DETECTION AND REGISTRATION OF PARTIAL DISCHARGE EVENTS BELOW THE SO-CALLED INCEPTION VOLTAGE: THE CASE OF SMALL AIR GAPS

Michael G. Danikas - Despoina Pitsa

   The question of insulation damage from partial discharges below the so-called inception voltage has not been the subject of intensive research as were other topics in high voltage engineering. Indications of possible insulation damage were given previously. In this paper, small air gaps are investigated with a fixed voltage of 7.5 kV and a non-uniform electrode arrangement. It is shown that random discharges below inception voltage exist. Experiments were carried out with a point-plane electrode arrangement, the point electrodes being of various diameters. The implications of such discharges are discussed.

Keywords: small air gaps, inception voltage, partial discharges, point-plane electrode arrangement

[full-paper]