Grading electric field in high voltage insulation using composite materials

Localized overstress due to electric field concentration is a threat to the long-term performance of the insulation in almost all high voltage apparatus. Resistive field grading using field grading materials (FGMs) may be a solution to this problem. Insulation matrixes such as ethylene propylene diene monomer, epoxy, or silicone rubbers, blended with fillers such as ZnO microvaristors, are reported to possess field dependent conductivity with greater and more stable nonlinearity than traditional FGMs [1]. Their application in high voltage apparatus such as bushings [1], cable accessories [2]–[4], insulators [5], [6], and stator coils [7] has been studied recently. It is well known [8] that the most important parameters for FGMs are the nonlinear coefficient α and switching field E
_b
; the challenge is to tailor these two parameters to a specific application. FGMs can function effectively in most cases when α >10 [9], but the adjustment of E
_b
is more complex.