Influence of oil aging on the space charge dynamics of oil‐immersed paper insulation under a DC electric field

The formation of space charge in oil/paper insulation system can lead to material degradation in the region of high electric field. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that affect space charge formation in oil/paper insulation system. In this paper, the effect of oil aging on space charge dynamics in oil/paper insulation system is investigated using the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) technique under a DC electric field at room temperature. The ultraviolet/visible (UV/vis) spectrum of the oil shifts to longer wavelengths, and the oil acidity increases as the aging time increases. It has been found that the oil property has a significant effect on the space charge distribution in the oil/paper insulation sample. The more the deterioration of the oil, the larger amount of negative and positive charges accumulated in the bulk of the oil/paper insulation sample. The total amount of slow moving charges, the surface trap energy density, and the electric field distortion of the oil/paper insulation sample increased with the degree of deterioration due to oil aging. © 2014 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.