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  • Zhonglin XU, Yang FENG, Yuqin DING, Xianjie RAO, Kai ZHOU, Fan YANG, Fenglian LIU
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 121-128.

    To resolve the issue that the traditional frequency domain reflection (FDR) method is easy to misjudge when diagnosing the moisture defects of cable joints, the influence law of thermal excitation on the characteristic impedance of moistened cable joints was firstly analyzed in this paper, and a diagnostic method for moisture in cable joints was proposed based on the frequency domain reflection characteristics under thermal excitation. Then a moistened joint was set up on a 10 kV XLPE cable with a length of 58 m, the temperature of the moistened joint was changed using a heating belt, and the moisture defects were located and diagnosed. The results show that when applying the thermal excitation, the unit capacitance and characteristic impedance of the cable body and normal joint hardly change with the temperature, the unit capacitance of the moistened cable joint decreases with the increase of temperature, and the characteristic impedance increases with the increase of temperature. The simulation results show that the amplitude of the frequency domain reflection spectrum at the moistened joint increases with the increase of temperature, while the amplitude of the frequency domain reflection spectrum at the normal joint is basically unchanged. Based on the above research results, the amplitude changes of the true cable reflection coefficient spectrum at the joint under different temperatures were obtained through thermal excitation, achieving the localization diagnosis of moisture defects.

  • Xiang DONG, Xiaokun HAN, Shuwei YI, Xiao ZHANG, Zhe YANG, Dao ZHOU, Boya XIA, Teng ZHANG, Xuekai PEI
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 55-65.

    A clean air insulation defect decomposition experimental device was constructed based on gas component analysis method, then the main characteristic decomposition components of clean air under different discharge form (spark discharge and corona discharge) and different gas pressure were detected and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The basic reaction principles and pathways of the main decomposition components were explored, and the effects of different pressures on the partial main characteristic decomposition components of clean air were analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively. The results show that the main characteristic decomposition products of clean air under spark discharge are NO2, NO, and N2O4, and the main characteristic decomposition products under corona discharge are O3, N2O5, and N2O. The increase of gas pressure can affect the generation ratio of NO and NO2 under the spark discharge, the proportion of NO is lower in high gas pressure range, and the NO selectivity increases with the decrease of gas pressure. The concentrations of O3, N2O5, and N2O generated under corona discharge show an overall trend of increase at first and then decrease with the increase of gas pressure under a same voltage level, and the generation of N2O5 has a strong correlation with the concentration of O3.

  • Shuangshuang TIAN, Yimeng CHEN, Xiaoping JIN, Yingxiang WANG, Chenying LI, Jiahao WANG, Hui CHEN
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 16-24.

    C6F12O has good environmental protection characteristics and insulation properties, and has good application prospects in medium and low voltage gas-insulated equipment. In order to explore the influence of micro-water inside the gas-insulated equipment on the insulation performance and decomposition characteristics of C6F12O/CO2 gas mixture, a gas power frequency breakdown test platform was set up, and the breakdown voltage of 4%C6F12O/96%CO2 gas mixture under 0.14 MPa pressure within the range of 0-1 000 μL/L micro-water concentration was studied.The influence of different micro-water concentration on the power frequency breakdown characteristics of gas mixture was analyzed. The types and concentrations of the decomposition products of C6F12O/CO2 gas mixture were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after breakdown, and the influence laws of micro-water concentration on the concentration of breakdown decomposition products and effective gas production rate were obtained. The results show that micro-water will reduce the power frequency breakdown voltage of C6F12O/CO2 gas mixture. The main breakdown decomposition products of C6F12O/CO2 gas mixture are CF4, C2F6, C3F6, C3F8, C3F7H, CF2O, C4F10, C5F12, and CF3H, among them, the concentration and effective gas production rate of CF4, C2F6, and C3F7H are positively correlated with the micro-water concentration, and the concentration of CF4, C2F6, C3F6, C3F8, and C3F7H are positively correlated with the breakdown times. Considering the insulation performance and decomposition characteristics, it is recommended to strictly control the concentration of micro-water inside the C6F12O/CO2 gas mixtures equipment during engineering application, and increase the test frequency of micro-water in the equipment.

