IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 27, No.

4; August 2020 1363

Characteristics of AC PDs on Epoxy Insulation Surface

Excited by different Impulse Voltages in SF6 Gas
Cong He, Minxia Shi, Ruochen Guo, Xuanrui Zhang and Junhao Li
State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment
Xi’an Jiaotong University
Xi’an, 710049, China

ABSTRACT
In this paper the behavior of partial discharges (PDs) on epoxy insulation under AC
and impulse superimposed voltages are experimentally investigated in SF6 gas. The
lightning impulse (LI) and the switching impulse (SI) voltages with different polarity
are superimposed on different phases of the AC voltage. PDs are measured by three
sensors, a 50 Ω measurement impedance, an ultra-high frequency sensor and a
photomultiplier tube. The max PD amplitude, PD pulse number and PD duration
under AC voltage after an impulse voltage are summarized and analyzed. The effect of
the impulse superposition phase, the impulse type and the impulse polarity on the
characteristics of AC PDs are discussed. Results show that after a positive impulse
voltage was applied on the positive semi-wave of AC voltage (0 to 180°), PDs in the
negative half cycle of the AC voltage can be remarkably excited. A negative impulse
voltage was applied on the negative semi-wave (180 to 360°), AC PDs can be initiated in
the positive half cycle of AC voltage. PDs excited by a LI voltage is severe than excited
by a SI. PDs excited by a positive impulse is intense than excited by a negative impulse.
Index Terms — partial discharges (PDs), epoxy insulation, SF6 gas-insulated
apparatuses, AC and transient impulse superimposed voltage

1 INTRODUCTION PD occurrence and crack configuration on GIS insulator [13].

HIGH voltage electrical equipment failure caused by
surface defect of epoxy insulator can often seriously threaten
the safe operation of gas insulated switchgear (GIS) [1, 2].
Practical operating experience indicates that faults caused by
insulator defects account for quite a large proportion of GIS
faults [3, 4]. Therefore, insulator defect detection and
insulation characteristics research will be significant to assure
safe operation of GIS.
PDs measurement and analysis can effectively detect the
insulation defects of electrical equipment, and then evaluate
the insulation performance [5-10]. PDs on the epoxy insulator
surface will cause unexpected failure, which is a key problem
for GIS. In the past few decades, PDs on the epoxy insulation
surface has been studied extensively. Lots of achievements
and experience were obtained. For example, the developing
process of surface discharges initiated by immobilized
metallic particles attached to insulators was studied [4].
Pattern identification of surface flashover induced by discrete
water droplets on polymer insulator surface was investigated
[11]. Surface discharge over SF6/epoxy was studied under
impulse voltage [12]. The relationships were obtained between
Manuscript received on 30 March 2020, in final form 8 May 2020,
accepted 8 Mary 2020. Corresponding author: J. Li.
Based on Pockels electro-optic effect, the surface discharge on
polymeric insulating materials has been investigated under
HVAC [14]. Charge accumulation in the small gap at the
electrode/epoxy interface in SF6 gas was discussed [15].
These investigations have mostly focused on a single type of
voltage, i.e. AC voltage or impulse voltage was applied alone.
However, in an UHV GIS system, a transient impulse voltage
(lightning or switching impulse) is typically superimposed on
the AC operating voltage [16–18]. In this case, the insulation
will be stressed by two different voltages at the same time and
can potentially worsen the threat. Based on this, some scholars
have conducted experimental research on the partial discharge
and the insulation characteristics of electrical equipment under
AC and impulse superimposed voltages. For example, PD
characteristics for the free particle defect and the floating
potential defect were studied under AC and switching impulse
superimposed voltage in SF6 gas [18]. The breakdown
characteristics for the superimposed voltage of the main
insulation defects of GIS were studied [19]. The
characteristics of PD for artificial defects in a MV XLPE cable
joint under superimposed impulse transients were investigated
[20].
To date, PDs of the epoxy insulation under AC and transient
impulse superimposed voltage have not been well studied in

