Research Progress in Field Grading Materials for New Power Systems

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Polymer Engineering

Background:

• New power systems with high renewable energy integration and high voltage levels present insulation challenges for critical equipment like GIS and power electronic modules.
• Field grading materials (FGMs) are crucial for electric field homogenization and preventing insulation failure in these demanding applications.
• Research on FGMs spans materials science, electrical engineering, and polymer engineering, focusing on advanced insulation solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the current research status of FGMs.
• To summarize filler optimization strategies and application areas of FGMs.
• To analyze existing bottlenecks and prospect future development trends for FGMs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of literature on FGM filler optimization (single, hybrid, trace co-fillers, structural modification).
• Detailed elaboration of FGM applications in transmission cables, GIS, high-voltage electrical machines, and wide-bandgap power electronic modules.
• Analysis of performance enhancement routes, including thermal conductivity improvement and intelligent early warning systems.

Main Results:

• FGMs offer adaptive electric field homogenization and insulation failure prevention.
• Filler optimization strategies significantly impact FGM performance.
• Enhanced thermal conductivity and intelligent early warning capabilities are key performance improvements.
• Material stability, multi-physical field coupling, and industrialization remain key challenges.

Conclusions:

• FGMs are vital for ensuring insulation reliability in advanced power systems.
• Further research is needed to overcome current limitations in material stability and industrialization.
• Future FGMs will likely be high-performance, multifunctional, intelligent, and engineering-oriented.