Partial discharge investigations in laminated busbars

The aim of the study is to predict the presence or absence of partial discharges (PDs), in a laminated busbar (LBB), for a given voltage. PDs appear in specific zones that are located using a representative sample of industrial LBBs. A numerical model based on Paschen’s law, proposes an interpretation of the observed phenomena and an estimation of LBB Partial Discharge Inception Voltage (PDIV). A theoretical reasoning and simplifications, based on Paschen’s theory, are proposed, for applying this well-known law in the case of non-uniform electric fiels existing in LBB’s.