Application of the 3D boundary element method in the design of EHV GIS components

The main purpose of numerical field calculation in high voltage engineering is the optimization of the electrode shape of dielectrically stressed components. In the design of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) components, several conflicting requirements must be satisfied simultaneously in order to ensure success. For example, a design must be compact in order to reduce material costs and to allow for modular, cost-effective layouts. At the same time, the electric field stresses on the active components must be low enough to ensure reliability and compliance with international standards (IEC, ANSI, etc.) for the voltage. This challenge, although not new to GIS design, has intensified in recent years as competition in the market has driven down prices and placed cost pressure on manufacturers. This new tool changes our design process in that no more repeated HV tests and multiple prototypes are necessary.