Creepage discharge on insulation barriers in aged power transformers

This paper presents experimental research of creepage discharge on insulation barriers in power transformers. Using point-to-plate electrode configurations under ac voltages creepage discharge is studied for both single flashover breakdown and partial discharge induced failure modes. It is confirmed that the dielectric strength of oil gap will not be reduced with introducing dry new pressboard surface into the oil gap, indeed the flashover breakdown voltage is hardly compromised by introducing aged pressboard with up to 3% moisture. However, increased moisture content in pressboard reduces partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) significantly, i.e. ~30% PDIV reduction for pressboard of ~3% moisture as compared with dry pressboard. More importantly, high moisture contents in pressboard increase PD activities in oil pores which allow gasses to be trapped inside to develop gaseous channels which eventually lead creepage discharge to breakdown