oil) and also cause damage to the insulation as
well as material degradation.
g
Transformer is considered as in a cooked condition.

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

iv. Electroconvection in Liquid

In electroconvection process, space charge generated
in the liquid is subject to mechanical forces from the
applied electric field.
Thi
This produces
d
movementt in
i th
the oil,
il and
d iis a
mechanism for space charge movement and particles
defect mobility.
mobility
g through
g p
partial
This also mayy cause further damage
discharge and hence material degradation.

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

v. Static Electrification in Liquids

Static electrification (electrostatic charge) may occurs when
liquid dielectric are moving across a surface of material.
Usually occurs for oils or water cooled systems.
Water benefit of being able to dissipate charges by ionic
conduction, whereas ions tends to have a longer life in oils.
When oils is force to a metallic structures (e.g. from
windings, cores, enclosures etc.), molecule picks up
positive and negative charge.
charge
The oils deposits negative charges on solid insulation
surfaces retaining the positive charge
surfaces,
charge.
This will creates fields within windings which can lead to
a u e Thus
us tthe
e co
correct
ect cchoice
o ce o
of o
oils
sa
and
d flow
o co
conditions
d t o s is
s
failure.
essential in transformer design.
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

C) Conduction due to Cavity Formation

Because of viscous nature of liquids, mechanical
perturbations (e.g. flow changes) may lead to
bubbles (cavities) being formed.
formed
The cavities may likely formed/trapped during
services (maintenance work
work, when manufactured)
manufactured),
evolution of gasses through discharges at the
electrodes surface or ionisation decomposition in
the bulk
bulk.
Rapid
p changes
g in temperature
p
and p
pressure might
g
also lead to cavities. These will lead to growth of the
voids (large empty spaces) and increase the
g intensity,
y, and failure mayy follow.
discharge
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

D)

Conduction due to Chemical Reaction

Local partial discharges permeated (spread) in liquids may create high

permittivity chemical compounds,
compounds in which will increase / lead to the
breakdown process.

For instance, the insulated compound in the oil molecules is

chemically changed into more carbonise molecules (i.e. conduction)
due to discharges. Alteration in the liquid colour is the easiest
i di ti off confirming
indication
fi i chemical-changed
h i l h
d situation.
it ti

Thus,, chemical analysis

y
of transformer and cable oils can be used to
indentify if discharges are taking place.

If this seen to be the case

case, the greatest strength of liquids come into
play, as the oils now may need to be replaced with a new one. This is
a maintenance standard procedure in a cable and or transformer.

Clearly if the oil which impregnates pressboard or paper is not

replaced, so damage in this material will often lead to failure.

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems Module 1

Note References

Subir Ray, An Introduction to High Voltage Engineering,

Prentice Hall India
India, 2004

Haddad & Warne, Advance in High Voltage Engineering, IET

Power and Energy Series, 2004

S.M.Rowland,
S
M Rowland Breakdown in Gaseous
Gaseous, Solid and Liquid
Dielectrics, MSc. Lecture Note, The University of Manchester,
2006

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