Gustavo G. Girotto

We suggest a new method of localization of partial discharges in high-power electrical systems. Ozone in a hydrogenerator is produced by chemical reactions induced by partial discharges in the stator region. The transport of ozone in an operating hydrogenerator is analyzed using a computational fluid dynamics model. The main aim of this work is to evaluate the ozone distribution in the generator radiators. Ozone sources are introduced into the stator model in different positions to analyze their effect on the measured values at the sensing points of radiators. Our results demonstrate a possibility of localization of partial discharges in hydrogenerator stator bars by ozone emission.

In this paper, a three-dimensional turbulent fluid dynamics numerical model of a 311 MVA full hydroelectric power plant unit is made, using the finite element method, to study and understand the ozone transport mechanisms inside the enclosured electric machine structure. In the real world, ozone is produced by partial discharges related to faults on stator bars. In order to analyse ozone transport from localised sources, a 3D fluid dynamic model of a complete hydrogenerator in operation is developed and presented for the first time. The model has a high level of geometric detail. Furthermore, a new proposal to simplify the modelling of radiators is implemented and validated. The modelled structure is based on a Campos Novos hydrogenerator electric machine and it consists of 378 coil-type stator bars made of copper covered by mica and, more externally, by a semiconductor coating layer. Other parts are also represented, including the stator core and air directors made of stainless steel, copper radiators, the rotor with its epoxy surface, and the concrete floor and concrete external walls. In the fluid dynamics model, a finite element mesh was designed to represent the air regions inside the hydrogenerator and the material surfaces that react with ozone (with their respective reaction rates), where the airflow and ozone transport are modelled using the Navier–Stokes equations and the mass conservation law. Partial discharge sources are represented by ozone sources with prismatic shapes, placed on surfaces of stator bars. Ozone concentrations have been calculated inside and around the generator machine. The rotor radius is 3.8075 m and its rotation frequency is 200 RPM. Radial air velocity due to interpole ventilation is also considered (2.2 m/s, as experimentally verified in loco. The radial velocity in the vicinity of the radiators is 3 m/s. It has been concluded that the ozone transport profile is influenced by the source positioning on the stator bars in such a way that source pinpointing is possible and it depends on determining the local and global maxima areas of ozone concentration at the radiators.

We present a synergistic investigation into ozone production dynamics within a high-voltage reaction chamber operating from 1.75 kV to 10 kV, at 60 Hz. The output ozone concentration dependence on a 60 Hz root mean square high-voltage for an air input pressure of 0.1 bar was measured using an ultraviolet-based sensor. A finite-element numerical model of the reaction chamber was developed and used for obtaining the reaction rate for the generated ozone for each level of input voltage and the internal distribution of the gas vector velocity field and ozone concentration. An expression to estimate the ozone reaction rates from the measured ozone concentrations was also derived. It was then compared and validated using the developed computational model. Therefore, in this work, a formula is proposed to estimate the ozone production by providing the experimental reaction rates. The other objective is to analyze the hysteresis phenomena observed in the partial discharges’ levels in the reaction chamber and in the output ozone concentration. Finally, we establish a connection between the total power of partial discharges and the consequent ozone production, clarifying the role of cumulative partial discharges’ power levels in governing the resultant output ozone concentration.