Comparative Experimental Studies of the Main Electrical Parameters of Electrical Equipment Insulation after Drying by Various Methods

Abstract: This paper is devoted to evaluating the results of comparative experimental studies of various techniques for drying the impregnated insulation of power electrical equipment in the process of manufacture and repair: the standard drying technique in high-power convective electric furnaces and the proposed technique of accelerated drying in hardware complexes using IR radiation. In particular, the paper presents the results of an analysis of the microstructure of the polymer insulation surface after drying by these methods. The research was carried out in industrial conditions, using specialized certified equipment. In theoretical terms, the paper presents calculations on the justification of the use of IR radiation in the drying of multilayer insulation structures of various compositions. The conducted studies confirm the hypothesis that microcavities form on the surface and in the thickness of the polymer insulation when using convection during drying, which reduce the quality and reliability of the insulation of electrical equipment as a whole. At the same time, the proposed technology and technique of accelerated drying of electrical equipment insulation using IR radiation can improve the quality of the resulting polymer insulation, increasing its reliability. In addition, this technology can significantly improve the performance of insulation repair and reduce energy costs. © 2021, Allerton Press, Inc.