Mechanism Analysis of Particle-Triggered Flashover in Different Gas Dielectrics Under DC Superposition Lightning Impulse Voltage

When DC GIL in operation endures the lightning impulse voltage, the charge accumulation at the gas-solid interface area will seriously affect the insulation performance of the spacer. Considering that gas side conduction is one of the important factors affecting charge accumulation, for the purpose of clarifying of the insulation characteristics of gaseous medium in the flashover process of gas-solid interface, an experimental platform for simulating the working conditions of the spacer is built. The spacer flashover tests were carried out with and without aluminum particle in SF
₆
, 4% C
₃
F
₇
CN /96% CO
₂
and 20% SF
₆
/80% N
₂
gas mixture. The measurement and analysis of surface potential distribution behavior of the spacer was conducted. The experiment results show that the gas dielectric is not the factor which dominate the potential distribution process without aluminum particle, and there is little difference in potential distribution with various gaseous conditions. When the linear aluminum particle appears on the surface of the insulator, it will cause severe electric potential distortion and these potential distorted areas are located around the end of the metal particle near the central conductor, and along with flashover pathway. It has also demonstrated that the gaseous dielectric has influence on the surface charge accumulation behavior especially with metallic particle adhere to spacer surface. Under the C
₃
F
₇
CN/CO
₂
gas mixture, the surface flashover voltage decrease percentage is about 16.82% and may be lower. Besides, the insulation strength of the gaseous dielectric itself is also a key factor affecting flashover.