Estimation of partial discharge inception voltage of magnet wires under inverter surge voltage by volume-time theory

This paper discusses a novel estimation method for partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) of magnet wire under inverter surge voltage application. We focused on the generation probability of initial electrons, which induce PD under high electric field and short rise time of surge voltage, by means of Volume-Time theory. We applied the Volume-Time theory to PD inception phenomena in a wedge-shaped air gap of twisted pair samples composed of enameled wires, and estimated PDIV in consideration of initial electron generation probability with temporal and spatial change in electric field distribution. We could estimate PDIV under different waveforms of applied surge voltage for different specifications of enameled wires. PDIV estimated by the extended Volume-Time theory agreed well with the measured PDIV. The estimated PDIV decreased with the increase in the rise time of applied voltage waveform, which corresponded to the V-t characteristics in the time range of inverter surge voltage.