Assessment of water content in an impregnated pressboard based on DC conductivity measurements theoretical assumptions

The paper presents results of investigations of the effect of moisture content and temperature on DC conductivity of the impregnated pressboard. It has been found that the conductivity of the impregnated pressboard is a function of activation energy, moisture content and temperature. It has been found that moisture content ranging from 1.4% to 6.4% do not cause any changes in the conductivity activation energy whose value is ΔW_av = (0.853±0.071) eV. On the other hand water content strongly influences the value of DC conductivity. It has been also found that the conductivity is determined by electron hopping between the closest located potential wells formed by water molecules in the oil-impregnated cellulose structure. For the experimentally obtained dependences of conductivity vs. moisture content and temperature theoretical ones have been determined to describe the experimental results. Based on the research results, a localization radius of the water molecule valence electron that coincides with the O^2- ion radius has been determined. The obtained results concerning DC conductivity vs. moisture level and temperature dependence of an electric insulation pressboard can make a basis for the identification of the amount of moisture accumulated in solid elements of a power transformer paper-oil insulation.