Investigation of Partial Discharge and Surface Flashover Characteristics of Spacers in High-Voltage Dividers

High voltage dividers are commonly used for metering, measurement, controlling, and protection purposes in HVDC systems. To meet these demands voltage dividers have to fulfil the requirement of accurate measurement of high voltage signals in a wide frequency range from DC up to some kHz. Depending on used construction technique solid dielectric spacers are inserted to support the inner stack of components mechanically against the enclosing insulator during assembly and transport. Spacers constructed with holes, known as “communicating insulators”, are used in gas insulated transmission lines to ensure the gas continuity between the adjacent enclosures. Similar spacers may also be used in high voltage dividers with non-modular design for the same reason. Applying spacers with holes in high…