Paper accepted for presentation at 2003 TEEE Bologna Power1 ecb Conference, June 23-26, Bologna, Italy

I
Electric Field Analysis at the End of
I Large Generator Stator Windings
I
1 Lu Wene, Jiang Xiuchen, Han Zhendong
i

I
1 Abstract: Because the electric field at the end of measuring its potential difference.The method will be pretty
1 generator stator windings is pockety, it is easy to cause helpful to improvethe electric field distribution at the end of
j electric corona and lead to accidents. Although the generator stator windings in the future.
1 distribution of electric field is improved by adding
~ semiconductor layers whose electric resistivity is
I different in different location of the windings, its 11. BASIC THEORY OF IMPROVING THE ELECTRIC
j eficacy can't be identified quautitatively. So it is FIELD AT THE END OF GENERATOR STATOR
~D~GSl~1-161
necessary to put forward a method to analyse the
1 distribution quantitatively. This paper describes the
1 basic theory of improving the electric field distribution The electric field between stator windings and iron core is
1 at the end of large generator stator windings, and well-distributed in the stator slots, but it is pockety at the
1 presents a quantitative method of analysing the end of stator windings. See fig 1. Electric field strength at
1 distribution through measurement on practical point A(E,) is the strongest. To explain easily, use the
1 generator, and it will be helpful to solve how to make equivalent circuit as shown in Fig 2 . In the circuit, C, is
the distribution more well-distributed in the future. the volume capacity of main insulation of one stator
J winding, C, is its surface capacity, and iron core is earth
Key WordS: Electric Fields, Generator, Stator, Windings connection. The potential difference between the winding
, and the iron core is U,, and the current through surface
capacity is respectively I,, I,, I, ... . It is easy to be known
1 I. INTRODUCTION that I,< 12<1, , that is, the current between point A and
I point B is the biggest, so the potential difference between
the two points is the biggest. The potential U becomes
j The electric field distribution at the end of large generator
stator windings is pockety, so it is easy to cause electric bigger and bigger 6om point A, see the curve U(x) in Fig3,

,1 corona and lead to accidents. The distribution is improved

by adding semiconductor layers, however, the thickness,
length, and resistivity etc. of these semiconductor layers
(Point A is the origin of coordinates, and x-axis is the
distance from points along the winding to point A) while
the electric-field strength E becomes smaller and smaller
1 and other factors which will affect the electric field 6om point A ,see the curve E(x) in Fig3.
distribution are depended on experience but not analysing
quantitatively. Sometimes experiencehas its own limitation.
For example, according to experience, insulation at the end
of stator windings of one type of generator in a
i manufacturer is qualified by the testing for selling['], but
when the type of generators are running for a long time in a
'
~ power factory where the whether condition is worse than
that in the manufacturer, electric corona and then short
fault accident will happen at the end of the generator
stator windings. It is necessary to analyse the electric field Figt The Electdc Field OiStdbbuliOn
!
Ime End of Slalor Sld Fig2 Equivalent Cimii
,
~
at the end of the generator stator windings quantitatively to
make their configurationsoptimal.
I
Because the semiconductor layers are added, the electric
i fields along the end of stator windings become
electrodynamic fields. The electric field distribution at the
' end of windings depends not only on the permittivity, but
also on the conductivity. The electric fields are governed
' by the complex Laplace equation. At present, some Fig3 The Oisldbution of Potential and
theories on computing complex electric fields by finite Electnc Field Slrenglh Ithe End of
\Vmdi""
, elements are studied 12113', and a few computations are done
on the polluted insulators, but few studies were done on the
measurement and calculation ofthe electric fiends along According to the above-mentioned, electric-field strength is
the end of generator stator windings. This paper analyses the the strongest at point A, and it is much easier to cause
electric fields at the end of generator stators quantitatively by electric corona at the point. The electric corona is a kind of

Lu Wene is with Department of Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong

' University, Shanghai.Huashan Road I954,20003O.(Email:lwe~~l63.~m)
Jiang Xiuchen is with Department of Electrical Engineering, Shanghr Jiao
1 Tong University, Shanghai.Huashan Road 1954,200030.(Email:xcjiang@
! sjhl.edu.cn)
, Han Zhendong is with Department of Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao
Tang University, Shanghai. Huashan Road 1954,200030.

