Circuit Simulation of Partial Discharges Arising in Neighboring Gaseous Cavities

Partial discharge is a critical phenomenon in high-voltage engineering, affecting the reliability and performance of electrical systems. Circuit simulation enables engineers to understand the electrical behavior of complex systems and study partial discharge events. The three-capacitance model, known as the ABC-model, is widely used in partial discharge research and education. It provides a simplified representation of partial discharge phenomena, making it accessible for engineers. The ABC-model serves as a diagnostic tool for assessing the health and condition of insulation systems, aiding in preventing degradation and enhancing system reliability. This paper explores the importance of the ABC-model for engineers and discusses its application in design optimization and risk assessment. Additionally, it addresses the limitation of the ABC-model in simulating paretial discharges in systems with multiple cavities or complex geometries. Modifications to the model are proposed to account for mutual influences between neighboring cavities. Circuit simulations using freeware program were performed to analyze partial discharge behavior in adjacent cavities. The results demonstrated that neighboring cavities can provide alternative paths for partial discharge propagation, leading to accelerated aging of insulation. The proposed modification of the ABC-model, accounting for the mutual influence of closely spaced cavities, showed changes in partial diasharge patterns compared to the independent cavity model.