Review of space charge measurement systems: acoustic, thermal and optical methods

• Published in: IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 3126 - 3142
• Main Authors: Imburgia, Antonino, Miceli, Rosario, Sanseverino, Eleonora Riva, Romano, Pietro, Viola, Fabio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-10-2016; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Acoustic insulation; Acoustic measurement; Acoustic measurements; Acoustics; Charge measurement; Diagnostic systems; Electrodes; FLIMM; LIMM; LIPP; Measurement methods; Optical method; Optical pulses; Optical variables measurement; Optics; PEA; PWP; Space charge; TPM; TSM
• ISSN: 1070-9878; 1558-4135
• DOI: 10.1109/TDEI.2016.7736878

In the last decade, remarkable developments have concerned the methods of space charge measurement in the field of insulation systems diagnostic. In particular, methods based on acoustic and thermal phenomena have been largely used. The present review provides a broad overview on the different techniques used describing, for each of them, the working principle, the main features and the most relevant applications. Further details are provided for the Pulsed Electro-Acoustic (PEA) method, as it seems to be the most used. This article provides more details on its historical evolution, showing evidence for its technological limits and taking into consideration the advantages and drawn from the different configurations of the measuring cell. A similar approach has been used for the group of thermal methods, whereas for the optical methods only the basic working principle and latest applications are reported.