Sharif Digital Repository

Measurement of partial discharges (PDs) current pulses is found to be one of the most efficient methods to evaluate the high voltage electrical equipment insulation condition. Generators, transformers, cables and transmission lines are especially tested for the presence of PDs. In AC, the solution is well known. Phase-resolved method can be used to detect and determine partial discharge activities. Although phase-resolved method works well under AC voltage; due to lack of a cyclic variation in DC voltage and current this cannot be used when studying partial discharges in DC voltage systems. Therefore, other methods are employed to interpret the partial discharge in DC. For this purpose, the... 

In this article, a full temporal and spatial description of discharge for pure nitrogen gas in a nearly uniform electric field is reported. Results of simulation given provide a full understanding of the discharge at different stages of the ionization process. Effects of the primary energetic electrons and the secondary electrons are clearly shown at each stage of the ionization growth being followed in the discharge gap. Presented are the local electric field distribution and temporal behavior of the streamers at each point of the discharge medium along with the secondary processes affecting ionization growth  

The present study describes the result of an improved numerical method applied to our two-electrode spark gap discharge. The time evolution of the ionization current is obtained and mechanisms describing ionization growth in discharge are presented. The effect of E/N has been investigated by changing either the applied gap voltage or by varying the nitrogen gas pressure. Some fluctuations in the exponential ionization growth are noticed which are related to the secondary ionization by the cathode photoelectric emission. Simulated snapshots were obtained that clearly show the image of electron avalanches traversing the discharge gap. My results are compared with other computational methods... 

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized via arc discharge in aqueous solutions containing ferrous and ferric irons to reveal the effect of iron-charge mole ratio, R = [Fe2+]/[Fe3+], on the purity of CNTs and the process yield. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze the cathodic deposits. It is shown that the nucleation of multi-walled CNTs is catalyzed by ferric irons while their growth is affected by ferrous ions. Well-graphitized CNTs with a high-yield are obtained at R = 1 and total iron concentration of 0.05 M. The effect of iron charge is described based on the two-stage formation mechanism  

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized in aqueous solutions containing FeCl2, FeCl3, FeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3. The effects of iron charge and the counter ions on the formation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis indicated that carbon multilayer structures including CNTs and multishell graphite particles were formed in deionized (DI) water without the iron precursor. SWCNTs were also synthesized in the presence of the iron ions. It was also found that the mole ratio of [Fe2+]/[Fe3+] in the solution has a significant influence on the purity of CNTs and the process yield. The highest yield was... 

The first step to locate Partial Discharge in power transformers is to find a model that can clearly explain the behavior of the winding in high-frequency. The detailed model is one of the models used for the study of PD. One of the fundamental problems of the described model is to find its parameters. And the accuracy in calculating these parameters has significant impact on reducing the simulation error and PD locating. The current paper seeks to calculate the parameters of the detailed model 20kv distribution transformer winding by using the finite element method (FEM). Comparing the results of this model with pulse waveforms obtained from the PD to the winding in the laboratory... 

To locate accurately the occurrence of a partial discharge in a power transformer winding, a wide frequency band model of the winding is required. In this paper a wide frequency band Multi Conductor Transmission Line model (MTL) is employed to simulate the propagation of PD signal in transformer windings. The MTL model is briefly reviewed and the related equations of the model are reformulated to easily simulate occurrence of a PD signal along the winding. Software is developed in Matlab to calculate the windings resonance frequencies and the magnitudes of over-voltages occurring between different disks along the winding. Then propagation of PD signal in a power transformer (900MVA, 525kV),... 

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized via arc discharge in aqueous solutions containing ferrous and ferric irons to reveal the effect of iron-charge mole ratio, R = [Fe 2+]/[Fe 3+], on the purity of CNTs and the process yield. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze the cathodic deposits. It is shown that the nucleation of multi-walled CNTs is catalyzed by ferric irons while their growth is affected by ferrous ions. Well-graphitized CNTs with a high-yield are obtained at R = 1 and total iron concentration of 0.05 M. The effect of iron charge is described based on the two-stage formation mechanism  

We report a simple and inexpensive synthesis route of TiO2 nanoparticles using electrical arc discharge between titanium electrodes in oxygen bubbled deionized (DI) water followed by heat treatment. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD patterns demonstrate formation of TiO2 phase in oxygen bubbled water after heat treatment and dominance of rutile to anatase phase. The size and morphology of TiO2 nanoparticles were studied using different arc currents as a crucial parameter in properties of final... 

