An evaluation method of observable charge trap depth for the pea method and its complementarity with the Q(t) method

Abstract

This paper proposes an evaluation method for the observable trap depth range of space charge when using the pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method and its complementarity with the current integration charge (Q(t)) method. Based on the measurement process of the PEA method and the hopping conduction principle of space charge, the relationship between the trap depth and the residence time of charge is analysed. A method to analyse the effect of the measurement speed and the spatial resolution of the PEA system on the observable trap depth is then proposed. Further results show when the single measurement time needs 1 s and the resolution is 10 µm at room temperature, the corresponding trap depth is larger than 0.68 eV. Meanwhile, under high temperature or with voltage applied, the depth can further increase. The combined measurement results of the PEA and Q(t) methods indicate that the former focuses on charge distribution in deep traps, which allows to calculate the distorted electric field. The latter can measure the changing process of the total charge involved in all traps, which is applicable to analysing the leakage current. Therefore, the evaluation of HVDC insulation properties based on the joint application of the two methods is more reliable.

Keywords

• pulsed electro-acoustic method
• trap depth
• current integration charge method
• leakage current