FDS analysis for multilayer insulation paper with different aging status in traction transformer of high-speed railway

The traction transformer of a high-speed railway is long-term subjected to the effects of impulse traction loads, such that the aging status of a multilayer insulation paper between high and low voltage windings is non-uniformly distributed due to the non-uniform distribution of temperature. To enhance the use of the frequency domain dielectric spectroscopy (FDS) method in engineering, this paper studies the effects of non-uniform thermal aging on the frequency domain dielectric spectrum of multilayer insulation paper. Based on the experimental designs and preparation of experimental materials, the frequency domain dielectric spectrum of a multilayer insulation paper with uniform and non-uniform thermal aging distribution was tested. Afterwards, the effects of non-uniform thermal aging on the frequency domain dielectric spectrum of multilayer insulation paper were discussed and analyzed based on the tested results. The results show that: 1) The effects of the non-uniform distribution of DP (cellulose structure) can be ignored. The non-uniform distribution of the aging byproducts (except moisture) has limited effects on the tested results, which is far less than the effects of moisture. The non-uniform distribution of moisture is the dominant factor and affects the results. 2) In terms of insulation paper with a defined aging status, its order in the multilayer insulation paper does not affect the tested results. 3) The tested results of the insulation samples with a non-uniform aging distribution can no longer reflect the moisture content of the wettest section, and the evaluated moisture content is slightly higher than the average moisture content of the multilayer insulation paper.