DOI: 10.1109/TDEI.2020.008983

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1364 C. He et al.: Characteristics of AC PDs on Epoxy Insulation Surface Excited by different Impulse Voltages in SF6 Gas

SF6 gas. This work is focused towards investigate the Superimposed

AC
voltage
behaviors of PDs on the epoxy insulation surface under AC Impulse
R=1 MΩ
and impulse (LI and SI) superimposed voltages in SF6 gas.
The excitation characteristics of the AC PDs after an impulse
Specimen Divider 2
voltage are obtained. The effect of the superposition phase, the Gas PMT
(1000 : 1)
Divider 1 UHF
impulse type and the impulse voltage polarity on PD (1000 : 1)
discharge
tube sensor
excitation characteristics are discussed.
Coaxial
measurement
cable impedance
Oscilloscope
2 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND

5 0Ω
1N5338
PROCEDURE
amplifier-filter Phase - shift
2.1 PD MEASUREMENT SYSTEM Attenuator
Trigger

The schematic diagram of the PD measurement system is

shown in Figure 1. A 50 Ω measurement impedance, an ultra- Figure 1. Schematic diagram of PD measurement system.
high frequency (UHF) sensor and a photomultiplier tube
(PMT) are used to measure PDs in this study. Multiple
physical phenomena will occur in the PD process
simultaneously. Different sensors are used to detect partial
discharges in this study. On the one hand, in order to obtain
the changes of various physical phenomena during the PD, on
the other hand, the same discharge phenomenon is detected by (a) (b) (c)
different sensors to ensure the reliability of the measurement Figure 2. PD measurement sensors; (a) measurement impedance, (b) UHF
results. The PD measurement sensors is shown in Figure 2. sensor, (c) PMT.
The typical PD signals detected by PD detection sensors are
shown in Figure 3. The 50 Ω measurement impendence was 8 20 10
Current(mA)

Optical (mV)
designed with a bandwidth up to 500 MHz. The inductance 6

UHF(mV)
10 5
4
value of the 50 Ω measurement impendence is 0.32 μH. The 2
0 0
bandwidth of the UHF sensor is 300-2000 MHz. The 0 -10 5
-2 -20
sensitivity curve of the UHF sensor is shown in Figure 4a. An 0 30 60 90 120 0 10 20 30 40 -100
20 40 60 80 100
amplifier-filter is used in the UHF system to suppress the Time(ns) Time(ns) Time(ns)
interference of communication signals such as mobile phones. (a) (b) (c)
The filter is a bandstop filter with stopbands centered of 900 Figure 3. Typical PD signals detected by measurement sensors; (a) current
MHz, and with restraining bandwidth of 200 MHz. Since the signal, (b) UHF signal, (c) optical signal.
emission spectrum of PD light in SF6 gas is the range from
300 to 800 nm [21], the PMT (Hamamatsu-H10722) with a
100 100
Effective height (mm)

response wavelength of 230-870 nm is used to detect the PD

Anode radiant sensitivity

10
light intensity in this work. The sensitivity curve of the PMT 10

1
(V/nW)

is shown in Figure 4b. Divider 1 is used to measure the 1

applied voltage on the test model. Divider 2 is used to obtain 0.1
0.1
the phase information of AC voltage. 1N5338 is used to 0.01

suppress the interference from the sphere gap discharge at the 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 0.01
200 400 600 800 1000
Frequency (GHz) Wavelength (nm)
moment of voltage superimposition. All of the test waveforms
(a) (b)
are recorded with a high definition digital storage oscilloscope
HDO9104 with 10-bit resolution, 1 GHz bandwidth, up to 40 Figure 4. Sensitivity curve of the PD detection sensor; (b) UHF, (c) PMT.
GS/s sample rate, and 128 Mpts maximum acquisition
memory.
H.V. eletrode
2.2 TEST MODEL PREPARATION
The surface discharge test model is shown in Figure 5. The
Epoxy plate
triple-junction (TJ) model [12] is used in this study. The TJ
R=3.5mm
model consists of an epoxy insulation plate (a 38 mm diameter 2mm
disc) on the plane electrode. The hemispherical rod electrode
with a curvature radius of 3.5 mm. The entire electrode model
Ground eletrode
is placed inside a tank filled with SF6 gas at 0.50 MPa. The
Φ 38mm
height and diameter of the tank are 15.5 and 7.5 cm,
respectively. Figure 5. Surface discharge model.

