Development of Monitoring Systems for High-Voltage Cast Resin Busbars1

• Published in: Power technology and engineering 2022, Vol.56 (1), p.115-120
• Main Authors: Kovalev, D. I., Varivodov, V. N., Zhulikov, S. S., Golubev, D. V., Voronkova, E. M., Mirzabekyan, G. Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustic insulation; Busbars; Composite materials; Continuous casting; Diagnostic systems; Electric fields; Electrical installations; Electrical Machines and Networks; Energy; Energy Systems; Foundations; Geoengineering; High voltages; Hydraulics; Monitoring; Monitoring systems; Parameter identification; Power Electronics; Power plants; Renewable and Green Energy; Resins; Service life; Substations; Transducers
• ISSN: 1570-145X; 1570-1468
• DOI: 10.1007/s10749-023-01482-3

Cast resin busbars are widely used in power plants and substations to facilitate compact installation of high-voltage complexes and devices, helping to ensure the reliable operation and long service life of equipment. Although the most widespread high voltage cast resin busbars are found in electrical installations for a rated voltage of 6 – 35 kV, there are technical solutions for their use in higher voltage classes. Research currently being carried out at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (NRU “MPEI”) aimed at improving the insulating structures of modern busbars envisages the creation of innovative busbars based on new composite materials and employing built-in digital diagnostic and monitoring devices, which will be capable operating within a voltage class of 6 – 110 kV. One of the main objectives of the study, whose intermediate results are presented in this article, is to solve the problem of ensuring continuous monitoring of the insulation state of cast resin busbars. In this work, a rational choice of parameters necessary for an effective diagnostic monitoring system is presented along with an overview of modern devices and methods for their continuous control. Primary sensors for measuring the identified parameters comprise compact current and voltage transducers that can be easily built into the cast insulation of busbars, along with capacitive-type contactless electric field and acoustic partial discharge (PD) transducers working in combination with thermal resistances. As a result of the study, key directions for the development of monitoring systems for high voltage cast resin busbars were identified.