Mitigating Partial Discharge in Power Module Using Functional Capacitive Field Grading Material

As the demand for power increases in high-power electronic modules, there is a corresponding rise in partial discharge (PD) influenced by factors such as the triple point, air bubbles, and air gaps. Historically, geometric field grading and non-linear resistive field grading (NLRFG) materials have been employed to handle PD. However, this study presents a novel approach by introducing functional capacitive field grading (FCFG) material for PD mitigation in AC voltage applications. Barium Titanate (BTO) serves as the FCFG material, combined with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the base material. Our successful demonstrations revealed effective PD mitigation under AC voltage using various concentrations of BTO (10%, 20%, and 30%). Additionally, we utilized finite element analysis software to provide comparative evidence, showing the improvement in electric field reduction in FCFG material compared to basic PDMS and NLRFG material.