J Fmnklin lnst Vol 335B. No. 4. “D. 617-621.

1998

Pergamon PII: S0016-0032(96)0014@-8

- 0016-0032:98 $19.001000

Thermal Breakdown in Solid Dielectrics: A New

hy M.G. DANIKAS andG. ~APASCHIN~~~LJLOS

Depurtment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electric Energy Systems

Laboratory, Democrititus University qf’Thruce, 67100 Xunthi, Greece

(Received in$nul form 4 November 1996; uccepted 20 December 1996)

ABSTRACT : This reseurch note deals lrith u new approach to the solution cf the general equation
fkw thermal breukdown in solid dielectrics. Although the solution is subjected to some limitations, it
off&s the critical temperature at which the insulution properties are lost. $3 1997 The Franklin
Institute. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Introduction

Thermal breakdown in a solid dielectric occurs when its rate of heating exceeds the
rate of cooling (1). Thermal breakdown differs from purely electronic breakdown in
that the latter cannot be explained as being due to processes that are not in evidence
until very close to breakdown. O’Dwyer (2) classified as thermal breakdown the process
which can adequately be explained using reasonable extrapolations of the electrical
and thermal conductivities from values obtained substantially below breakdown.
Others, such as Watson (3), proposed that it is rather difficult to distinguish between
thermal and electronic breakdown at high temperatures since the equation giving the
variation of the thermal breakdown field with temperature, log E = constant + b/2T
(where E is the breakdown field, T is the absolute temperature and b is a constant), is
similar to that giving the variation of the breakdown field according to the electronic
theory (4), log E = constant + A V/K T (where E is the breakdown field, T is the absolute
temperature, K is Boltzman’s constant and A V is the spread in electron traps just below
the conduction band).
Since the basic energy balance equation is known, it is the purpose of the present
research note to give another approach to its solution for thermal breakdown.

The Basic Equation for Thermal Breakdown

Referring to Fig. I and by taking into account that the heat flow is in the x direction,

617
618 M. G. Danikas and G. Papaschinopoulos

dT
-Ax-

Direction
heat flow

FIG. I. Heat input and output, cubical specimen (from Ref. (1)).

we have that

heat flow across face (I) = KA g

where K is the thermal conductivity,

?
heat flow across face (2) = KA g + KA g & Ax.
0

Since the second term above represents the heat input into the block, we have that

= div( Kgrad T)

and consequently the energy balance equation is

C,.g -div(KgradT) = aE2

where C,. is the thermal capacity of the dielectric and 0 is the electrical conductivity (1,
4,5). Normally, solutions to Eq. (3) are given by assuming either that the heat lost to the
surroundings is neglected (in which case div(KgradT) = 0), or that the heat generated in
the dielectric is carried away to its surroundings through the electrodes (in which case
CJTjc3T = 0) (1, 4, 5).
In this research note we given an analytical solution of Eq. (1) by assuming C,. and
K to be independent of temperature. The electrical conductivity G may be dependent
on the electrical field E but not on temperature. Although our solution is also subjected
to limitations, we think we offer a more general solution than those obtained in Refs
(1,4,5).

Solution of Eq. (I)

Equation (1) can be written in the following form

T,-UT,, =f(x,t),O<x<!, t>O (2)

 Thermal Breakdowm in Solid Dielectrics 619

where

a = F ,f(,xt) = g, T, = g and T,, = gradT

L L
T(O,t) = 0, T(IY,t) = g(t), t > 0 (3)
T(x,O) = h(x), 0 < .Y < r. (4)
Then the solution T(x,t) (see Appendix A) is given by the formula

T&t) = ;q(t)+ F L,(t)@,(x) (5)

,I= I

where

@,,(.u) =
J2
7 sin 7 , L,,(t) = ep”“J(L,(0)) +
s0
’G,(s)eUJ’,~gds),

l+(O) = ’z(x)@,(x) d.u, z(x) = h(x) - f .xc~(O),G,(s) = ’(,f‘(x, t) - f q,)@,,(x) dx (6)

s 0

Conclusions

In this research note an analytical solution of the basic equation for thermal break-
down is given. The solution, although subjected to certain limitations, gives the critical
temperature at which the insulation properties are lost.

