Master’s thesis deals with the optimization of partial discharges in switchgears ABB UniGear 500R and ABB UniGear 550 for 17,5 kV voltage level. It contains a description of the measurement method of partial discharges in metal enclosed medium voltage switchgears, analysis of the places where it may lead to formation of partial discharges and project of optimization of partial discharges in switchgears ABB UniGear 500R and ABB UniGear 550 for 17,5 kV voltage level.

Le concept de l'avion plus électrique a conduit les industriels à focaliser une partie de leurs efforts sur les risques liés à l'utilisation de la haute tension dans un environnement sévère (Basse pression, large plage de température et d'humidité …). Les risques associés sont l'existence et le développement de décharges partielles conduisant à terme à la défaillance du système dans lequel, elles se produisent. Considérant cette problématique, le groupe Liebherr Elektronik GmbH, en collaboration avec le laboratoire Laplace, a lancé l'étude d'une méthode permettant de détecter les décharges partielles dans des convertisseurs destinés à des applications aéronautiques. Ce sont les résultats de ce travail qui font l'objet de cette thèse. La première partie fait état des connaissances actuelles sur les décharges partielles, de leur nature physique aux méthodes de détection utilisées. Dans la seconde partie, trois phases de mesures validant l'efficacité de la méthode étudiée sont présentées et leurs résultats sont discutés. Enfin, dans une troisième partie, les conclusions de nos travaux et leurs perspectives sont présentées. / The more electrical airplane concept led industrial companies to focus a part of their efforts on risks linked to the use of high voltage in a severe environment (Low pressure, wide range of temperature and humidity …). Associated risks are the existence and the growing of partial discharges ultimately leading to the breakdown of the system in which they occur. Considering this problematic, the Liebherr Elektronik GmbH group, in collaboration with the Laplace laboratory, launched the study of a method allowing partial discharges detection in converters intended to be used in aeronautical applications. The results of this work are the subject of this thesis. The first part brings the status of the current knowledge about partial discharges from their physical nature to the detection methods which are used. In the second part, three measurement phases assessing the efficiency of the studied method are introduced and their results discussed. Finally, in the third part, the conclusionsof our works and their perspectives are presented.

