Calculation model for predicting partial-discharge inception voltage in a non-uniform air gap while considering the effect of humidity

A calculation model for predicting the inception of partial discharge (PD) in a non-uniform air gap on the basis of theories of electron avalanche and streamer phenomena is proposed. “Partial discharge inception voltages” (PDIVs), under an assumed absolute humidity of less than 20g/cm3, calculated using the proposed model were compared with experimentally measured ones and found to be almost equivalent. Furthermore, the relationship between negative ions and humidity was incorporated into the calculation model, and it was confirmed that the calculated and measured PDIVs tend to be the roughly the same under a wide humidity range under various gap length between electrodes. The proposed partial-discharge inception model based on theories mentioned above was therefore judged to be effective for predicting changes in PDIV when humidity changes.