Discharge Texts

Discharge Test
Discharge Test

If the insulating material between the two conductive electrodes in an electrical system fails to form a complete bridge due to gaps or problems in its structure, an electrical discharge occurs. This is called partial discharge. Authorized laboratories conduct discharge tests in accordance with TS 2051 EN 60270 Cables - High Voltage Test Techniques - Partial Discharge Measurements. According to the definition in this standard, partial discharge is the only partial overcoming of the isolation adjacent to or separated from the conductor and electrical discharge between the conductors. That is, the cause of the discharge is partial degradation of the insulating material between the two active conductors.

According to the results of a study conducted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the majority of faults in medium voltage and high voltage systems that cause enormous damage (close to 80 percent) are caused by electrical partial discharge. Electrical partial discharge may occur in conduits, cables, switchgears, transformers, cable hoods and cable splices where there are electric fields strong enough to deform the insulating material.

These discharges can also occur in cavities in the polymer and similar solid insulating system, in the joint surfaces of multi-layer solid insulating systems, in gas bubbles in liquid insulating systems or around the conductor in the gas medium.

In general, the discharge is in the form of pulses less than 1 micro seconds. However, the resulting energy is strong enough to break the insulating material surrounding the conductor.

Discharge tests carried out at authorized laboratories are intended to determine whether a partial discharge event is at a critical level. If the partial discharge event is low, it is considered non-critical or acceptable.

The laboratories perform these tests in accordance with the relevant legal regulations and published standards. In addition, it complies with the TS EN ISO / IEC 17025 standard.