Introducing Weidmann's Rigid Metalized Carbon Paper Shield

Background

The future electrical network will have more sources feeding into the grid, e.g., wind, solar, and other energy producers. Shunt and Series Reactors are widely used in AC networks to limit overvoltage or shortcut currents in power transmission. With a growing number of high-voltage overhead lines in a fast-changing energy environment, both types of reactors play a key role in power quality and grid efficiency.

New Shield Development

In response to the increasing demand for new reactors and to fulfill the requirement to operate more effectively within a high magnetic field, Weidmann has developed the Rigid Metalized Carbon Paper Shield to meet the market requirements.

The rigid cylindrical shielding comprises a metalized layer sandwiched between two cylinders. The semi-conductive carbon paper layer, connected to a copper chord, prevents higher local electromagnetic losses when exposed to the magnetic flux, typical of the reactor design. 

What is the Weidmann Rigid Metalized Carbon Paper Shield?

The shield is a specialized component designed to provide both electrical insulation and shielding effects among the different parts of the high-voltage devices, such as Air Gap Core versus windings or winding-to-winding in Shunt and Series Reactors.

The key features and functions are:

1. Material composition: metalized carbon is a semi-conductive carbon paper with lower electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and durability.
2. Rigid structure: the rigid metalized carbon shield is designed to maintain a fixed and stable shape, thus providing structural support and maintaining precise positioning within the shunt reactor.
3. Electrical insulation: the primary function of the metalized carbon shield is to provide electrical insulation between different components within the shunt reactor. The shield prevents electromagnetic losses and provides insulation in enhanced temperature conditions.
4. Shielding: the metallic coating acts as a shielding layer to help control the electric field distribution within the reactor. By reducing the electromagnetic losses, the insulation aging can be extended.
5. Resistance to environmental factors: the material used in the shield offers good resistance to moisture, contamination, and pollution. This ensures a robust and reliable insulation system in diverse operating conditions.
6. Reduced partial discharge activity: the shielding properties contribute to minimizing partial discharge activity, which is important for the operation and lifetime considerations of the reactor.
7. Maintenance-free: the rigid design of the shield, combined with its resistance to environmental factors, offers a maintenance-free solution, enhancing the reactor’s reliability.