Numerical Simulation of Curing of Epoxy/Al₂O₃ Composite in Highly Saturated Reactors

Highly saturated reactors are an important type of electrical equipment used in large- and medium-capacity substations or step-down substation power distribution units. However, due to the uneven temperature distribution of its internal insulating materials during the encapsulation and curing process, there are obvious internal stresses that affect the material properties. The curing kinetics of the S213A(B)/Al2O3 composite system for highly saturated reactors is calculated, and a good fit is verified with experimental data. A 3-D finite-element multiphysical field coupling model for highly saturated reactors is established to analyze the temperature field and curability during the curing process of the composite encapsulation, and the effects of material thickness and thermal conductivity on the thermal shock peaks generated during the curing process are investigated. In addition, the disadvantages of the traditional two-stage curing process are demonstrated, and a four-stage optimized curing process is proposed and the two are compared. This study provides a theoretical basis and engineering guidance for the development of highly saturated reactors.