  • Guangkai CUI, Yan XU, Cong WANG, Youping TU, Geng CHEN, Ruocen FAN, Zhong ZHENG
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 39-45.

    In order to explore the generation mechanism of perfluoroisobutyronitrile (C4F7N) gas decomposition products under the presence of micro-water, the decomposition process of C4F7N gas and the recombination process after decomposition were investigated when micro-water participated in the reaction. On the basis of density functional theory and transition state theory, the thermodynamic parameters of C4F7N gas under micro-water participation reaction conditions, as well as the generation paths and generation rates of some characteristic products, were calculated. The results show that when micro-water participates in the reaction, the activation energy required for the decomposition of C4F7N gas is lower than that required for the decomposition of dry C4F7N gas. The presence of micro-water makes the C4F7N decompose easier. The reaction rate constant of CHF3 gas is relatively high in the decomposition products of C4F7N gas, and its chemical properties are stable and detectable, which can be used as a characteristic product of C4F7N gas decomposition under the presence of micro-water.

  • Xingfa CHEN, Yu ZHENG, Shubo REN, Yapeng XIAO, Dongxin HAO
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 66-75.

    The adsorption of CF3SO2F gas on the surface of Al(111) and its decomposition mechanism were studied based on density functional theory. The adsorption energy, charge transfer, differential charge density, electron localization function (ELF), and state density of CF3SO2F gas on the surface of Al(111) were calculated, and the compatibility between CF3SO2F gas and Al(111) surface was analyzed theoretically. Further, a theoretical calculation model of the decomposition path of CF3SO2F gas was established to calculate the free energy of CF3SO2F gas under different decomposition paths, and the main decomposition products of CF3SO2F gas were obtained through transition state analysis. The results show that CF3SO2F gas has good compatibility with Al(111) surface under normal operating conditions, and their interaction is physical adsorption. The typical decomposition gas products of CF3SO2F gas mainly include CF4 and SO2. The research results can provide theoretical reference for evaluating the gas-solid compatibility and stability of the new environmentally friendly insulating gas CF3SO2F.

  • Xianglian YAN, Keli GAO, Wen WANG, Yin HUANG, Hao WANG, Yao YAO
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 1-8.

    In this paper, the research progress on new eco-friendly insulating gases at home and abroad was reviewed, and the international mainstream promotion of perfluoroisobutyronitrile (C4F7N) gas and its application in electrical equipment were expounded emphatically. The gap and surface insulation characteristics of C4F7N gas mixture were summarized, and the design criteria of the related equipment insulation was proposed. The decomposition characteristics and gas-solid compatibility evaluation indices of C4F7N gas mixture under different operating conditions were analyzed. Additionally, the research progress on arc-quenching performance of C4F7N and its gas mixture and the development and application of a series of eco-friendly equipment were introduced, so as to provide a theoretical reference for the environmental protection upgrade of SF6 electrical equipment in the current stage. Meanwhile, it was noted that the research and development efforts on new eco-friendly insulating gases with superior performance were still ongoing at home and abroad, which can provide technical support for the construction of a green and low-carbon power grid.

  • Zhichao LIU, Shusheng ZHENG, Minjiang CHEN, Anxu GUAN
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 110-120.

