Metrological Infrastructure for Traceable Electrical Insulation Testing for a Reliable Electricity Grid

One of the European Union's objectives under the Green Deal is a clean and secure energy supply, which is undergoing a major revolution due to structural and technological changes. Transient processes and superimposed high-frequency components generated by converter technology have a negative or even destructive influence on the existing grid equipment. The insulating capacity of devices and components need to be traceably tested for these challenges. Therefore, a consortium of six National Metrology Institutes (NMI), four European universities and four industrial partners in the field of high voltage and high current testing started the international metrology research project “Metrological Infrastructure for Traceable Electrical Insulation Testing for a Reliable Electricity Grid - ELITE”. This project addresses the development of measurement techniques, references and calibration capabilities to enable beyond state-of-the-art transient high voltage and high current testing. As part of this project reference standards, calibration capabilities and validated techniques for the evaluation of very fast high-voltage impulses for steep- voltage testing will be developed. The influence of steep-voltage rise time on the insulation material properties will be investigated and recommendations, such as good practise guides will be provided publicly. Furthermore, traceable measurement systems and calibration services for puncture testing and impulse current testing using highly energetic impulse currents that comply with IEC 62475 (1) requirements (e.g. 200 kA and 10/350 μs) will be developed. Finally, calibration facilities and reference standards for time-domain and frequency characterisation of high current sensors used in e.g. short circuit tests that conform with IEC 62475 Annex C (1) and IEC 60947 (2) requirements will be established.