ECE 6608 PD

Summary

Theory of gases. Photoelectric, thermal and field emission. Ionization by collision, photo-ionization, thermal ionization and ionization by x-rays and cosmic rays. Deionization because of recombination, negative ion formation, and diffusion. Behaviour of charged particles in electric fields of low E/P and high E/P (E = electric field and P = pressure). Breakdown Processes: Townsend mechanism, secondary effect, streamer formation from self sustained discharges to breakdown, breakdown in non-uniform fields, temporal development of breakdown, partial breakdown or corona discharges. Solid and Liquid Dielectrics: Types of solid and liquid insulating materials, their electrical thermal, chemical and mechanical properties; charge transport; surface discharges; breakdown mechanisms; effects of impurities on breakdown strength. Electro-hydrodynamics and its influence on breakdown mechanisms in liquids; electromechanical and intrinsic breakdown strength of solids.

Objectives

  1. Understanding of the basics of dielectric physics of insulating materials.
  2. Understanding the conduction and breakdown mechanisms in gaseous, liquid and solid insulating materials.

Course prerequisites

Basic knowledge of physics of materials for Electrical Engineers (ECE 209 or equivalent) Familiarity with electrical power system components is useful.

Main topics and delivery plan

  1. Gaseous Dielectrics
  2. Liquid Dielectrics
  3. Solid Dielectrics
Lectures Topic Sub-Topics
12 Gaseous Dielectrics
  • Theory of gases; Ionization by collision, photoionization, thermal ionization and ionization by x-rays and cosmic rays; Deionization due to recombination, negative; ion formation, and diffusion
  • Behavior of charged particles in electric fields of low E/P and high E/P (E = electric field and P = pressure)
  • Townsend mechanism, secondary effect, streamer formation, self-sustained discharges to breakdown
  • Breakdown in non-uniform fields, temporal development of breakdown, partial breakdown or corona discharges
12 Liquid Dielectrics
  • Types of liquid insulating materials, their electrical, thermal, and chemical properties
  • Charge transport; breakdown mechanisms; effects of impurities on breakdown strength
  • Electrohydrodynamics and its influence on breakdown mechanisms in liquids
  • Streaming electrification
12 Solid Dielectrics
  • Sources of current carriers
  • Surface discharges; thermal, electrochemical, electromechanical
  • Intrinsic breakdown strength of solids
  • Tracking and breakdown of solids due to discharges

References

  1. S. Stoft, Power System Economics: Designing markets for electricity, Wiley-Interscience, 2002.
  2. A. J. Wood and B. F. Wollenberg, Power generation, operation and control, Wiley-Interscience, 2nd Edition, 1996.
  3. K. Bhattacharya, M.H.J. Bollen and J.E. Daalder, Operation of restructured power systems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2001
  4. M. Shahidehpour, H. Yamin and Z. Li, Market operations in electric power systems, Wiley Interscience, 2002
  5. D. S. Kirschen and G. Strbac, Fundamentals of power system economics, John Wiley and Sons, 2004
  6. N. S. Rau, Optimization principles: Practical Applications to the Operation and Markets of the Electric Power Industry, Wiley-IEEE Press, 2003.

Contact

For more information, please contact directly the course coordinator Prof Shesha Jayaram.