Study of the Dynamics of Electric Breakdown in Cellulose Composite Materials with Nanofillers

The work is focused on the study of the dynamics of destruction of electrical insulation paper during electrical breakdown. Current and voltage waveforms were obtained experimentally during the breakdown of standard electrical insulation paper K120, castings of a composite of the nano-gel film of bacterial cellulose with filler in the form of nano-silicon dioxide, carbon nanotubes and without them. The characteristic parameters of electric breakdown development are evaluated. An explanation is given for physical phenomena at various stages of breakdown development.

I. Introduction

The use of paper-impregnated insulation in power transformers and electrical cables is now as relevant as ever. According to experts, paper-impregnated insulation in high-power power transformers will remain the main type of electrical insulation for the coming decades. Electrical cables with paper-impregnated insulation have been successfully used for more than a hundred years [1]. After the appearance of innovative impregnating compounds that can significantly increase the long-term permissible operating temperature of power electric cables, an urgent problem is improving the operational properties of electrical insulation paper, such as through the use of bacterial cellulose [2]-[4], as well as developing methods for diagnosing components of paper-impregnated insulation [2]-[6], in particular, studying the dynamics of electric breakdown [7]. The results of research on new types of electrical insulation paper for use in power transformers are given, for example, in [8], [9].