Study on the Discharge Characteristics along the Surface and Charge Movement Characteristics of Insulating Media in an Airflow Environment

Abstract

The gas–solid interface of high-voltage insulating equipment is a weaker part of insulating equipment insulation, and preventing the occurrence of discharge along the surface of insulating equipment is a critical problem for high-voltage insulation. This article investigates the discharge characteristics and charge movement characteristics of insulating media under an airflow environment. The surface discharge characteristics of the insulating medium in the airflow environment were obtained by using a high-velocity airflow test platform, and the surface discharge voltage characteristics, discharge path characteristics, and force conditions of the discharge process were analyzed. The surface charge motion characteristics of the insulating medium in the high-velocity airflow environment were also tested, and the distribution characteristics, dissipation characteristics and conduction mechanism of the surface charge of the insulating medium in the high-velocity airflow environment were revealed. The research results showed that: the discharge voltage along the insulating medium surface gradually increases with the increasing velocity of airflow; the discharge path along the surface of the insulating medium gradually shifts backward under the action of airflow; under the action of airflow, the charge on the insulating medium surface is blown away, thus reducing the charge concentration on the insulating medium surface; the trap level center of the insulating medium gradually decreases under the action of airflow, which provides the conditions for the charge blowing effect on the insulating medium surface. This investigation supplies the theory support for the protection of insulation equipment in an airflow environment and technical guidance for the insulation design of insulating equipment in an airflow environment to ensure the secure and steady running of insulating equipment in high-speed trains and high-voltage transmission lines.