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IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 27, No. 4; August 2020 1365

2.3 APPLIED VOLTAGE AND TEST PROCEDURE

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

2.4
1.2
0
The superimposed voltage usv is defined as: -1.2
-2.4
usv  uac  ui (1) 30
15
0
where uac is the power frequency(50Hz) voltage, ui is the -15
-30
impulse voltage (LI or SI). Figure 6 shows an example of a

Optical (mV)
80
negative LI is superimposed on the 270°of AC voltage. We 40
0
can see from the Figure 6 that the instantaneous value of the -40
-80
AC voltage in the phase of 270 degrees is about -14.1 kV, and -50 -30 -10 10 30 50
Time(ms)
the peak value of the LI is -20 kV. Therefore, the peak value
(a)
of the superimposed voltage is -34.1 kV.

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

4.4
2.2
20 0
Amplitude (kV) Amplitude (kV)

-2.2
0 -4.4
60
-20 （Before superposition）
uac ui 30
0
-40 -30
20 -60
usv =uac + ui

Optical (mV)
0 200
100
-20 0
（Superimposed voltage） -100
-200
-40 -50 10 70 130 190 250
0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360
Time(ms)
φ (deg)
(b)
Figure 6. Waveform of superimposed voltage.

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

4.0
2.0
0
The surface discharge model is tested at AC voltage alone -2.0
-4.0
firstly, and then tested at superimposed voltage. PD inception 100
voltage (PDIV) of the surface discharge model is10 kV. In 50
0
order to investigate the excitation characteristics of the AC -50
-100
PDs after an impulse voltage, the AC voltage (uac) is kept
Optical (mV)

200
below the PDIV. If the uac is greater than or equal to the 100
0
PDIV, it is difficult to distinguish between the original PDs -100
-200
under AC voltage and the PDs excited after an impulse -50 10 70 130 190 250
Time(ms)
voltage. The uac is much lower than PDIV, the PDs will not be
(c)
excited after an impulse voltage. Therefore, the uac is set to 90
UHF (mV) Current (mA)

4.0
% of PDIV in this study. LI(uli) and SI(usi) voltage with 2.0
0
different polarity are superimposed on different phases of the -2.0
-4.0
AC voltage respectively. The amplitude of the impulse voltage
60
is about twice the PDIV [16, 17]. The phase(φ) of the impulse 30
0
voltage superposition is tested from 0° to 360° with a step size -30
-60
of 45°. For each superposition phase of AC voltage, five
Optical (mV)

200
independent repeated experiments are carried out with a time 100
0
interval of around 10 minutes. -100
-200
-50 10 70 130 190 250
Time(ms)
3 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS (d)
3.1 PDS EXCITED BY LIGHTNING IMPULSE
UHF (mV) Current (mA)

4.0
2.0
0
PDs before and after a LI are simultaneously measured by -2.0
-4.0
three kinds of sensors. Figure 7 shows PDs are excited by the
60
positive LI. PDs after the negative LI are shown in Figure 8. 30
0
It can be seen from Figure 7 and 8 that both the impulse -30
-60
superposition phase and the LI polarity have a significant
Optical (mV)

120
effect on the AC PDs. After a positive LI is superimposed on 60
0
the phase between 0° and 180°, AC PDs in the negative half -60
-120
wave are obviously promoted. After a negative LI is -50 -30 -10
Time(ms)
10 30 50

superimposed on the phase between 225 and 315°, AC PDs in (e)

the positive half wave are obviously promoted. It also can be Figure 7. PDs are excited by the positive LI, uac=9 kV(90%PDIV), uli=-20 kV;
seen from the experimental results that PD pulses number, (a) φ=0°, (b) φ=45°, (c) φ=90°, (d) φ=135°, (e) φ=180°.

