Understanding the partial discharge activity generated due to particle movement in a composite insulation under AC voltages

The UHF signals are generated due to partial discharges formed by particle movement in Gas Insulated Switchgears (GISs). It is observed that the bandwidth of UHF signals generated due to partial discharges formed by particle movement in GIS is independent of operating pressure and the applied voltage. The levitation voltage of the particle sitting on the dielectric barrier is high compared to that of it on the ground electrode. When a particle is present in between the barrier and an electrode, at certain voltage level the movement of particle will be in pseudo resonance with the applied voltage frequency. When the particle is on the barrier, on application of voltage the particle moves to the center of the electrode axis causes discharges thereby radiating UHF signals, with its dominant frequency in the range of 3–4 GHz, which is much different from that of the UHF signal generated due to partial discharges formed by particle movement. When the particle moving between the high voltage electrode and the barrier, at some time its motion get collapses and the particle settles in the low field region away from the axis of the electrode and generates UHF signals having characteristics of UHF signals generated due to corona discharge.

► Levitation voltage is high with particle sitting on barrier insulation.
► Pseudo-resonance occur due to particle movement in GIS.
► Particle on the barrier radiates UHF signal with bandwidth 3–4 GHz.
► Particle on barrier insulation away from axis generate corona.