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Influence of homocharges and nanoparticles in electrical tree propagation under DC voltage application

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Abstract

The influence of nanoparticles and homocharges on the propagation of electrical treeing in polymer insulation is examined for a needle-plane electrode arrangement. A simulation is carried out using a model based on Cellular Automata (CA). A DC voltage application on the needle electrode is assumed. Nanoparticles are introduced in the polymer matrix in the vicinity of the needle electrode, and simulations with different homocharge densities are performed. It is confirmed that the propagation of electrical trees is hindered by the presence of nanoparticles and homocharges. A larger quantity of homocharges forms a barrier to the injection of charge carriers in the nanocomposite sample. Electrical trees seem to go around and/or stop at nanoparticles and thus, their propagation becomes more difficult. In other words, the proposed simulations show that electrical trees follow a tortuous path, avoiding the nanoparticles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Power Systems Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100, Xanthi, Greece

    Despoina Pitsa, Michael G. Danikas & George E. Vardakis

  2. Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems, Waseda University, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 808-0135, Japan

    Toshikatsu Tanaka

Authors
  1. Despoina Pitsa
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  2. Michael G. Danikas
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  3. George E. Vardakis
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  4. Toshikatsu Tanaka
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Correspondence to Despoina Pitsa.

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Pitsa, D., Danikas, M.G., Vardakis, G.E. et al. Influence of homocharges and nanoparticles in electrical tree propagation under DC voltage application. Electr Eng 94, 81–88 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00202-011-0222-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00202-011-0222-6

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