NANOTECHNOLOGY IN HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

Nanotechnology
 NANOTECHNOLOGY IN HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

CONTENTS

SL NO. TITLE PGNO.

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. NANOTECHNOLOGY
4

3. INSULATION
5

4. HVAC 6

5. CORONA RINGS 7

6. REFERENCES 8

2
 NANOTECHNOLOGY IN HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

I. INTRODUCTION

The term high voltage usually means electrical energy at voltages high enough to inflict harm
on living organisms. The transmission of large amount of electric power over great distance at low
voltage is virtually impossible because of losses involved. Equipment and conductors that carry
high voltage warrant particular safety requirements and procedures. In certain industries, high
voltage means voltage above a particular threshold . High voltage is used in electrical power
distribution, in cathode ray tubes, to generate X-rays and particle beams, to demonstrate arcing,
for ignition, in photomultiplier tubes, and in high power amplifier vacuum tubes and other
industrial, military and scientific applications.

The numerical definition of "high voltage" depends on context. Two factors considered in
classifying a voltage as "high voltage" are the possibility of causing a spark in air, and the danger
of electric shock by contact or proximity. The definitions may refer to the voltage between two
conductors of a system, or between any conductor and ground.

In electric power transmission engineering, high voltage is usually considered any voltage
over approximately 35,000 volts. This is a classification based on the design of apparatus and
insulation. As the voltages and powers to be transmitted over the past hundred years the basic
dielectrics greatly improved following extensive research by industry and in specialized high
voltage laboratories where much of this work continues. Corona discharge is an electrical
discharge brought on by the ionization of fluid such as air surrounding a conductor that is
electrically charged. Spontaneous corona discharge occur naturally in high voltage system unless
care is taken to limit the electric field strength.

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 NANOTECHNOLOGY IN HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

II. NANOTECHNOLOGY

During the last 20 years, the search for new applications for nanotechnology has become one
of the busiest in science, engineering, and manufacturing. New nanotechnology-based materials
with superior properties have been developed and are already used in many everyday products and
processes. The application of nanotechnology to high-voltage engineering has been mainly
oriented towards the development and characterization of the so-called nanodielectric materials
.In 1994, Lewis suggested that "a major field of study in the future development of dielectrics will
concern their properties when relatively few molecules are involved. Such smallness arises
naturally at interfaces of nanometric thickness and will occur also when dielectrics are employed
in the Nano-technical devices of the future." The physical phenomena that govern the behavior of
materials at sub-microscopical scale are outlined in this publication. The term "nanodielectric" was
introduced by Fréchet who defined nanodielectrics as "multicomponent dielectrics possessing
nanostructures, the presence of which results in the change of one or several of its dielectric
properties".

In the electrical power industry one of the first applications of nanotechnology led to a new
corona resistance enamel wire for inverter fed motors. In 2006 a research program had been started
to improve the electrical properties of high voltage insulation systems for turbine and hydro
generators. The erosion and treeing behavior of high voltage generator insulation systems loaded
with inorganic particles with the scale of some ten to fifty Nano-meters had been studied. The
outcome of this fundamental research work is a new, more efficient Nano particle based ground
wall insulation for large generators with a combination of improvements in electrical, mechanical
and thermal characteristics.

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III. INSULATION

Traditionally cross-linked polyethylene(XLPE) is used for insulation. But the cross linking
process results in ageing of insulation, also it is very difficult to recycle and reuse the insulating
waste. Compared with polyethylene, polypropylene has relatively high melting point which can
meet the demand of cables. To meet the electrical, thermal and mechanical requirements
nanoparticles can be used. As nanoparticles have excellent performance in improving the
properties of polymer materials because of their quantum size effect and large specific surface
area.

The fundamental investigation on nanocomposites performed in several laboratories

worldwide came to the result that important insulation system characteristics like partial discharge
resistivity, electrical erosion structure, treeing process and the mechanical and thermal properties
could be improved significantly by using specially treated inorganic Nano sized components like
spherical SiO2 particles .

To check whether these insulation system improvements by using nanocomposites could also
upgrade the performance of the well approved epoxy-mica ground wall insulation of stator winding
coils, further research work is needed which has to be focused on the original generator insulation
system. Therefore different stator winding bars with the new inorganic SiO2 nanocomposite as
part of the established taped epoxy-mica system were fabricated and tested.

Fig 1. Breakdown strength of insulators

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IV. HVAC

Insulating HVAC systems is paramount to reducing building energy consumption and related
greenhouse gas emissions. For years we have been trained to think that you need thickness in order
to insulate. However, just as cell phones and computers have shrunk and yet become more
powerful over the years, so has insulation.

The newest form of insulation incorporates a nanomaterial with very low thermal conductivity
into a clear, water-based acrylic latex to provide a thin film coating that can be painted onto a
variety of substrates, such as ductwork, piping and boilers, to insulate effectively and consistently.

One benefit that a thin film thermal barrier provides is the ability to resist infiltration from
moisture, dirt, dust and other contaminates that typically cause degradation of fibrous insulations
like fibreglass or rock wool. By using a nanotechnology-based coating for the insulation of critical
HVAC system parts, overall replacement and maintenance costs can be reduced and the ability to
insulate outdoor and rooftop equipment without the issues that come with rain, snow and other
weather exposure is provided.

Thermal insulation and protective nanocoating have been shown to reduce energy costs by
between 10 and 40 percent, depending upon the application, with a consistent insulation value
throughout the five- to 10-year lifespan.

Fig 2. HVAC transmission

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V. CORONA RINGS

Corona rings is a circular conductive material, usually metal, which is attached to a terminal
of high voltage equipment. The function of the corona ring is to distribute the electric field gradient
and lower its maximum values below the corona threshold and thus preventing corona discharge.

Corona rings are used on very high voltage power transmission insulators and switchgear. It
is a toroid of conductive material usually metal which is attached to a terminal or high voltage
equipment. Corona rings are made up of Aluminium metal. Nanotechnology components used for
corona coating such as Sliver Nitrate(AgNO3). It is non hygroscopic and relatively sable to light.
Even Sodium Borohydride (NaBH4) is used for coating corona rings. Well designed corona rings
will significantly increases the life span of the insulator, reducing the degradation caused by the
uneven voltage and e-distribution.

Deposition of Nano-particles on the surface increases the electric field distribution on the
corona ring surface resulting in reduced corona discharge and reduced power losses. Hence
increasing surface area, the voltage stress per mm can be decreased which in turn will reduce the
corona discharge.

Fig 3. Corona rings

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VI. REFERENCES

1. Fukawa M, Kawai T, Okano Y, et al. Development of 500kV XLPE cables and accessories
for long distance underground transmission line. III. Electrical properties of 500kV cables.
IEEE transactions on Power Delivery.
2. Nanotechnology in high voltage insulation systems for large electrical machinery-First
results.
3. A review of Polypropylene and polypropylene/ Inorganic nanocomposites for HVDC cable
insulation.
4. Nanocomposite for space charge suppression in HVDC cable Accessory.

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