Study of samples of composite insulating system under electrical and thermal stresses

Factors affecting the performance of small composite samples are investigated, and the capabilities of the uniaxially oriented polyethylene (UOPE) tape/dodecylbenzene (DDB) oil insulation system are evaluated. The apparatus used to study the influence of the combination of electrical and thermal stresses on the performance of the samples is described. Experimental results are reported for both uniform and nonuniform electrode arrangements. The discharge energy/material damage tests showed that a satisfactory correlation between the total surface area damage of the tapes and the energy supplied by the discharge exists. This suggests that the measurement of total discharge energy is a very useful technique in evaluating electrical insulation and may prove useful as a diagnostic tool for predicting the remaining life of insulation.<
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