DURIP: Highly Sensitive Coupled Optical and Ultra-High-Frequency Electrical System for Partial Discharge Detection
Abstract
The aim of this proposal is to develop a highly sensitive, coupled and correlated, optical andultra-high-frequency (UHF) electrical system that can locate and quantify partial discharges (PD)under AC 60 Hz, as well as fast rise time, high-frequency, square wave voltages. Acceleratedinsulation aging, which leads to premature insulation failure, is the most significant barrier to thegame-changing wide bandgap (WBG)-based high voltage, high-density power electronics buildingblocks (PEEB) that operate at high-frequency switching of 100 kHz in a broad range (shipboardto aviation) of DoD applications. Besides high frequency, high voltage and thermal (HFHVT)stresses, harsh environmental conditions, especially salt-laden environments for naval vessels andthe low-pressure atmosphere for military aircraft, aggravate insulation aging.Compared to other dielectric diagnostic methods, PD measurement provides highly sensitiveinformation for effectively detecting localized weak points in the insulation system. This proposalrequests funding for the purchase of a state-of-the-art UHF electrical PD measurement system anda double layer copper screen-shielded room (ETS-Lindgren Series 71). We recently bought anoptical PD detection system equipped with a cutting-edge camera and photo-multipliers. Therequested UHF electrical PD detection system, will not only enable new capabilities to be utilizedbut will be used, for the first time, to construct a unique, coupled and correlated, electrical andoptical PD detection system capable of overcoming the shortcomings of two separate detectionmethods. For example, it will allow measurements below 1 pC, enabling precise distinctionbetween internal and external defects, and will determine the level of different PDs in various partsof the PEBB 6000, which is currently being developed under a funded project by the Office ofNaval Research (ONR).As a companion to the UHF PD detection system, the ETS-Lindgren Series 71 shielded room,which features a double layer of 22 ~22 ~ 0.015~ copper screen mesh weave, will deliverexceptional attenuation levels of electromagnetic interferences (EMI), which is highlyrecommended for testing applications up to 3 GHz. This frequency is necessary for UFH PDmeasurements under the fast rise time (with a slew rate of 0.1 kV/ns), high frequency (up to20 kHz) square waveform voltages to be used in this project. Availability of the shielded room isalso crucial for the safety of the operations.These two requested systems, combined with our existing optical PD measurement system, the100 kV 60 Hz AC voltage source, and the ~25 bipolar/unipolar adjustable, fast rise time highfrequencysquare wave generator, will be a significant step forward for the fundamental electricalinsulation research and design of WBG-based PEEBs of interest to the Navy. The unique PDmeasurement system will be used for basic studies to develop Multiphysics models, for betterunderstanding of the mechanisms of partial discharge degradation and the parameters of partialdischarge activity, thus, inferring the rate, form, and extent of degradation to predict the remnantlife of insulation systems. The proposed system will also enable training of students on theprinciples of PD and measurement and analysis techniques, as well as insulation aging, all of which
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 23, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912343
Entities
People
- Mona Ghassemi
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Virginia Tech