[pt] Os equipamentos elétricos de alta tensão são peças fundamentais na produção industrial. Porém, os sistemas de isolamento são os que mais apresentam problemas ao longo da vida útil dos nossos equipamentos. Suas propriedades dielétricas são alteradas ao longo do tempo e, desta forma devem ser monitoradas. Dentre as principais anomalias acometidas aos sistemas de isolamento, estão as Descargas Parciais (DP).Elas são resultado do rompimento da rigidez dieétrica do material isolante submetido a um intensivo campo elétrico . Até alguns anos atrás, em virtude da existência dos mecanismos de medição que possibilitassem o armazernamento de dados, muito pouco se efetuava para o acompanhamento das condições apresentadas pelos sistemas de isolamento.Com advento de sistemas digitais,esta limitação foi vencida. No entanto, a obtenção de dados reais e sua posterior avaliação são mecanismos que ainda carecem de um bom número de anos de experiência para sua elucidação. Esse fato advém,principalmente, da dificuldade em obtê-los .Como forma de contornar problema de falta de dados reais, foram desenvolvidas as célualas que têm como características simular os principais tipos de defeitos existentesnos sistemas de isolamento de alta tensão.Essas células são isoladas por materiais dielétricos idênticos ao que são usados em equipamentos elétricos reais. Dessa forma, foi possível a simulação de defeitos e a posterior aquisição, através do método eletromagnético de medição de DP, de um número suficiente de dados. Esses dados foram,então, aplicados no ajuste do sistema de reconhecimento de padrões de DP, onde se faz uso da teoria fractal, como um mecanismo de compactação de dados, por meio das grandezas fractais denominadas de dimensão fractal e lacunaridade, e também das redes neurais artificiais, com a utilização de um algoritmo supervisionado através do modo de treinamento back-propagation.Essa etapa,denominada de laboratorial, foi de fundamental importância para obtenção de conhecimento experimental bastante útil para a aplicação em ambientes reais.Outra fonte de informação também foi disponibilizada e se refere aos níveis de gases encontrados nas amostras de óleo colhidas junto aos transformadores de potência. Esta análise, conhecida como análise cromatográfica,baseia-se na existência de determinados tipos de gases para apontar o tipo de anomalia acometida ao sistema de isolamento do equipamento elétrico.Embora existam alguns métodos capazes de realizar tal diagnóstico, a tese fez uso das informações de um especialista.Essas afirmações foram então empregadas em um sistema neuro-fuzzy hierárquico, que tem como fundamento a extração de regras que relacionam os níveis de gases obtidos pela cromatografia gasosa com o tipo de anomalia existente no sistema de isolamento .Após esse processo um conjunto de transformadores de potência reais foi monitorado através de técnicas de cromatografia e do método eletromagnético.As duas técnicas, portanto, são usadas para estimar a ocorrência de DP nos sistemas de isolamento e, cosequentemente, o nível de degradação dos mesmos.Desta forma, a tese apresenta um sistema de diagnóstico que se utilizada de dados internos ao sistema de isolamento dos equipamentos elétricos baseados na ocorrência de DP. Esse sistema indica, ao seu final, um conceito sobre o atual estado operativo do mesmo, podendo este ser utilizado em um planejamento mais adequado que previna perdas intempestivas. A avaliação de desempenho do modelo, tanto laboratorial quanto em campo, apresentou ídices elevados, culminando em uma confirmação visual interna de um equipamento real, que comprova a eficiência e a importãncia do sistema. / [en] High voltage (HV) power apparatus are fundamental parts in the industrial process. It is also well Known that electrical insulation systems are the parts that present more problems through the life cycle of an HV apparatus. The dielectric properties of materials are altered during operation time and for this reason they should be monitored. Among the main anomalies that can affect the insulation systems are the Partial Discharges (PD). They are result of a partial failure of the dielectric rigidity of the insulating material submitted to an intense electric field.Until recently, probably due to the inexistence of measurement mechanisms that made possible the storage of data, very a little could be done to accompany the actual condition of insulation systems. With the coming of digital systems, this limitation was overcome.However, the obtention of real data and their subsequent evaluation are mechanisms that still will demand a good number of years of experience to perfect . This fact occurs, mainly, due to the difficulty in obtaining those data .As a way to the problem of lack of real data, special cells development with the purpose of simulating the principal types of defects that occur in HV insulation equipment . In that way, it was possible to do both the simulation of the defects and the measurement and acquisition, through the electromagnetic measurement method, of an expressive number of data. Those data were used to adjust a system of pattern recognition of PD, using artificial neural networks, where it is also made use of the fractal theory, as a mechanism of data compression, by measures of fractal dimension and lacunarity. That stage, denomited laboratory, was of fundamental importance to the obtention of experimental . Knowledge very useful to the development of real operating systems .Another source of information that was also available refers to the levels of gases found in oil samples from the interior of power transformers. This analysis, known as analysis of dissolved gases or chromatography, is based on the existence of certain types of gases as an indication of the type of anomaly on the electrical insulation system. Although some mehods exist, capable of accomplishing such diagnosis, the thesis made use of a specialist`s information. Those statements were used then in a hierarchical neuro-fuzzy model, designed method, with the type of anomaly existent in the insulation system. After that process, a real sample of operating HV power apparatus was monitored using the two analysis techniques, the chromatography and the electromagnetic method of PD measurement.Therefore these two techniques, are used to estimate the PD activity in the insulation systems and, consequently, their level of degradation . In resume the thesis presents a diagnosis system that makes use of internal data from the electrical insulation system with base in the PD occurrence. That system indicates, at the end, a concept of its current operative state, being able to be used in a more appropriate planning in order to prevent inopportune losses. The evaluation of the model, as much of simulating as in field, present high indexes and a visual confirmation intern of a real equipment, that proves the efficiency and the importance of system.

The presented thesis deals with the issue of statistical quality control of a specific production process. The thesis presents a range of statistical tools that can be used to identify the factors causing a high proportion of non-standard pieces. The diploma thesis practically introduces the application of these quality management tools to the production process characterized by an increased proportion of non-standard pieces, in which the factors causing their occurrence are unknown, and as following the thesis in detail introduces the approach how to detect these factors. The last part of the work summarizes the recommendations handed over to the company in order to verify the conclusions of the thesis.

