Ongoing projects

DFG - Fundamental investigations into the ageing of polymeric insulating materials under distorted voltages

The increasing integration of renewable energy sources into energy systems requires the use of more power electronic components. These components are compact and efficient due to high switching frequencies and enable the flexible operation required by volatile renewable energies. However, the fast switching of these components can cause harmonic distortions that affect insulation materials such as epoxy resin and silicone and accelerate their ageing. This research project investigates the field and partial discharge ageing of polymeric insulation materials under distorted voltage loading in order to develop ageing models that incorporate these additional loads and improve the reliability of current and future equipment.

Supervisor: Dipl.- (FH) Jun Ting Loh

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. tech. Stefan Kornhuber

DFG - Determination of the service life characteristic curve for polymeric insulating materials under stress with high DC voltages

The aim of this research project is to develop a reproducible method for determining the service life behavior of polymeric insulating materials under high DC electric field stress, whereby a method is sought that is an analog to the determination of the service life characteristic curve under alternating field stress. For this purpose, a corresponding measurement technique must be developed or an existing method modified, which takes into account the hypotheses regarding the dependence of the service life on various parameters, such as space charge formation and temperature. A proposal for a standardized test procedure is to be derived from this work in order to close the current gap in valid service life prediction for polymeric insulating materials under high DC voltages

Author: Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Henry Hirte

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. techn. Stefan Kornhuber

NFG: Hybrid+ (increasing the transmission capacities of AC transmission grids by superimposing DC and AC voltage (mixed voltage))

The junior research group is investigating the feasibility of hybrid line and grid operation as well as the influence of mixed voltage on equipment and grids. The focus is on analyzing the mixed voltage load in order to develop innovative concepts for grid operation in distribution grids. Particular attention is paid to the influence of mixed voltage on the reliability and service life of insulation systems. Protection algorithms and new protection concepts are being developed to ensure the safety and integrity of grid operation.

Researchers: Tom Richter, Maria Lorenz, Fabian Baltrusch, Emilia Anna Herzig

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. techn. Stefan Kornhuber, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Schmidt, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Cezary Dzienis