High VoltagePub Date : 2026-04-20DOI: 10.1049/hve2.70183
Ziqi Liu, Hao Sun, Yi Wu, Mingzhe Rong, Zeyuan Luo
{"title":"Comparison of Dielectric Recovery After Arc Burning in SF6 Gas and Its Potential Alternatives","authors":"Ziqi Liu, Hao Sun, Yi Wu, Mingzhe Rong, Zeyuan Luo","doi":"10.1049/hve2.70183","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70183","url":null,"abstract":"Although sulphur hexafluoride (SF<sub>6</sub>) exhibits exceptional insulating properties, it is a potent greenhouse gas. Therefore, studying alternatives to SF<sub>6</sub> is critical for developing environmentally friendly high-voltage electrical equipment. A review of previous studies highlights a lack of comprehensive research on the dielectric strength recovery characteristics of various alternative gas mixtures, particularly post-arc recovery. To address this gap, we designed an experimental platform to measure the post-arc dielectric strength recovery of these gases. The experimental results indicate that for traditional SF<sub>6</sub> gas mixtures, recovery characteristics tend to saturate once gas pressure and mixing ratios exceed a certain threshold. For C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>7</sub>N/CO<sub>2</sub> mixtures, an optimal component ratio exists. Under a liquefaction temperature constraint of 253 K, the gas mixture with the best post-arc insulation performance is 20% C<sub>3</sub>F<sub>6</sub> and 80% CO<sub>2</sub>. Compared to N<sub>2</sub>, CO<sub>2</sub> is a more effective buffer gas, significantly enhancing the dielectric strength recovery rate.","PeriodicalId":48649,"journal":{"name":"High Voltage","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147733636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
High VoltagePub Date : 2026-04-15DOI: 10.1049/hve2.70196
Jiefu Hou, Song Xiao, Mengqiao Wang, Pupu Li, Guangning Wu, Ye Cao, Guoqiang Gao, Yujun Guo, Xueqin Zhang, Yongdong He
{"title":"The Generating Mechanism and Suppression Measure of the ‘Wheel-Rail’ Rolling Arc for Electrified Trains","authors":"Jiefu Hou, Song Xiao, Mengqiao Wang, Pupu Li, Guangning Wu, Ye Cao, Guoqiang Gao, Yujun Guo, Xueqin Zhang, Yongdong He","doi":"10.1049/hve2.70196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70196","url":null,"abstract":"As the ‘main blood vessel’ of the traction power supply system for high-speed trains, the ‘wheel-rail’ coupling grounding reflux system provides the vital channel to send traction current back to terrestrial substations; meanwhile, the rail track also plays a role in transmitting the train's occupancy signal to the control system. An insulated joint is embedded almost every 1.5–5 km along the rail track to isolate adjacent track sections for realising both transmission of traction current and separation of the track occupancy signal. When a wheel rolls across an insulated joint, the transient variation of the reflux paths with the potential difference between the two adjacent rail ends possibly triggers an arcing phenomenon around the insulated joint, which seriously threatens the operational safety of trains. In order to explore the generating mechanism of the ‘wheel-rail’ rolling arc, a dynamic current-carrying experimental platform is built to observe the evolutionary process of the ‘wheel-rail’ rolling arc, as the main influencing factors of the arc are explored. Considering the arcing criterion, different combinations of grounding resistors have been attempted, as the optimum is ultimately achieved based on the brute force method for suppressing the ‘wheel-rail’ arc effectively.","PeriodicalId":48649,"journal":{"name":"High Voltage","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147695523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
High VoltagePub Date : 2026-04-15DOI: 10.1049/hve2.70186
Jiayi Chen, Guan Wang, Zihao Li, Zhongyu Zhao, Kuo Yan, Hongshun Liu
{"title":"Deterioration Law of Mechanical Properties of Insulation Pressboard Under Multifield Coupled Ageing","authors":"Jiayi Chen, Guan Wang, Zihao Li, Zhongyu Zhao, Kuo Yan, Hongshun Liu","doi":"10.1049/hve2.70186","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70186","url":null,"abstract":"Converter transformers can experience progressive deterioration of their oil–pressboard insulation under elevated temperature, combined AC–DC electrical stress and persistent mechanical vibration. This study investigates how mechanical vibration affects the mechanical properties of insulation pressboard and clarifies the associated microscopic degradation mechanisms under thermal–electrical–mechanical (TEM) multifield coupled ageing. A thermal–electrical–mechanical multifield coupled ageing platform was used to conduct accelerated ageing tests on pressboard specimens, and complementary molecular dynamics simulations were performed to model material responses under oil–pressboard interfacial