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1366 C. He et al.: Characteristics of AC PDs on Epoxy Insulation Surface Excited by different Impulse Voltages in SF6 Gas

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

4.0

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

4.0
2.0 2.0
0 0
-2.0 -2.0
-4.0 -4.0

60 40
30 20
0 0
-30 -20
-60 -40

Optical (mV)
40
Optical (mV)

300
150 20
0 0
-150 -20
-300 -40
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50 -50 -30 -10 10 30 50
Time(ms) Time(ms)

(a) (a)
20

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

16
8 10
0 0
-8 -10
-16 -20
200 400
100 200
0 0
-100 -200
-200 -400
300

Optical (mV)
Optical (mV)

300
150 150
0 0
-150 -150
-300 -300
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50 -50 10 70 130 190 250
Time(ms) Time(ms)

(b) (b)
20

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

UHF (mV) Current (mA)

4.0
2.0 10
0 0
-2.0 -10
-4.0 -20
400
60
200
30
0
0
-200
-30
-400
-60
300
Optical (mV)
Optical (mV)

300
150
150
0
0
-150
-150
-300
-300 -50 10 70 130 190 250
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50
Time(ms) Time(ms)
(c)
(c)
8.0
UHF (mV) Current (mA)

Figure 8. PDs are excited by the negative LI, uac=9 kV(90%PDIV), uli=-20 4.0
kV; (a) φ=225°, (b) φ=270°, (c) φ=315°. 0
-4.0
-8.0

max PD amplitude and PD duration are different with the 200

100
changes of the LI superposition phase and LI polarity. PDs 0
-100
excited by the positive LI is more intense than excited by the -200

negative LI. PD duration can be up to hundreds of 300

Optical (mV)

150
milliseconds after a positive LI. PD duration is only one or 0
-150
two power frequency cycle after a negative LI. -300
-50 10 70 130 190 250
Time(ms)
3.2 PDS EXCITED BY SWITCHING IMPULSE (d)
In this section, the SI voltage with different polarity is
UHF (mV) Current (mA)

1.6
0.8
superimposed on different phase of AC voltage. PDs before 0
-0.8
and after a SI impulse are measured. The amplitude of the AC -1.6
voltage is 9kV(90%PDIV). The amplitude of the SI is 20kV, 40
20
which is equal to the LI voltage. Figure 9 shows the PDs are 0
excited by the positive SI. Figure 10 shows the PDs are -20
-40
excited by the negative SI.
Optical (mV)

40
20
0
-20
-40
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50
Time(ms)
(e)
Figure 9. PDs are excited by the positive SI; (a) φ=0°, (b) φ=45°, (c) φ=90°,
(d) φ=135°, (e) φ=180°.

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IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 27, No. 4; August 2020 1367

It can be seen from Figure 9 and 10 that after a positive SI

UHF (mV) Current (mA)
1.6
0.8
0 is superimposed on the positive half wave of AC voltage, AC
-0.8
-1.6 PDs in the negative half wave are obviously promoted. After a
40 negative SI is superimposed on the negative half wave, AC
20
0 PDs in the positive half wave are excited. In addition, PD
-20
-40
pulses number, max PD amplitude and PD duration excited by
a positive SI are greater than a negative SI.
Optical (mV)

40
20
0
-20
3.3 SUMMARY OF PD EXCITATION
-40
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50
CHARACTERISTICS
Time(ms)
The experimental results indicate that the phase of impulse
(a)
superposition, the impulse polarity and the waveform types are
UHF (mV) Current (mA)

20
10 all have a significant effect on AC PDs. In this section, the
0
-10 excitation characteristics of the AC PDs on the epoxy insulation
-20
surface after an impulse voltage in SF6 gas are summarized. The
300
150 excitation characteristics obtained in this paper are the average
0
-150 of the results of five independent repeated experiments. The
-300
results of repeated experiments are consistent. Max PD
Optical (mV)