Rt?fevences

(1) Kuffel, E. and Zaengl, W. S., High Voltage Engineering Fundamentals. Pergamon Press.
Oxford, 1984.
(2) J. I. O’Dwyer, “Breakdown in solid dielectrics”, IEEE Transactions Electrical Insulation,
Vol. El-17, pp. 484487, 1982.
(3) D. B. Watson, “Dielectric breakdown in perspex”, IEEE Transactions Electrical Insulation.
Vol. EI-8, pp. 73-75, 1973.
(4) Cooper, R., Breakdown in solids. In Electrical Insulation, ed. A. Bradwell. Peter Pregrinus
Ltd, London, 1983.
(5) Kahle, M., Elektrische Isoliertechnik. VEB Verlag, Berlin, 1988.
(6) Sneddon, 1. N., The Use qf’integral Transforms. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, 1979.

Appendix A

Prooj To solve our problem we must define the functions u(x,t) and w(.u,t), such that (6)
u&t) = T(x,t) + w(.x,t) (AlI
620 M. G. Danikas and G. Pupaschinopoulos

and

u(O,t) = u(CJ) = 0. V4
Then from Eqs (2) and (Al) we take

lf, - au,V, = ,f‘(x,t) - )V,+ UN’,, (A3)

From Eqs (3) (Al) and (A2) we get

T(O,t) = u(O,t) - r~(O,t) = 0 from which ~.(0,f) = 0 (A4)

T(/,t) = u(P,r) - n(P,t) = g(r) or ~(/,t) = -g(t). (A5)

We take

M’(XJ) = .uH(t) (A6)

Then from Eq. (A6) it is obvious that Eq. (A4) holds. We set in Eq. (A6) x = P. So we take

PV(!J) = /H(t). (A7)

Equations (A5) and (A6) imply that

/N(t) = -g(t) from which H(I) = - :g(t). (AS)

Therefore from Eqs (A6) and (A8)

M’(.Y,f)= - f q(t). (A9)

Using Eqs (A3), (A4) and (A9) we take the problem

ll, - au,, = F(x,t), F(x,r) = f’(x,t) - N’, (AlO)

u(O,t) = u(i,t) = 0, u(x,O) = h(x)- fsg(0) = Z(X). (Al 1)

We can easily prove that the functions

(A12)

consist of an orthonormal system in [O,d] that is

(%,,@,J =
s’@,,(W,,,C4d-\-=
I,

Since now the function u(.u,t) is twice differentiable

0
1
nfm
n= m’ (A13)

such that u(O,r) = u(/,t) = 0 then there

exist functions L,(t) such that

U(X,f) = 5
,z= I
-L(f)Q,,(.+ (A14)

From Eqs (A13) and (A14) it is obvious that

(Al5)
 Thermal Breakdown in Solid Dielectrics 621

from which we take

I

L’(t) = u,(x,t)@,,(x)d.Y. (A161

i”
Equations (A16) and (AlO) imply that

L,,‘(t) = a
I‘E’(.r,t)@,,(x)dx
0
(A17)

/s
0
We have

u,,(s,t)@,,(x) dx = u,(.u,t)@,,(x)l;+ u,(x,t)@,,‘(s) dx

= -u(.~-,t)~,,‘(s)~~+ ’u(u,t)@,,“(_x)d.u. (Al 8)

s0
Using Eq. (Al2) we get

@,,“(-y)
= - P,,Q,,(.U) (Al9)
where AL,,is defined in Eq. (6). So Eqs (Al5). (Al8) and (A19 imply that

sI

0
4,C~,W,,(-Y)= -

Using Eqs (A 17) and (A20) we take

I’ 0
= -/&L,,(t).
u(.Y,t)p,7@,~(.u) WO)

-L’(t) + w,lL~) + c,,(t), c,,(t) = F(s,t)@,,(x) dx. (A2l)

Then the differential equation defined in Eq. (A21) is linear and so the function L,,(t) satisfies
the second relation in Eq. (6).
Moreover from Eqs (A I 1) and (A 15) we have that L,,(O) satisfies the third relation of Eq. (6).
Hence, the solution u(.u.t) of Eqs (AIO) and (Al I) is given by Eq. (A14) where LJt),@,z(.x) are
defined in Eq. (6). Finally, from Eqs (Al) and (A9), we take Eq. (5). This completes the proof.
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