Evaluation of medium voltage enameled wire exposed to fast repetitive voltage pulses

The paper describes the investigation of the failure mechanisms of medium voltage inter-turn insulation, as a consequence of pulse aging. To study the performance and failure behaviour of enameled wires, models of inter-turn insulation are prepared with enameled wires having polyimide and nano-filled coatings. The aging of such bar samples is attained by si.nusoidal (60Hz), fast repetitive unipolar voltage pulses, and high frequency ac waveforms. To establish the residual strength of the bar samples, dc breakdown voltages are determined before and after the aging. In addition, the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) is used to provide information about the relaxation processes, such as the disorientation of the dipoles and the release of charges from the trapping sites in enameled wires. The various trapping levels, which have discrete energy differences with distinct peaks in the thermograms, are discussed in terms of space charge polarization.