Effects of Temperature Gradient on Electrical Tree Growth and Partial Discharge in Silicone Rubber Under AC Voltage

The Joule heat produced by the current in conductor decreases in the radial direction, producing a temperature gradient in the insulation. This existing temperature gradient can affect the electrical tree phenomenon in insulation materials because of the temperature dependence of insulation material, charge migration and tree growth. Different temperature gradients were obtained by controlling the temperature of high voltage (HV) and ground electrode (GD) sides. The electrical tree was recorded by a microscope, while the partial discharge (PD) was observed simultaneously. For better understanding the effects of the temperature gradient on electrical tree inception, the trap distribution in silicone rubber (SIR) with different temperature was analyzed by isothermal discharge current (IDC) method. With the fixed temperature in HV or GD side, it was found that the electrical tree inception voltage decreased linearly with increasing temperature in either side. The IDC results indicate that the increasing temperature contributes to the de-trapping of charges and lowers the inception voltage. Besides, the electrical tree length and accumulated damage gradually increase with the temperature gradient. The observed PD amplitude and quantity also increase with the temperature gradient, which facilitates the growth of electrical trees. These results indicate that the tree growth is promoted with an increase in the temperature gradient of the cable insulation, posing a threat to the safety of the cable system.