300
150 amplitude Umax, PD pulse number n and PD duration td of
0
-150 optical PD signal are recorded. The relationship between the
-300
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50 max PD amplitude and the impulse voltage superposition phase
Time(ms) is shown in Figure 11. The relationship between the PD pulse
(b)
number and the impulse voltage superposition phase is shown in
UHF (mV) Current (mA)

30
15 Figure 12. Figure 13 shows the relationship between the PD
0
-15 duration and the impulse voltage superposition phase. The
-30
change in n and td in the ten power frequency cycles after the
300
150
0
Max PD amplitude [mV]

Max PD amplitude [mV]

-150 300 300
Positive LI Positive SI
-300 250
250
Optical (mV)

300 200 200

150 150 150
0 100 100
-150 50 50
-300 0 0
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50
0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360 0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360
Time(ms)

Max PD amplitude [mV]

Max PD amplitude [mV]

(c) 300 Negative LI 300 Negative SI

250 250
UHF (mV) Current (mA)

16
200 200
8
150 150
0
-8 100 100
-16 50 50
0 0
150 0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360 0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360
75 Phase of LI superposition [Deg] Phase of SI superposition [Deg]
0
-75 (a) (b)
-150
Figure 11. Max PD amplitude vs phase of impulse superposition; (a) Max PD
Optical (mV)

300
150 amplitude vs phase of LI superposition, (b) max PD amplitude vs phase of SI
0 superposition.
-150
-300
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50
Time(ms) 60 Positive LI 60 Positive SI
PD pulse number

PD pulse number

(d) 50 50
40 40
UHF (mV) Current (mA)

2.0 30 30
1.0
20 20
0
-1.0 10 10
-2.0 0 0
0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360 0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360
20
10 60 Negative LI 60 Negative SI
PD pulse number

PD pulse number

0 50 50
-10 40 40
-20 30 30
20 20
Optical (mV)

40
20 10 10
0 0 0
-20 0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360 0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360
-40 Phase of LI superposition [Deg] Phase of SI superposition [Deg]
-50 -30 -10 10 30 50
Time(ms) (a) (b)
(e) Figure 12. PD pulse number vs phase of impulse superposition; (a) PD pulse
Figure 10. PDs are excited by the negative SI; (a) φ=180°, (b) φ=225°, (c) number vs phase of LI superposition, (b) PD pulse number vs phase of SI
φ=270°, (d) φ=315°, (e) φ=0°. superposition.

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1368 C. He et al.: Characteristics of AC PDs on Epoxy Insulation Surface Excited by different Impulse Voltages in SF6 Gas

impulse is counted. The relationship between n and td is shown positive switching impulse. After a positive lightning impulse
in Figure 14 and 15. is superimposed on 45 to 135° of AC voltage, the PD duration
is up to 900 ms. It can be seen from Figure 12 and Figure 13
1000 900 Positive LI
300
Positive SI
that the negative switching impulse can excite PD at 0° and

PD duration [ms]
PD duration [ms]

800 780 240

240
600
740
180 180 180°, but negative lightning impulse cannot excite PD at 0°
400 120 and 180°. The main reason is that the amplitude of the
80
200
20 20
60
20 20
superimposed voltage at 0° and 180° is low, and the duration
0 0 0
0
0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360
0
0
0 0
45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360
0
of the LI is too short to produce the initiatory ‘first’ electron.
1000
Negative LI
300
Negative SI The SI has sufficient time to generate the initiatory ‘first’
PD duration [ms]

