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A comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage AC and DC surface discharges

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.

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Main Author: Heger, Gernot
Other Authors: Vermeulen, H. J.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2009
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access_status_str Open Access
author Heger, Gernot
author2 Vermeulen, H. J.
author_browse Heger, Gernot
Vermeulen, H. J.
author_facet Vermeulen, H. J.
Heger, Gernot
author_sort Heger, Gernot
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2464
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:46:37.536Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2009
publishDateRange 2009
publishDateSort 2009
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2464 A comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage AC and DC surface discharges Heger, Gernot Vermeulen, H. J. Vosloo, W. L. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Theses -- Electrical and electronic engineering Dissertations -- Electrical and electronic engineering Surface discharges (Electricity) Electric insulators and insulation Electrical and Electronic Engineering Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. The rising worldwide popularity of HVDC applications for power transmission purposes increases the need to study the performance of commonly used insulation materials when exposed to this voltage type. The aim of this study is thus to compare several insulation materials according to their resistance to erosion and tracking when exposed to surface discharges of HVAC and HVDC voltages of both polarities. The materials are tested according to the Incline Plane Test method described in the IEC 60587 standard, using a test voltage of 4.0 kV (rms). An important aspect of this project is the development of a bipolar DC source capable of delivering the required test voltage and current for both positive and negative polarities, while performing in accordance with the specifications set down in the standard. The design is intentionally kept modular in order to make it adaptable for future installations. Since the standard describes two different test methods, i.e. the constant tracking voltage method and the stepwise tracking voltage method, a comparison is done between the two methods in order to determine which one delivers best results for the test samples. The comparison shows that the methods deliver comparable results, but the constant tracking voltage method is preferred due to its superior test procedure. Finally, four different polymer insulator materials are tested and successfully compared under the effects of HVAC and HVDC of both polarities. The test materials include a RTV silicone rubber coated ceramic, two different HTV silicone rubbers and an EPDM rubber. The comparison is done according to the results obtained for a number of evaluation criteria. The results show that the RTV silicone rubber coating exhibits the least erosion for an AC voltage, but shows extensive erosion for a negative DC voltage. The HTV silicone rubbers exhibit only minimal erosion when exposed to an AC test voltage, but develop strong erosion under a positive DC voltage which can result in sample failure. The EPDM experiences its least erosion for a negative DC voltage, but shows maximum erosion severity for the AC voltage. 2009-03-03T10:21:11Z 2010-06-01T08:49:23Z 2009-03-03T10:21:11Z 2010-06-01T08:49:23Z 2009-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2464 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle Theses -- Electrical and electronic engineering
Dissertations -- Electrical and electronic engineering
Surface discharges (Electricity)
Electric insulators and insulation
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Heger, Gernot
A comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage AC and DC surface discharges
title A comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage AC and DC surface discharges
title_full A comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage AC and DC surface discharges
title_fullStr A comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage AC and DC surface discharges
title_full_unstemmed A comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage AC and DC surface discharges
title_short A comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage AC and DC surface discharges
title_sort comparative study of insulator materials exposed to high voltage ac and dc surface discharges
topic Theses -- Electrical and electronic engineering
Dissertations -- Electrical and electronic engineering
Surface discharges (Electricity)
Electric insulators and insulation
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2464
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