Dans la perspective de l’aéronef « plus électrique », l’augmentation de puissance électrique embarquée se traduit par une augmentation de tension. Les tensions envisagées aujourd’hui sont inférieures à 1000 V DC. Mais des valeurs plus élevées peuvent être considérées pour le futur. Il est donc indispensable d’étudier les dégradations prématurées induites par cette élévation de tension sur les équipements existants. Ce travail de thèse, portant spécifiquement sur les câbles aéronautiques, constitue une contribution à cette étude. Les câbles examinés, constitués d’une âme multibrins sur laquelle sont rubanées des couches de PTFE et PI, ont subi différents vieillissements accélérés thermiques statiques et dynamiques, sous humidité, et ce sans ou avec contrainte électrique. Certains vieillissements ont été effectués sur une durée supérieure à 9000 heures. Les décharges partielles (DP) ont été étudiées sur ces câbles en termes de tension d’apparition PDIV et RPDIV. Ces DP peuvent intervenir à l’extérieur ducâble mais également à l’intérieur (pour des tensions plus élevées) dans les interstices d’air entre l’isolant et les brins conducteurs. Cette localisation a été confirmée par un modèle électrostatique. L’effet du vieillissement n’a pu être constaté que sur les décharges internes, avec dans certains cas une réduction significative des valeurs de RPDIV.Des analyses physicochimiques du système d’isolation électrique ont été effectuées ainsi que des radiographies par rayons X. Des modifications chimiques des interfaces du système d’isolation interviennent au cours des vieillissements. Pour les vieillissements les plus poussés (après 9000h sous contrainte thermique à 240°C), ces modifications résultent en la formation de cavités où des DP peuvent prendre place. Enfin, des mesures électrostatiques de potentiel de surface (déclin et retour après neutralisation) ont mis en évidence, bien avant l’observation de cavités, une augmentation de conductivité d’une des couches de l’isolation. / In future "more electric" aircraft, the increase in on board electrical power will result in an increase in voltage. The voltages envisaged today are lower than 1000 V DC, but higher values can be considered in the medium to long term. It is therefore essential to study possible premature degradation of existing equipment induced by this rise in voltage. This thesis work, specifically on aeronautical cables, is a contribution to this goal. The examined cables, consisting of a multi-stranded core on which PTFE and PI layers are wound, have undergone various static and dynamic accelerated thermal aging, under humidity, without or with electrical stress. Aging has been carried out in some cases for more than 9000 hours. Partial discharges (DP) were studied on these cables in terms of the appearance voltage PDIV and RPDIV. These DPs can occur outside the cable but alsoinside (for higher voltages) in the air gaps between the insulation and the conductive strands. This location has been confirmed by an electrostatic model. The effect of aging was only found in the case of internal discharges, with in some cases a significant reduction in RPDIV values.Physicochemical analyses of the electrical insulation system were carried out as well as x-ray radiography. Chemical modifications of the interfaces of the insulation system occur during aging. For the most advanced aging (after 9000h under thermal stress at 240°C), these changes result in the formation of cavities where DP can then take place. Finally, electrostatic measurements of surface potential (decline and return after neutralization) have shown, well before the observation of cavities, an increase in conductivity of one of the layers of the insulation.

[pt] O Monitoramento do Sistema de Isolamento em Máquinas Elétricas de Alta Tensão representa um avanço no que diz respeito ao planejamento operacional de uma indústria. Com posse de dados on-line referentes às condições apresentadas pelos isolamentos, as devidas precauções podem ser tomadas, evitando danos maiores. O trabalho apresentado tem como objetivo principal analisar um sistema de monitoramento desenvolvido pela CEA (Canadian Electrical Association), com suporte técnico da Ontario Hydro. O sistema chamado PDA (Partial Discharge Analyzer) mede, através de acopladores permanentes ou portáteis (capacitores), as Descargas Parciais nos enrolamentos estatóricos de grande máquinas de alta tensão. A quantificação exata das Descargas Parciais são indicadas das reais condições do isolamento. A análise do aparelho foi realizada em conjunção aos dados obtidos, tendo como referência a Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN). A partir de tais dados, é possível demostrar em que estágio atual de aproveitamento estamos em relação à utilização de tal aparelho e quais são os passos futuros para melhor compreensão das medidas. / [en] The Monitoring of te Isolation System in High Tension Electrical Machines represents na advance in what concerns the operational planning of na industry. Knowing the on- line data referring to the conditions presented by the isolations, the necessary cautions can be taken, avoiding bigger damages. This work has as the main aim to analyze a monitoring system developed by the CEA (Canadian Electrical Association). The system is called PDA ( Partial Discharge Analyzer) and measures, through permanent or portable couplers (capacitors), the Partial Discharges is indicator of the isolation real conditions. The appliance analyses was made with the obtained data, having as reference the CSN. With this data, it is possible to show in what profiting stage of appliance and which are the future steps for a better comprehension of the measures.

