Can Low Voltage Inverter-Fed Induction Motors Be Designed Allowing Partial Discharge Activity?

For inverter-fed induction motors, preventing partial discharge inception at all possible operating voltages might cause suboptimal power densities. In this paper we investigate the possibility of designing insulation systems that might tolerate partial discharges incepted with a low probability. Such a result would help a more proper and justified application of corona-resistant magnet wires. Rather than providing an ultimate solution to this complex problem, we want to indicate an approach using the theory of cumulative damage and underline the areas where critical information is missing to achieve this target.