A Finite Element Analysis Model for Partial Discharges in Silicone Gel under a High Slew Rate, High-Frequency Square Wave Voltage in Low-Pressure Conditions
Wide bandgap (WBG) devices made from materials such as SiC, GaN, Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and diamond, which can tolerate higher voltages and currents compared to silicon-based devices, are the most promising approach for reducing the size and weight of power management an...
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/9/2152 |
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| author | Moein Borghei Mona Ghassemi |
| author_facet | Moein Borghei Mona Ghassemi |
| author_sort | Moein Borghei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wide bandgap (WBG) devices made from materials such as SiC, GaN, Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and diamond, which can tolerate higher voltages and currents compared to silicon-based devices, are the most promising approach for reducing the size and weight of power management and conversion systems. Silicone gel, which is the existing commercial option for encapsulation of power modules, is susceptible to partial discharges (PDs). PDs often occur in air-filled cavities located in high electric field regions around the sharp edges of metallization in the gel. This study focuses on the modeling of PD phenomenon in an air filled-cavity in silicone gel for the combination of (1) a fast, high-frequency square wave voltage and (2) low-pressure conditions. The low-pressure condition is common in the aviation industry where pressure can go as low as 4 psi. To integrate the pressure impact into PD model, in the first place, the model parameters are adjusted with the experimental results reported in the literature and in the second place, the dependencies of various PD characteristics such as dielectric constant and inception electric field on pressure are examined. Finally, the reflections of these changes in PD intensity, duration and inception time are investigated. The results imply that the low pressure at high altitudes can considerably affect the PD inception and extinction criterion, also the transient state conditions during PD events. These changes result in the prolongation of PD events and more intense ones. As the PD model is strongly dependent upon the accurate estimation electric field estimation of the system, a finite-element analysis (FEA) model developed in COMSOL Multiphysics linked with MATLAB is employed that numerically calculates the electric field distribution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:06:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-323f81cdcb574ab992ee9713a24eb866 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:06:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-323f81cdcb574ab992ee9713a24eb8662023-11-19T23:12:27ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-05-01139215210.3390/en13092152A Finite Element Analysis Model for Partial Discharges in Silicone Gel under a High Slew Rate, High-Frequency Square Wave Voltage in Low-Pressure ConditionsMoein Borghei0Mona Ghassemi1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USAWide bandgap (WBG) devices made from materials such as SiC, GaN, Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and diamond, which can tolerate higher voltages and currents compared to silicon-based devices, are the most promising approach for reducing the size and weight of power management and conversion systems. Silicone gel, which is the existing commercial option for encapsulation of power modules, is susceptible to partial discharges (PDs). PDs often occur in air-filled cavities located in high electric field regions around the sharp edges of metallization in the gel. This study focuses on the modeling of PD phenomenon in an air filled-cavity in silicone gel for the combination of (1) a fast, high-frequency square wave voltage and (2) low-pressure conditions. The low-pressure condition is common in the aviation industry where pressure can go as low as 4 psi. To integrate the pressure impact into PD model, in the first place, the model parameters are adjusted with the experimental results reported in the literature and in the second place, the dependencies of various PD characteristics such as dielectric constant and inception electric field on pressure are examined. Finally, the reflections of these changes in PD intensity, duration and inception time are investigated. The results imply that the low pressure at high altitudes can considerably affect the PD inception and extinction criterion, also the transient state conditions during PD events. These changes result in the prolongation of PD events and more intense ones. As the PD model is strongly dependent upon the accurate estimation electric field estimation of the system, a finite-element analysis (FEA) model developed in COMSOL Multiphysics linked with MATLAB is employed that numerically calculates the electric field distribution.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/9/2152finite-element analysis modelhigh frequencyhigh slew ratelow-pressure conditionpartial dischargesilicone gel |
| spellingShingle | Moein Borghei Mona Ghassemi A Finite Element Analysis Model for Partial Discharges in Silicone Gel under a High Slew Rate, High-Frequency Square Wave Voltage in Low-Pressure Conditions Energies finite-element analysis model high frequency high slew rate low-pressure condition partial discharge silicone gel |
| title | A Finite Element Analysis Model for Partial Discharges in Silicone Gel under a High Slew Rate, High-Frequency Square Wave Voltage in Low-Pressure Conditions |
| title_full | A Finite Element Analysis Model for Partial Discharges in Silicone Gel under a High Slew Rate, High-Frequency Square Wave Voltage in Low-Pressure Conditions |
| title_fullStr | A Finite Element Analysis Model for Partial Discharges in Silicone Gel under a High Slew Rate, High-Frequency Square Wave Voltage in Low-Pressure Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Finite Element Analysis Model for Partial Discharges in Silicone Gel under a High Slew Rate, High-Frequency Square Wave Voltage in Low-Pressure Conditions |
| title_short | A Finite Element Analysis Model for Partial Discharges in Silicone Gel under a High Slew Rate, High-Frequency Square Wave Voltage in Low-Pressure Conditions |
| title_sort | finite element analysis model for partial discharges in silicone gel under a high slew rate high frequency square wave voltage in low pressure conditions |
| topic | finite-element analysis model high frequency high slew rate low-pressure condition partial discharge silicone gel |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/9/2152 |
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