conditions. Tensile stress–strain curves of aged pressboard were measured at a constant strain rate to quantify the variation in mechanical degradation. In parallel, the elastic deformation and fracture behaviours under quasistatic tension were analysed through combined molecular dynamics simulations and experiments. The results show that mechanical stress reduces yield stress by enhancing cellulose-chain mobility and promoting the coarsening of cellulose crystallites. The elastic modulus first decreases due to enhanced segmental mobility and chain flexibility and then partially recovers at the late stage, likely owing to fatigue-induced structural rearrangement and preferential chain alignment under sustained vibration. Tensile strength decreases due to weakened intermolecular interactions and an intensified stress concentration effect.","PeriodicalId":48649,"journal":{"name":"High Voltage","volume":"126 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147708876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Resistivity and Tensile Strength of Al–Mg–Si Alloy Wire Conductors","authors":"Jing Chen, Chongjun Tian, Jinghui Gao, Lisheng Zhong","doi":"10.1049/hve2.70154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70154","url":null,"abstract":"Aluminium alloy is potentially used for power transmission lines due to its light weight and high strength. The aluminium alloy wire conductors with different Mg and Si contents were studied through electrical resistivity and mechanical properties. The effects of heat treatment temperature and time on the alloy wire conductors were also discussed. The experimental results show that increasing the Mg and Si content significantly enhances the tensile strength and elongation, but it also causes an increase in the electrical resistivity to some extent. Appropriate treatment temperature (e.g., 160°C) makes the alloy wire conductor have good electrical and mechanical properties. The treatment time only has a significant influence on the elongation, and the best treatment time is 6 h for the alloy wire conductor. This study lays a foundation for the application of the Al–Mg–Si alloy conductor in transmission lines.","PeriodicalId":48649,"journal":{"name":"High Voltage","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147625799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
High VoltagePub Date : 2026-04-06DOI: 10.1049/hve2.70141
Kai Zhang, Yudan Tang, Zhengyong Huang, Jian Li
{"title":"Reaction Pathways and Cyclic Chain Model of Free Radicals in the Early Stage of Natural Ester Autoxidation: A DFT and Experimental Study","authors":"Kai Zhang, Yudan Tang, Zhengyong Huang, Jian Li","doi":"10.1049/hve2.70141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70141","url":null,"abstract":"Free radical reactions are crucial in the thermal oxidation of natural esters, yet the underlying elementary reaction pathways and oxidation mechanisms remain unclear. This study uses density functional theory to systematically investigate these mechanisms. The interaction between triglyceride free radicals and oxygen during the initial thermal oxidation stage was examined. Structural and thermodynamic data for 16 reactions were evaluated, proposing a cyclic model for the involved free radicals. Most reactions are exothermic, releasing 35.06–166.59 kJ/mol. Initial reactions (R1 and R2) are thermodynamically favourable for heat accumulation and peroxyl radical formation. Peroxyl radicals initiate cyclic pathways and react with C–C double bonds, forming new active sites and alkoxy radicals (RO·), depleting reactive groups and oxygen. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data corroborate the computational predictions, confirming the approach’s precision. This study suggests eliminating key active groups (R·, ROO·, RO· and ·OH) to prevent premature oxidative failure of natural esters by terminating the cyclic chain reaction. This insight could guide the development of more stable natural ester-based products.","PeriodicalId":48649,"journal":{"name":"High Voltage","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147625800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rare Lightning and Convection Characteristics During Two Successive Tornadoes in Southern China","authors":"Fengquan Li, Jiangling Zhi, Yu Wang, Hantao Tao, Zhaoming Li, Shanqiang Gu, Zhe Li, Zeyu Zhang, Lei Zhang, Guoying Tang","doi":"10.1049/hve2.70187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70187","url":null,"abstract":"Systematic investigations into lightning characteristics of tornado storms in China remain scarce. This study comprehensively analyses rare lightning behaviour and overshooting top characteristics for two successive tornadoes during a long-lived supercell in southern China on 27 April 2024. Data used include wide-area lightning location, weather radar composite reflectivity