Multidimensional Results and Partial Discharge Standards of Aviation Cables under Different Test Modes

With the continuous upgrading of power supply grades in more electric aircraft (MEA), the risk of partial discharge in cable insulation is gradually intensified, imposing higher requirements on local discharge resistance of cables. At present, most of current researches and tests on cable partial discharge are limited to a single discharge model. In the paper, with reference to the domestic and foreign measurement standards on partial discharge of aviation cables, six discharge models according to cable operating environment were established, and partial discharge conditions of cables under normal pressure and 4.8 kPa with different discharge models were explored. Results showed that partial discharge extinction voltage (PDEV) of the same type of wire was significantly different when measured by different discharge models, and stranding pair discharge model showed the highest PDEV in the measurement. Under the normal pressure, shielded cable discharge model had a greater degree of dispersion. Under the pressure of 4.8 kPa, variation coefficient of the water-immersed discharge model was the largest. Comparatively, measured data from wire-to-rod discharge model and wire-to-plate discharge model showed closer agreement with better consistency. The study of a variety of discharge models could provide reference for partial discharge test methods of aviation cables in more electric aircraft.