The application of high repetition rate voltage pulses to electrical and thermal aging

A critical factor in the research and development of a new insulation system is the accurate assessment of its reliability and expected lifetime during service. The methods to determine reliability generally attempt to accelerate the degradation processes that normally occur in electrical insulation over an extended operating time period. To date, most accelerated aging studies have featured test voltage frequencies and/or temperatures that far exceed typical operating levels. However, these efforts have not been completely successful due to the lack of knowledge concerning the relationships between the temperature, frequency of applied voltage, and the physical mechanisms responsible for dielectric deterioration and breakdown.