Effect of Interplay between Parallel and Perpendicular Magnetic and Electric Fields on Partial Discharges

This paper reports on the influence of a magnetic field on the dynamics of partial discharges (PDs) in two distinct configurations with respect to the mutual orientation of electric fields. The broad application areas include electrical insulation systems of both high-voltage grids and industrial network devices as well as emerging segments such as electric vehicles or more electric aircraft. Traditionally, PD measurements are only carried out in an electric field. In all current-carrying power equipment, magnetic fields are also superimposed onto electric ones, thus influencing partial discharge behavior. It has been observed that the interplay between electric and magnetic fields influences the dynamics of PDs; parallel and perpendicular mutual orientations were specifically investigated. The measurement technique allowed us to quantitively detect the effect of magnetic fields on PDs in a corona point–plane arrangement. The novel element presented in this article is a detection of PD intensity modulated by a magnetic field, with both perpendicular and parallel orientations with respect to electric one, and a quantitative visualization in the form of the time-sequence diagrams. The simulation of electron trajectories in the presence of electric and magnetic fields revealed the elongation of the pathways and differentiation of the charged particle propagation times. The perpendicularly oriented magnetic field led to a twisting effect, whereas the parallel alignment reflected the propagation along a helical trajectory. A slightly stronger PD intensity amplification effect was observed in the case of a parallel alignment of electric versus magnetic fields as compared with the perpendicular orientation. The presented results may contribute to PD measurement methodology in both electric and magnetic fields as well as a better understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms. The observed effect of the modulation of the magnetically based PD dynamics may be relevant for the insulation systems of power equipment.