and Himawari-9 satellite image. For the first time in China, lightning holes prior to tornado touchdown are documented. Key findings include the following: (1) The proportion of positive cloud-to-ground flashes significantly increased and peaked at 70% before the first tornado, suggesting that strong updrafts altered the thunderstorm charge structure. Three lightning jumps occurred within 30 min before the tornado. (2) Two lightning holes were identified prior to the first tornado, and another lightning hole was identified before the second tornado. These lightning holes coincided with radar composite reflectivity cores exceeding 55 dBZ, adjacent overshooting top centres, and lower brightness temperatures, indicating deep convection surrounding these lightning holes. (3) The first and second tornadoes occurred at the peak and decline of overshooting top centre number, respectively, suggesting the variation in tornado-parent thunderstorm convection. This study provides novel insights into the lightning and convection characteristics of tornadic supercells in southern China.","PeriodicalId":48649,"journal":{"name":"High Voltage","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147626029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
High VoltagePub Date : 2026-03-30DOI: 10.1049/hve2.70177
Yifan Chai, Igor Timoshkin, Martin J. Given, Scott J. MacGregor
{"title":"Pressure Pulses Generated by Wire-Guided Discharges in Water","authors":"Yifan Chai, Igor Timoshkin, Martin J. Given, Scott J. MacGregor","doi":"10.1049/hve2.70177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70177","url":null,"abstract":"The hydrodynamic characteristics of underwater wire-guided discharges and their relationships with the wire length and pulsed circuit parameters are not fully understood. In this paper wire-guided discharges using wires of length 3, 5 and 7 cm and diameter of 0.05 mm have been investigated. The energy available to the discharges was 162.3 J at a voltage of 35 kV. The magnitude of the pressure pulses produced has been characterised through the deformation of copper disks located between 4 and 9 cm from the initiating wire. In this region, the peak pressure was observed to decrease with distance faster than predicted by the ideal cases of spherical or cylindrical pressure waves. The peak pressure 4 cm away from the discharge was up to ∼45 MPa and was dependent on the wire length. The energy partition during the discharges has been analysed based on recorded current waveforms, calculated resistive voltage across wire across wire and constant plasma channel resistance.","PeriodicalId":48649,"journal":{"name":"High Voltage","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147586139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
High VoltagePub Date : 2026-03-30DOI: 10.1049/hve2.70185
Qianzi Yao, Yifan Cheng, Dingmeng Guo, Shu Lin, Xiaoning Zhang
{"title":"Analysis of Stochastic Nature and Shock Wave Pressure of Pulsed Spark Discharge in Saline With Auxiliary Pre-Electrolysis Pulse","authors":"Qianzi Yao, Yifan Cheng, Dingmeng Guo, Shu Lin, Xiaoning Zhang","doi":"10.1049/hve2.70185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70185","url":null,"abstract":"Intravascular lithotripsy through liquid-phase discharge is of great significance in improving the success rate of intravascular stent placement and treatment of severely vascular calcific plaque lesions. However, pre-breakdown delay in intravascular lithotripsy system discharge has strong stochastic nature for the same high voltage discharge pulse, thus causing wider range of shock wave pressure, shorter electrode life and higher treatment risk. To achieve controllable shock wave pressure, four discharge modes with different duration of auxiliary pre-electrolysis pulse were proposed and the influence of discharge stochasticity on the shock wave characteristics were investigated, along with mechanism analysis. The experimental results reveal that the discharge stochasticity can be greatly reduced in the optimal discharge mode with the auxiliary low-voltage pulse for saline pre-electrolysis applied before the main high-voltage discharge pulse. Unlike the original mode with merely applying main high-voltage discharge pulse, the pre-breakdown delay and shock wave fluctuation can be improved from 210–1070 ns and 2.79–3.97 MPa to 94–254 ns and 3.91–4.22 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the pre-breakdown stage of discharge is shortened and the energy deposition efficiency is significantly increased from 67.63% to 84.55%, which is probably caused by the promotion of the streamer formation with the pre-generated micro-bubbles from the pre-electrolysis pulse.","PeriodicalId":48649,"journal":{"name":"High Voltage","volume":"275 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147536632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}