Partial discharge (PD) is a micro discharge that occurs in defected regions within the insulating media. As these discharges are the main culprits that cause dielectric material aging, PD measurements have been used for assessing insulating materials, including solids, liquids, and gases for power applications. There are various methods and sensors available for measuring PD sensitive to specific characteristics and operable over a wide range of frequencies. Most PD measurement techniques provide patterns that enable PD interpretation more comfortable for users. For example, in AC applications, the phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) technique provides identifiable patterns for distinguishing various types of PDs. However, the establishment of meaningful patterns to multiple types of PD in DC systems requires more sensitive and accurate measurements of individual PD pulses with noise rejection functionality due to the lack of phase-resolved information. Investigating of the transient phenomena such as individual PD pulses requires well-designed circuits with sufficiently large bandwidths. Waveshapes can be easily disturbed by background noise and deformed by the frequency response of measuring circuits and data acquisition systems (DAQ). Noises are unwanted disturbances that could be suppressed by suitable filters or mathematical methods. Measurement circuits and DAQ systems consist of transmission lines, sensors, cables, connectors, DAQ hardware, and oscilloscopes. Therefore, matching the impedance of all components guarantees a reflectionree path for traveling signals and addresses most of the challenges relevant to transient measurements. In this dissertation, we proposed and designed an appropriate testbed equipped with high bandwidth transmission line and electromagnetic field sensors suitable for investigating PD under DC electrical stresses. We comprehensively used finite element analysis simulations through the COMSOL Multiphysics software to design the dimensions and evaluate the frequency response of the testbed, transmission line, and electromagnetic sensors. Furthermore, based on the new testbed, DC PD measurements were performed using conventional and non-conventional sensors. Finally, various types of DC PD were statistically classified based on the proposed testbed.

The partial discharge (PD) characteristics of polymeric insulation foil are investigated under harmonic distorted voltage waveforms. Distorted voltage waveforms can cause intensified aging, leading to preliminary insulation failure, especially when PD are present. The exact mechanism in which way harmonic distortion influences the PD activity and hence the degradation of e.g. polymeric insulation is not yet clear. The contribution presents results of parameter measurements of surface discharges on polyethylen terephtalat (PET) insulation foil. Voltage waveforms with different superimposed harmonic voltages up to 31st order and total harmonic distortions up to 20% but constant peak voltage are utilized to isolate principal influencing factors on the PD activity. The measurements show that the shape of the voltage waveform, expressed by a shape factor, has a significant effect on the apparent charge and repetition rate as well as the phase interval per period in which PD are present. Hereby, the frequency of the superimposed harmonic affects the PD activity more than the total harmonic distortion. The implications of the obtained measurement results are discussed in the context of intensified degradation and hence accelerated aging of polymeric insulation systems.

