The University of British Columbia

The insulation performance of gas insulated transmission line (GRTL) systems can be substantially affected by the presence and movement of contaminating metallic particles. Dynamics of wire and spherical particles in a coaxial electrode system under ac voltage have been studied under different conditions. At voltages just above the lifting voltage the particle moves near the outer enclosure. Under appropriate conditions the particle can move into the high field region and eventually cross the inter-electrode gap, thus causing a potential insulation hazard. Contaminating particles in a GITL system move randomly in the electric field. Control of contaminating particles is crucial for reliable operation of GITL systems. In this study a numerical model of the contaminating particle's motion in die inter-electrode gap in a GITL system is used to study particle control methods in gas insulated power apparatus.