Breakdown Characteristics for Insulation Design of HTS Transformer in Liquid Nitrogen

HTS transformer is promising one of HTS power applications to be commercialized in the near future. To realize the applications, insulation technology in the coolant, liquid nitrogen, should be established. So breakdown characteristics should be considered at insulation components; turn-to-turn, layer-to-layer, winding-to-winding, were investigated. Firstly breakdown strengths of Kapton films were compared with Kraft paper these are as turn insulator. And next the characteristics of surface flashover on FRP were measured and the influence on breakdown strength of bubble generated with joule heat was discussed with the shape of cooling channel between layers. Finally barrier effect at winding-to-winding was discussed.