PD duration [ms]
800 240
600 180 electron to start the first avalanche. However, the low
400 120 amplitude of the impulse voltage, there is only a small amount
200
0 0 0 0
20 20 20
0
60
0 0 0
20 20
40 40
20 of discharge under the SI. The maximum PD duration excited
0 0
0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360 0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360 by a positive switching impulse is 240 ms. However, the PD
Phase of LI superposition [Deg] Phase of SI superposition [Deg]
duration excited by a negative lightning impulse or a negative
(a) (b)
switching impulse is only one or two power frequency cycles.
Figure 13. PD duration vs phase of impulse superposition; (a) PD duration vs
phase of LI superposition, (b) PD duration vs phase of SI superposition. It can be seen from Figure 14 and 15 that the number of PD
pulses decreases with time, and the number of discharges in
30
φ=0°
30
φ=225°
the first power frequency cycle after the impulse is the largest.
25 φ=45° 25 φ=270°
Overall, PDs excited by a lightning impulse is more severe
PD pulse number n

PD pulse number n

φ=90° φ=315°
20 20
φ=135°
φ=180°
than excited by a switching impulse. The PDs excited by a
15 15
positive impulse in the positive half cycle of the AC voltage is
10 10
more intense than a negative impulse applied on the negative
5 5
0
half cycle of AC voltage.
0
0 40 80 120 160 200 0 40 80 120 160 200
PD duration td (ms) PD duration td (ms)
4 DISCUSSION
(a) (b)
Figure 14. PD pulse number n vs PD duration td; (a) PDs after a positive LI,
4.1 PD PROCESS UNDER AC VOLTAGE EXCITED
(b) PDs after a negative LI. BY IMPULSE
As shown in Figure 16, since the AC voltage is below the
30
φ=0°
30
φ=0°
PDIV, PD1 is mainly excited by the impulse voltage.
25 φ=45° 25 However, the excitation mechanism of PD2 under the AC
PD pulse number n

φ=180°
PD pulse number n

20
15
10
5 5
0 0
0 40 80 120 160 200
PD duration td (ms)
(a)
Figure 15. PD pulse number n vs PD duration td; (a) PDs after a positive SI,
(b) PDs after a negative SI.
As shown in Figure 10, the maximum value of the discharge
amplitude is obtained about 331 mV, when the positive
impulse is superimposed on the 90 ° of the AC voltage. The
maximum value of the discharge amplitude is obtained about
304 mV, when the negative impulse is superimposed on the
270 ° of AC voltage. As shown in Figure 11, the PD pulse
number excited by a positive impulse is larger than excited by
a negative impulse. At the same phase of AC voltage, the
number of PD pulse excited by the lightning impulse is
φ=90° φ=225°
φ=135°
φ=180°
20 φ=270°
φ=315°
voltage is different. After an impulse voltage was applied, a
15
large amount of space and surface charges is still accumulated
10
around the electrodes. The charges deployed by PD1 have a
finite lifetime during which they constitute a memory of the
0 40 80 120 160 200 PD event in two ways [22]. They contribute to the potential
PD duration td (ms) difference across the PD gap by the associated field UQ and
(b) they are sources for some of the first electron generation
processes. After the impulse, the UQ is gradually decays with
time by drift through the gas and conduct along the insulation
surface. When Uac+UQ>PDIV during the processes of UQ
decay, the PD2 under AC voltage is excited. Since the polarity
of UQ created by space and surface charges is opposite to that
of the impulse voltage, PD2 is only excited in negative semi-
wave. The amplitude and number of PD2 is decrease with the
UQ. If the amplitude of the impulse voltage is high enough and
the discharge PD1 can be induced at 270°, then the PD2 under
AC can be excited after the impulse.
Amplitude

slightly larger than excited by the switching impulse. The PD1

H.V.
eletrode
No PD Triple junction
highest PD pulse number is obtained about 59, when the Uac
positive lightning impulse is superimposed on the 45° of AC 0 Time Uac+UQ>PDIV
voltage. The number of PD pulse excited by a negative PD2
PD2 Epoxy insulation

lightning and a negative switching impulse is similar in the UQ Ground

same superposition phase. As shown in Figure 12, at the (a) (b)

positive half cycle, the PD duration excited by a positive Figure 16. PD process under AC voltage after impulse; (a) excitation process
lightning impulse is significantly greater than excited by a of partial discharge, (b) defect structure.