Os equipamentos elétricos instalados em linhas de transmissão e distribuição de energia são normalmente submetidos a condições anormais e intensos campos elétricos, que, eventualmente, levam, entre outros fenômenos, as descargas parciais (DPs). Estas descargas têm sido apontadas como uma das principais causas de falhas de equipamentos e envelhecimento precoce. Portanto, detectar DPs se tornou uma questão importante na busca de uma energia elétrica eficiente e confiável. No que se refere a detecção de DPs existem vários sensores que podem ser aplicados, a exemplos: óptico, magnético ou acústico, e cada um deles apresentando vantagens particulares e limitações. Uma das desvantagens de tais sensores é o custo elevado, o que restringe o monitoramento de DPs no âmbito da distribuição de energia mais especificamente em transformadores de potência. Embora, se o foco do monitoramento é apenas detectar a ocorrência de DPs, uma nova classe de sensores acústicos implementados com piezoeletretos pode ser uma alternativa econômica viável. Deste modo, nesta dissertação, foi investigado o comportamento acústico de tais transdutores expostos a diferentes condições de DPs, onde o sensor piezoelétrico foi utilizado na detecção de DPs produzidas por uma configuração de eletrodos ponta - ponta separados por diferentes gaps de ar (único ou múltiplo) e excitado por altas tensões alternadas. As amplitudes dos sinais registrados foram correlacionadas com a distância do gap e com a amplitude da tensão aplicada. A partir dos resultados obtidos foi possível observar que a intensidade do som das DPs, capturado com o transdutor piezoelétrico, está relacionada com o tamanho do gap e da amplitude da tensão, como relatado na literatura. / Electrical equipment installed in power transmission and distribution lines are usually subjected to abnormal conditions and intense electric fields, which eventually lead, among others phenomena, to partial discharges (PDs). These discharges have been pointed as one of the main causes of equipment failures and premature aging. Therefore, detect PDs became an important issue in the prospect of efficient and reliable electric energy. Concerning PD detection there are several sensors that can be employed e.g. optical, magnetic or acoustic, and each of them presenting particular advantages and limitations. One of the drawback of such sensors is their elevated cost, which restricts the PD monitoring within the distribution of energy more specifically in power transformers. Although, if the intention of monitoring is only to detect the PD occurrence a new class of acoustic sensors implemented with piezoelectrets may be a feasible economic alternative. Therefore, in this work was investigated the acoustic behavior of such transducers exposed to different PD conditions, for instance, the piezoelectret sensor was employed on the detection of PD produced by a single or multiple point-to-point electrode setup with different air gaps excited by high AC voltages. The recorded signals amplitudes were correlated with the gap distance and voltage amplitude applied. Based on the results obtained it was observed that the intensity of the DPs sound, captured with the piezoelectric transducer, is related to the size of the gap and voltage amplitude, as reported in the literature.

Os equipamentos elétricos instalados em linhas de transmissão e distribuição de energia são normalmente submetidos a condições anormais e intensos campos elétricos, que, eventualmente, levam, entre outros fenômenos, as descargas parciais (DPs). Estas descargas têm sido apontadas como uma das principais causas de falhas de equipamentos e envelhecimento precoce. Portanto, detectar DPs se tornou uma questão importante na busca de uma energia elétrica eficiente e confiável. No que se refere a detecção de DPs existem vários sensores que podem ser aplicados, a exemplos: óptico, magnético ou acústico, e cada um deles apresentando vantagens particulares e limitações. Uma das desvantagens de tais sensores é o custo elevado, o que restringe o monitoramento de DPs no âmbito da distribuição de energia mais especificamente em transformadores de potência. Embora, se o foco do monitoramento é apenas detectar a ocorrência de DPs, uma nova classe de sensores acústicos implementados com piezoeletretos pode ser uma alternativa econômica viável. Deste modo, nesta dissertação, foi investigado o comportamento acústico de tais transdutores expostos a diferentes condições de DPs, onde o sensor piezoelétrico foi utilizado na detecção de DPs produzidas por uma configuração de eletrodos ponta - ponta separados por diferentes gaps de ar (único ou múltiplo) e excitado por altas tensões alternadas. As amplitudes dos sinais registrados foram correlacionadas com a distância do gap e com a amplitude da tensão aplicada. A partir dos resultados obtidos foi possível observar que a intensidade do som das DPs, capturado com o transdutor piezoelétrico, está relacionada com o tamanho do gap e da amplitude da tensão, como relatado na literatura. / Electrical equipment installed in power transmission and distribution lines are usually subjected to abnormal conditions and intense electric fields, which eventually lead, among others phenomena, to partial discharges (PDs). These discharges have been pointed as one of the main causes of equipment failures and premature aging. Therefore, detect PDs became an important issue in the prospect of efficient and reliable electric energy. Concerning PD detection there are several sensors that can be employed e.g. optical, magnetic or acoustic, and each of them presenting particular advantages and limitations. One of the drawback of such sensors is their elevated cost, which restricts the PD monitoring within the distribution of energy more specifically in power transformers. Although, if the intention of monitoring is only to detect the PD occurrence a new class of acoustic sensors implemented with piezoelectrets may be a feasible economic alternative. Therefore, in this work was investigated the acoustic behavior of such transducers exposed to different PD conditions, for instance, the piezoelectret sensor was employed on the detection of PD produced by a single or multiple point-to-point electrode setup with different air gaps excited by high AC voltages. The recorded signals amplitudes were correlated with the gap distance and voltage amplitude applied. Based on the results obtained it was observed that the intensity of the DPs sound, captured with the piezoelectric transducer, is related to the size of the gap and voltage amplitude, as reported in the literature.