Power transformer partial discharge signal measurement using Radio Frequency method has advantages over IEC 60270 'apparent charge' measurement method for online monitoring due to greater immunity against external interference. However, the lack of a well-defined calibration relationship between the two methods is main disadvantage of RF method. Simultaneous measurements, using these two methods, carried out on various transformer PD source models, in laboratory, to investigate main parameters that affect the relationship of results of these two methods. In this paper, factors that influence this relationship are classified into three groups: (i) type of PD sources, (ii) transformer windings... 

This paper presents the measurements results of simulated partial discharge propagation on a compact three phase XLPE cable, and shows how the high frequency signal on one phase of the cable is induced on the other two phases. A frequency dependent three phase cable model is employed to simulate this phenomena. © 2008 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC'08)  

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of power on pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) discharge current with respect to its peak, duration, and behavior while the power elevates in a low power range. Design/methodology/approach - A rectangular parallel-plate breech-fed PPT has been developed with a self-inductor coupling element connecting the PPT cathode to the ignitor plug cathode. The PPT has been operated in vacuum chamber at 10-6mbar and its discharge current has been recorded using a Rogowski coil while input power has been changed by means of varying the capacitor voltage at given capacitance and frequency. Findings - The analysis leads to elucidate the effects of... 

Partial discharge (PD) is a common phenomenon which occurs in insulation of high voltage equipments, such as; transformers and has a damaging effect on the insulation. If data mining techniques be used to find specifications and features of different types of partial discharges in power transformers, one can monitor the insulation condition of such equipment online and continuously. Those results can be employed to develop preventive measures more exactly and consequently the maintenance would require less time and cost for electric utility and improve the life time expectancy of the transformers. In this paper experiments are set up to create models for some types of PD that occurs in Power... 

A better performance and consequently the widespread use of polymeric insulators in different parts of the power grid can increase their role in the grid reliability. The accumulation of contamination and housing-erosion are the two most effective factors in undermining the performance of this type of insulators. Therefore, electric utilities need to identify contaminated insulators for washing and cracks in polymeric housing to replace them with healthy specimens. This paper discusses the impact of contamination layer and housing-erosion of polymeric insulators on the partial discharges (PD) at the insulator surface, through RF-PRPD (phase resolved partial discharge) patterns. The existence... 

A review of worldwide activities in liquid-fed pulsed plasma thruster (LPPT) is discussed. Pulsed plasma thruster are extensively recognized as one of the most promising electric space propulsion systems to perform propulsive tasks on micro- and nanosatellites, including cubesats, because they offer many advantages compared with other electric space propulsion systems. The low plasma exhaust velocity measured by a Langmuir probe showed that thrust is mainly produced by 0.3 μg mass ionized by the first trigger and a much greater quantity of propellant introduced by the main discharge remained neutral at low speed. Various propellant feeding and discharge initiation methods have been applied... 

Labyrinth side weirs provide a potentially effective way to shorten the length of a channel opening with the desired water height, but the discharge coefficient needs to be found experimentally. Experiments were carried out for triangular labyrinth side weirs with one and two cycles in order to obtain the discharge coefficient. The test variables included channel opening, head angle, number of cycles, weir height, upstream water depth and discharge in a subcritical situation. The resultsshow that the discharge coefficient ratio for a triangular labyrinth to a conventional side weir could rise to more than 2 with the same flow and geometric conditions. Relationships for the De Marchi... 

Our previously reported mathematical model for a mixed oxide nanoparticulate-based supercapacitor containing RuO2·xH2O and MO2·yH2O (M being another suitable transition metal) was analyzed. Both double-layer and faradaic processes responsible for charge/discharge were considered. The effects of the intrinsic factors, unit cell length, state of charge, and the exchange current densities of the electrochemical processes of the constituents on the performance of the model supercapacitor were clarified. Compensation effects where each constituent compensates the shortcomings of the other at specific conditions of discharge are analyzed in the light of the model  

Detection and location of any partial discharge signal requires an accurate frequency dependent cable model to correctly simulate the P.D. signal attenuation during its propagation in the cable. This model should be capable of simulating the semiconducting layers which have significant effects on P.D. signal attenuation and its propagation velocity. There is a substantial need for improvements in the flexibility of transient cable model through direct introduction of the two semiconducting layers in the cable model. This can be employed, in the next step to develop a 3 phase cable model for ATP. This paper has derived an impedance formula for the semiconducting layers. The propagation... 

The insulation lifetime of power cables is determined by several factors. One of the more important of these is the occurrence of partial discharge (PD) at the dielectric. The ability to detect and locate a PD source is limited by attenuation of the high frequency PD pulses as they propagate through the cable. Therefore it is necessary to understand the high frequency response of such cables. Further, to enable reconstruction of PD signals as emitted a viable high frequency model for simulation is needed. This paper presents results of measurements of PD calibration pulse and high frequency sinusoid propagation in HV XLPE cables. In addition to the tests a cable model was developed using the...