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IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 27, No. 4; August 2020 1369

Since the first electron production has a certain randomness
and probability, which leads to the occurrence of the PD also
has randomness. Therefore, not all cycles have PDs after an
impulse.
4.2 INFLUENCE OF IMPULSE POLARITY ON PD
When a positive impulse voltage is superimposed on the
positive half wave of AC voltage, the main discharge occurs at
the duration of the impulse. As shown in Figure 17a, most of
the electrons move toward the electrode and neutralized by the
electrode after the positive impulse. A small amount of
4.3 INFLUENCE OF IMPULSE TYPE ON PD
The diagram of PDs are excited by an impulse voltage is
shown in Figure 19. up is the peak value of the impulse
voltage, udm is the minimum value of the impulse voltage to
drive PDs, ures is the residual voltage after PDs. t1 is the
discharge delay time, t2 is the time interval between the two
adjacent discharge, tf is the rise time of the impulse voltage.
u
K
up

electrons is attached by the epoxy insulation surface. Since the

positive ion mass is large and the migration rate is small, a
udm
large amount of positive ions is still accumulated around the ures
electrodes. The sum of the applied external field Eb and the EQ t1 t2
tf t
(created by space charges) is greater than the critical field Ecr, Figure 19. The diagram of PDs under impulse voltage.
when the polarity of the AC is reversed. PDs in the negative
half cycle of the AC voltage are excited after a positive
The PD charges value increases with the rise rate K of the
impulse, as shown in Figure 17b. Similarly, the positive ion
impulse voltage. Since the K of lightning impulse is greater
moves toward the electrode and neutralized after a negative
than the switching impulse, the PD charges value under the
impulse voltage. Due to the small electron mass and large
lightning impulse is also greater than the switching impulse.
migration rate, a part of the electrons is attached by the epoxy
Therefore, PDs under AC voltage excited by a lightning
insulation surface. A considerable part of the electrons move
impulse voltage is severe than excited by a switching impulse.
to the area with weak electric field is attached by gas
The duration of the lightning impulse is extremely short. The
molecules to form negative ions, as shown in Figure 18a.
superimposed voltage quickly recovers to an AC voltage with
After the polarity is reversed, the sum of Eb and EQ is greater
a lower amplitude after a LI. A large amount of residual
than Ecr, PDs in the positive half cycle after the negative
charge is still accumulated around the electrodes. The
impulse voltage are excited, as shown in Figure 18b. Since a
switching impulse lasts for a long time, and the electrode is
large amount of positive ions participates in exciting PDs in
still at a higher potential for a relatively long period. The
the negative half cycle after a positive impulse, only the
charges generated by the discharge accelerates diffusion and
portion of electrons participates in exciting PDs in the positive
attenuation under the high field strength. Therefore, the
half cycle after a negative impulse voltage. PDs excited by the
density of the space and surface charges is relatively large
positive impulse voltage is more intense than the negative
around the electrode after a positive LI, which has a longer
impulse voltage.
time effect on the PD under AC voltage.
4.4 INFLUENCE OF IMPULSE SUPERPOSITION
H.V. H.V.
Eb
PHASE ON PD
eletrode eletrode

+ - When the impulse voltage is superimposed on the different

Eb + EQ > Ecr

e
e
e
e Er phase of AC voltage, the relationship between the peak value
e
e of superimposed voltage and the impulse superposition phase
Epoxy insulation Epoxy insulation
is shown in Figure 20.
Ground Ground

(a) (b)
u The peak of superimposed
voltage under positive impulse
Figure 17. Charged particles migration processes along the epoxy surface
after the positive impulse voltage; (a) after impulse, (b) after AC voltage 2upAC impulse voltage
polarity reversal. upAC
AC voltage
0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360 Φ (deg)

Eb - 2upAC
H.V. H.V.
eletrode eletrode Eb + EQ > Ecr The peak of superimposed

- +
voltage under negative impulse
e e e e
Er1
e
Er Figure 20. The relationship between the peak value of superimposed voltage
e e e e e e e e e e e e
Epoxy insulation Epoxy insulation
and the impulse superposition phase.
Ground Ground

(a) (b)
It can be seen from Figure 20 that the peak value of the
superimposed voltage is different after the impulse is
Figure 18. Charged particles migration processes along the epoxy surface
after the negative impulse voltage; (a) after impulse, (b) after AC voltage superimposed on different phases. The peak value is the
polarity reversal. largest when the impulse is superimposed on 90° and 270°.