    Firstly, the physico-chemical characteristics of the decay-like core rod were analyzed, and the effect of decay-like on the mechanical properties of the core rod was studied. And then, the vibration modes of composite insulator core rods were analyzed by simulation, and the relationship between characteristic frequency and the decay-like degree was studied. Finally, a vibration excitation detection method was proposed for decay-like composite insulator, and the characteristic frequencies of the 110 kV composite insulators with different degrees of decay-like defects were measured and analyzed. The results show that the complete degradation of epoxy resin and the hydrolysis and pulverization of glass fibers in the core rod make the decay-like region loss mechanical properties, leading to the decrease in the overall stiffness, tensile resistance, and deformation resistance of the core rod. Compared with the intact core rod, the characteristic frequencies of 3-5 order vibration mode of decay-like core rod decrease by 2.8%-14.3%, the decreasing range of characteristic frequencies of higher order vibration modes decrease more obvious, and the decreasing range increases with the increase of decay-like degree. The decay-like detection method based on vibration mode can diagnose the decay-like degree of composite insulator, and also can reflect the changes of its mechanical properties, which is suitable for non-destructive detection of decay-like in composite insulators.

  • Yalong XIA, Fuxiang LI, Hua MAO, Yan WANG, Menglei JIN, Ju TANG, Song XIAO
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 9-15.

    In order to assess the feasibility of using C5F10O/dry air gas mixture to replace existing dry air or nitrogen in insulation equipment under low partial pressure conditions, we analyzed the insulation performance of C5F10O/dry air gas mixture systematically. The results show that in a quasi-uniform electric field, when the partial pressure of C5F10O is 5-10 kPa, the insulation strength of the C5F10O/dry air gas mixture is 1.1-1.9 times and 1.4-2.3 times bigger than that of dry air and nitrogen under the same condition, respectively, which indicates that even at low partial pressures, the C5F10O/dry air still demonstrates strong insulation performance and has technical advantages compare to dry air or nitrogen. Furthermore, the C5F10O/dry air shows good stability in multiple breakdown tests, and the slope of fitting curves between breakdown voltage and breakdown times approaches zero, indicating that its insulation performance has not significantly deteriorated.

  • Jie HE, Xianglian YAN, Wei LIU, Yin HUANG
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 85-91.

    Heptafluoroisobutyronitrile (C4F7N) has excellent insulation properties and low greenhouse effect, and is currently the mainstream environment-friendly gas used for electrical equipment insulation. Because of the large differences in physical and chemical properties between C4F7N and SF6, the current SF6 detection technology and equipment can not meet the application requirements of C4F7N gas mixture. In this paper, the detection method of C4F7N/CO2 gas mixture was studied by referring to the live detection technology of SF6 gas in operating equipment. The field detection schemes were proposed, which included using gas chromatography to detect purity and composition of gas based on high-precision helium ionization detector, using thermal conductivity principle to detect C4F7N ratio, using resistance capacitance sensor method to monitor micro-water content, and using non-spectral infrared technology combined with Lambert-Bill rule to quantitatively monitor gas leakage fault, and the corresponding detection devices were developed to carry out the detection and verification test for gas state. The results show that all detection schemes have high detection accuracy and can support the operation and maintenance testing and field application of C4F7N environment-friendly electrical equipment.

  • Yuanxiang ZHOU, Jingfan XU, Xiaoqian ZHU, Xuanhao LIU, Yi LU, Yanfeng GAO
    Insulating Materials. 2025, 58(2): 92-101.

    The influence mechanism of thermal-cooling cycling times and temperature change rate on the electrical properties of epoxy resin were studied using a linear rising and cooling method. The results show that as the cycle times increases, the DC electric strength and volume resistivity of epoxy resin increase at first and then decrease, and this trend slightly increases in early cycles with the increase of temperature change rate, but decreases significantly in later cycles. The analysis indicates that thermal and cold alternating environment will promote the dynamic adjustment of chain segments in epoxy resin, making its structure more compact and regular. Although thermal expansion and cold contraction may cause micro-cracks appear on the surface of epoxy resin during early cycles, dynamic adjustment plays a dominant role, which leads to the improvment of electrical properties of epoxy resin. However, with the increase of cycle times, long-term thermal expansion and cold contraction intensifies the fracture of molecular chain segments and the expansion of micro-crack, resulting in the decrease of electrical properties of epoxy resin. With the increase of temperature change rates, the internal chain segment in epoxy resin cannot be fully adjusted, and the impact of temperature stress increases, which lead the epoxy resin more prone to deterioration.