Uncertainty sources in the estimation of the partial discharge inception voltage in turn-to-turn insulation systems

Partial discharges (PD) are one of the main causes of premature failure in low-voltage motors driven by variable-speed drives. The use of these control systems are being quite extended due to new applications, such as the more electric aircraft (MEA) or hybrid and electric vehicles, and this has pushed research towards appropriate designs of electric motors to avoid, as much as possible, the presence of PD within their windings. This article presents a model to predict the partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) in the insulation of low-voltage machines. A value for the secondary ionization coefficient based on a statistical study is also proposed. The deviations of the model are also studied by obtaining the uncertainty of the value of that coeficient and the predicted values of the PDIV for a set of wires. This uncertainty will be compared with other error sources such as generator harmonics and humidity. Finally, the tests are done for different temperatures extend the model applicability