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1370 C. He et al.: Characteristics of AC PDs on Epoxy Insulation Surface Excited by different Impulse Voltages in SF6 Gas
Since the rise rate K increases with the peak value of
superimposed voltage, the PD charges value increases with the
K. Therefore, the most severe the PDs will be obtained, after a
positive and negative impulse is superimposed on 90° and
270°, respectively. It can be inferred that when the magnitude
of the AC voltage, the phase of the impulse superposition, and
the type of impulse are all remain unchanged, the impulse
voltages magnitude could affect the results. In addition, the
magnitude of the AC voltages could affect the results, the
superimposed voltage will increase as the amplitude of the AC
voltage increases. When the entire voltage amplitude
increases, PD1 and PD2 will become more intense.
5 CONCLUSIONS
The present paper focused on the behaviors of PDs on
epoxy insulation surface under AC and impulse superimposed
voltages in SF6 gas. Several conclusions can be drawn:
AC PDs on the epoxy insulation surface can be excited by
an impulse voltage in SF6 gas. The impulse polarity, the
impulse type and the phase of impulse superposition are all
have a significant influence on the excitation characteristics of
the AC PDs. After a positive impulse voltage was applied on
the positive semi-wave of AC voltage (0 to 180°), PDs on the
epoxy insulation surface can be remarkably accelerated in the
negative half cycle of the AC voltage. After a negative
impulse voltage was applied on the negative semi-wave (180
to 360°), PDs can be excited in the positive half cycle of the
AC voltage. The higher the magnitude of the superimposed
voltage is, the more severe the PDs will be after an impulse
voltage. PDs excited by a lightning impulse voltage is more
severe than the PDs excited by a switching impulse. PDs
excited by a positive impulse is more intense than excited by a
negative impulse.
The results of this study are help to ensure the safe
operation of GIS by installing overvoltage detection devices.
Furthermore, in addition to considering the PDs under AC
voltage, the PDs under superimposed voltage should also be
considered for designing new GIS equipment.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors appreciate the financial support of the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (number: 51877169).
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Cong He was born in Xianyang City, Shaanxi
Province, China, in 1990. He received the M.Sc.
degree in control science and engineering from
Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, China, in
2017. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in
electrical engineering of Xi’an Jiaotong University.
IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 27, No. 4; August 2020
Minxia Shi was born in Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province,
China in 1993. She received the B.Sc. degree in
electrical engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University,
Xi'an, China, in 2015. She is currently pursuing the
Ph.D. degree in the same university.
Ruochen Guo was born in Liaocheng City, Shandong
Province, China, in 1994. He received the M.Sc.
degree in electrical engineering from Shandong
University, Jinan, China, in 2018. He is currently
pursuing the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering of
Xi’an Jiaotong University. His research interest is oil-
paper insulation and new types of test method for
electrical equipment.
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1371
Xuanrui Zhang was born in Zhengzhou city, Henan
Province, China, in 1994. He received the B.Sc.
degree in electrical engineering from Xi'an Jiaotong
University, Xi'an, China, in 2017. He is currently
pursuing the Ph.D. degree in the same university.
Junhao Li was born in Xuchang, Henan, China, in
1980. He received the Ph.D. degree in Xi’an Jiaotong
University, Xi’an, China, in 2010.Currently, he is an
Associate Professor in Xi’an Jiaotong University. He
focuses on detective and diagnostic techniques for
electrical equipment, new types of test method for
electrical equipment, etc.