Simulation of the Lightning Impulse Breakdown in Insulating Nanofluids and Comparison to Experimental Results

This paper deals with the development of a numerical model in COMSOL Multiphysics software in order to test the breakdown behavior of a vegetable insulating oil and two ester-based nanofluids under Lightning Impulse Voltage (LIV) in correspondence to experimental findings. The two nanofluids contain SiC nanoparticles in two weight percentage ratios. The simulation results are compared to experimental ones after being conducted in accordance with IEC 60897. The comparison proves that the increase in nanoparticles' concentration should lead to improvement of LI BDV, which is not verified from the experimental results, probably due to the influence of rapid agglomeration regarding the higher concentration, which cannot be taken into account in the numerical model.