0-7803-7967-5/03/517.0002003 IEEE
partial dissociated phenomenon. It produces ozone and
oxide of nitrogen, and it may make insulation of the
winding weak and damage it finally. Therefore, it is
important to make the electric field at the end of stator
windings well-distributed, and avoid the focus of electric
field.
The main method to weaken electric-field strength is
dividing voltage by resistance, that is, adding
semicondnctor layers whose resisitivity is different in
different location of the winding to weaken the potential
difference near the iron core, so that the whole distribution
of the winding can be improved. (See Fig4) Normally the
resistivity is from IO’ to IO9 , After added the
semiconductor layers, main insulation of stator windings
are paralleled by the semiconductor layers, so the surface
capacity C, is paralleled by resistance
R,,R,,R, ...respectively. Its equivalent circuit is in Fig5.
R,>R,>R, and, R,,R,,R, C< I/&,, so the whole surface
impedance is mainly depends on the resistance but not the
capacity. Though 11< I,<l, , the potential difference
between point A and point B is reduced, and electric-field
strengthen is reduced too, then the electric field distribution
of the winding is improved.
Low Resistance
Area Medium Resistance High Resistance
I Area I Area
I Stator Winding
I
Fig 4 SMor struaum 101Awiding Elearic Comna
Stator Winding
Fig 5 me Equivalem Circun aner Adding Semimnduclor Layers
Electric-resistance of insulation materials is affected by
whether conditions. Normally, generators produced by
manufacturers will be sold many places where the whether
conditions are different, so they have different
requirements for the electric resistance of the generators,
therefore the generators should really have good character
in electric-resistance but not just past the testing for selling.
Now how to add the semiconductor layer is depended on
experience but not analysing quantitatively. But experience
sometimes has limitations. For example, one type of
generators produced by a manufacturer in Shanghai are
qualified in the testing for selling, however, when the type
of generators run in a power factory in Yunnan for a long
time, electric corona happens at the end of stator windings,
but the type of generators run smoothly in other factories.
In order to make generators be used widely and generally,
it is necessary to solve the electric corona problem by
analysing the shcture of the end of the stator windings, so
it is important to know the electric field distribution at the
end of generator stator windings quantitatively. We
develop a kmd of measurement apparatus which has high
input impedance to measure the potential distribution at the
end of generator stator windings.
I1 MEASWMENT OF SURFACE POTENTIAL AT
THE END OF GENERATOR STATOR WINDINGS
The end of generator stator windings has a high surface
impedance, so the input impedance of the measurement
apparatus must be at least IO times higher than the
winding’s surface impedance when measuring its surface
potential. The input capacity of the apparatus is about 1 pF,
so its input impedance can satisfy the measurement
requirements, especially in the low resistance area and
medium resistance area. At the same time, the apparatus
has other merits like small, light and good at anti-
interference. The measured data can be reported in voice
automatically. The apparatus uses the theory of dividing
voltage by capacity. Its mathematical treatment part is
integrated in a DLPJOO chip which has 18 pins. Fig6 is a
picture of the apparatus. Fig7 is a curve according to the
report of the apparatus‘ degree of linear. It can be seen that
the degree of linear of the apparatus is good, the nonlinear
degree is less than *3%.
Fig 6 Appearance of the Apparatus
U io 20 10
Measured Value
Fu7 The Curre f a the Degree of Linear of
the Appamus
On May 27,2002, we measured the surface potential at the
end of a 300MW generator stator winding in a
manufacturer. Put the probes of the apparatus on the
surface of the winding, then the apparatus reports the
potential difference between the two probes in voice
automatically. According to the basic theory of the former
part, it is known that the surface impedance of the winding
is mainly depended on the impedance of the semiconductor
layers, which is far less than the input impedance of the
apparatus, so the effect of the apparatus to the
measurement is small enough to be ignored and the
distribution distortion coming from the apparatus is within
the permission. Therefore, the difference between the
measured value and the real value are withii the
permission, and the measured data are valid. Measure the
potential difference of the next gap continuously, and then
 get the potential distribution of the whole winding end. The According to the data in the Table 1, E curve of the
potential difference of each gap divides the distance of the winding can be drawn as shown in Fig 10. Affected by the
gap, that is, E=U/d, then get the average electric field pressing plate, the graph is not so smooth, but it still can
strength within the gap. So the gross electric field strength reflect some rules of the distribution of the electric field.
distribution is formed.
I--BI
The tested winding is one of the windings in Fig 8 , and the
distribution of tested points is drawn in F i e . Point 0 is on
the iron core.

