Fundamental insulation characteristic of high-pressure CO2 gas under actual equipment conditions

SF₆ gas has been widely used in electrical power equipment such as circuit breakers and transformers due to its superior insulation and interruption characteristics. However since 1997, SF₆ gas has been designated a greenhouse gas subject to emission restrictions at COP3 (The 3rd session of the Conference Of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) so a new insulating gas is needed as a substitute for SF₆ gas. This research considers the use of high-pressure CO₂ gas as an insulator while stressing the environment aspects. Fundamental insulation data for the insulating gas acquired supposing gas insulated switchgears (GIS) consists of; (1) insulation breakdown characteristics under clean conditions and, (2) insulation breakdown characteristics with metallic particle contamination. The parameters in this case were assumed from an actual apparatus viewpoint, to be a high gas pressure up to 2.0 MPa, an electrode size capable of determining the surface area effect, the electrode surface roughness, and metallic particle length, etc. at the base electrode of the 72 kV GIS. As a result, experiments using these parameters revealed insulation characteristics for high-pressure CO₂ gas and that negative lightning impulse decided the insulation design, as well as the present SF₆ GIS. The need for taking measures to suppress PD under AC voltage and also the need for restricting metallic foreign particles around the central conductor and insulating spacer were recognized