Numerical Simulation of Temperature and Pressure Changes due to Partial Discharges in Spherical Cavities Within Solid Dielectrics at Different Ageing Conditions

Abstract

Partial Discharges (PD) behavior during ageing of the insulation systems exhibits variations that depend on changes in gas filling characteristics and surface condition. In this article, numerical simulations of temperature and pressure behavior in an air-filled spherical cavity within a homogenous solid dielectric material due to PD activity are presented. An Analytical-Finite Element Analysis simulation approach was implemented in MATLAB and results exhibit reasonable agreement with experimental measurements reported by other authors. Simulation results allow concluding that pressure changes are directly related to variations in the PD behavior. In addition, affectations to cavity surface due to temperature increments can be discarded.