I Windings me oisatance IO VIB I- core

Fig8 The Phdo d the End of the Generator SMw
Fig lOThe Dirtnbution Of Average ElectncFieldStrength

Compared the Fig 10 with the structure graph of real

winding, it can be seen that the even electric field strength
is not so pockey. All points where the even electric field
strength changes greatly are the area where the resistivity
Pressing Plate of semiconductor layer changes, which is consistent with
theory. What’s more, the even electric field is very big near
the edge of pressing plate. So we suggested the edge of the
pressing plates should be arc to avoid the electric field
Fig 9 The Distnbutim of Tertad Pointer strength around the edge is too strong. On the other hand
at the last part of the whole winding en4 the stator winding
is bare and without insulation layers during our
, The potential difference between two points and the measurement, so it makes the electric field graph ascend
1 average electric field strength are in the table 1. again at that part, though it shouldn’t be like that according
Table 1 The potential difference and the average electric field to the theory. According above mentioned, the data are
~ strength between two points creditable since they are consistent with our analysis. So
I I I I ~.. I
The ~
we can find the points where the electric field strength is
The The Average too strong by the method to measure the potential
1 Potential Electric distribution at the end of stator windings.
I Point
Number
~~~~~ Difference
Between
Field
Strength
I the Point to Between the
the Last Point to the IV. CONCLUSIONS
Point(mm) Point (kV) Last Point
1
(kV/m)
It can be seen that addmg semiconductor layers can
improve the electric field distribution at the end of
generator stator windings from our measurement. However,
there are still some place where the electric field strength is
too strong, such as the edge of plates and the points where
the resistivity changes. So it is necessary for further study
to the insulation structure at the end of stator windings.

Reference
[I] GB 50150-91, Dian Qi Zhuang Zhi An Zhuang Gong
Cheng Jiao Jie Shi Yan Biao Zhun
[2] Asenjo S.. E.; Morales O., N.; Valdenegro E., A. Solution
of low frequency complex fields in polluted insulators by
means of the finite element method. Dielectrics and
Electrical Insulation, IEEE Transactions on [see also
Electrical Insulation. IEEE Transactions on] , Volume: 4
Issue: 1 , Feb. 1997 Page@):10-16
[3] Weeber, K.; Stun, M.; Dymond. J.; Rehder, R. Finite
element field analysis of nonuniform surface contaminations
on high voltage windings of electric machines .Electrical
Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, 1996., IEEE 1996
Annual Report of the Conference on , Volume: 1 ,
1996 .Page@):40 4 3 vol.1
[4] Yu Guang yu. Qi Lun Fa Dian Ji Ji Dian Qi She Bei (Vol.
3). Beijing, Zhong Guo Dian Li Chu Pan She.
151Wang Geng, Li Ximing. Da Xing Qi Lun Fa Dian Ji She
Ji, Zhi Zao Yo Yun Xin. Shanghai. Shanghai Ke Xue Ji
Shu Chu Ban She.
[6] Li Wang. Da Xing Qi Lon Fa Dian Ji DingZi Duan Bu
Fang Yon Cai Liao Van Jiu. Master Degree Thesis In
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1998.
AUTHORS
Lu Wene was born in 1975. and now is a master student in
Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Jiao Xiucheng was born in 1965, and now is professor
and chairman of department of Electrical Engineering of
Shanghai Jioa Tong University.
Han Zhendong was born in 1932,and now is professor in
Shanghai Jiao Tong University