Nanoparticulate Insulation for High Voltage Rotors

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-voltage rotating machines, such as turbo generators, face challenges with insulation systems that are prone to damage from partial discharges due to high thermal, thermomechanical, dynamic, and electromechanical stress, leading to reduced electrical load capacity and potential breakdowns, especially at the interface between the main insulation and the stator winding laminated core.

Innovation Solution

An electrical insulation system using a casting or pressed resin formulation with nanoparticulate anisotropic filler components, specifically exfoliated layered silicates, is applied to the conductors, providing enhanced mechanical and electrical properties through a simpler manufacturing process compared to conventional mica tape-based insulation systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mica tape insulation with VPI process is used, then partial discharge resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and production time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepartial discharge resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the insulation tape and impregnation resin into a single integrated composite material system. The nanoparticulate filler-modified resin is applied directly to the conductor, eliminating the separate mica tape wrapping and subsequent VPI impregnation steps, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining partial discharge resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite materials by incorporating nanoparticulate fillers (such as nanosilica, nanoclays) into the resin matrix. This creates a composite insulation material that combines the benefits of resin flexibility and nanoparticle reinforcement, achieving high partial discharge resistance without requiring layered mica structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional mica tape insulation is used, then electrical insulation strength is improved, but production cost and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical insulation strengthVSAvoidenergy consumption during impregnation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the resin by adding nanoparticulate fillers, which modify the resin's viscosity, curing characteristics, and electrical properties. This allows the resin to achieve insulation strength comparable to mica tape while requiring less energy for application and curing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential functional properties of mica tape (partial discharge resistance, insulation strength) and transfers them into a resin-based system enhanced with nanoparticles, eliminating the need for actual mica materials and their associated processing energy requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If multiple layers of mica tape are wrapped around conductors, then insulation reliability is improved, but manufacturing time and labor intensity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation reliabilityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the insulation function into discrete nanoparticle-reinforced resin layers that can be applied sequentially or simultaneously, replacing the labor-intensive manual wrapping of multiple mica tape layers with a more efficient resin application and curing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical wrapping process with chemical application methods. The resin-based insulation system is applied through coating, dipping, or spraying techniques followed by curing, substituting manual mechanical assembly with automated chemical processes that reduce labor intensity and increase production speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The new insulation system offers improved mechanical and electrical quality, increased service life, reduced dielectric loss factors, and cost-effective production with a high degree of design freedom, outperforming conventional mica tape-insulated systems in terms of partial discharge resistance and thermal stress management.

Implementation Method 1

the anisotropic filler component is a layered silicate which is completely exfoliated in the base resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExfoliation:

Implementation Method 2

The base resin is preferably a UV, cold or hot cured, phthalic anhydride or amine cured epoxy resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCuring: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

The conductors and the forming coils of the high-voltage rotary machine are wrapped with the mica tapes and impregnated with synthetic resin in a vacuum pressure impregnation (VPI) process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpregnation: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 4

The mechanical strength and partial discharge resistance of the electrical insulation are defined by the combination of impregnation resin and mica carrier material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPartial discharge resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP2402958B1Electric isolation system for an electrical high voltage rotation machine
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2402958B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

Electrical insulation system for a high voltage rotating machine, comprises a sheathed body for a current carrying conductor of the high voltage rotating machine, exhibiting a casting-, molding resin- and/or a polymer formulation as a base resin, which is a thermoplastic, thermosetting or an elastomeric synthetic resin. The base resin is added with at least one particle exhibiting filler components. The particle of the filler component has a nanoscale dimension.