Application of a HV bipolar square-wave voltage generator for qualification and assessment of energy equipment

The increasing use of wideband gap devices poses a major challenge for the insulation system of motor windings due to its steep dv/dt voltage slopes. This paper focuses on the application of a modular bipolar square-wave voltage generator, which was built at the Hochschule Hannover and is now used in the high-voltage lab. Exemplary measurement results related to qualification and condition monitoring are presented. It is shown that the stress of a bipolar square-wave with high frequency and steep voltage slopes on the insulation system is much higher compared to a standard sinusoidal 50 Hz wave.