Analysis of Chaotic Behaviors of Partial Discharge Using Plasma Dynamic Model

The traditional researches on the chaos of partial discharge (PD) use the simplified description of a single discharge process, but ignore the plasma dynamic process of PD, and due to the randomness of discharge process, it is difficult to accurately describe the essential characteristics of the PD. Based on the principle of plasma dynamics and COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software, a plasma dynamic model of PD under flat electrode was built in this paper. The space–time evolution process of particles in the air gap during partial discharge are described by using this model, and the motion trajectories of electrons, positive ions and negative ions and the variation of electric field in the air gap during PD are described. Based on this, the formation mechanism of the chaotic behaviors of PD is explained. The results show that the PD in the air gap of insulating materials has obvious chaotic characteristics. The feedback mechanism between spatial charge density and electric field is an important factor affecting the chaotic behaviors of PD. This conclusion lays a foundation for further research on the causing reason of chaotic behaviors of PD.