Synthetic and Natural Ester Liquids: The Roadmap Towards Practical Use of Environmentally Friendly Liquid Dielectrics in the Pulsed Power Industry.

A 36-month full-time, fully-funded PhD, supported by the University of Strathclyde and our major Pulsed Power industrial partner, focusing on the use of environmentally friendly non-toxic dielectric liquids (natural and synthetic ester fluids) in advanced power and pulsed power systems for high voltage insulation.

In recent years natural and synthetic ester liquids have attracted attention of the pulsed power community as potential substitutes for traditional mineral oils in high voltage impulsive systems. However, for successful practical application of ester liquids as liquid dielectrics in different power and pulsed power systems, it is important to understand their dielectric/breakdown properties in a wide range of electric parameters: HV impulses with different rise and fall time including the lightning waveform and non-standard HV impulses; HV AC stress; and HV DC stress of both polarities.

Another critical characteristic which is important for successful application of the ester liquids in the pulsed power systems is the dielectric strength of solid/ester liquid interfaces. Different solid materials are used in the design and construction of the HV pulsed systems, therefore information and knowledge on the dielectric behaviour of such interfaces between different solid dielectrics and ester liquids is required for dielectric coordination and optimisation.

The obtained results will help to increase practical applications of environmentally friendly dielectric liquids in power and pulsed power industries.

This project will be conducted in collaboration and close cooperation with the major industrial partner which will provide an important link in terms of knowledge transfer and industrial feedback. The University of Strathclyde will provide full stipend (tuitions fees also will be fully covered), a prospective PhD student will be encouraged to publish the obtained results in peer reviewed journals and funds will be available for attending major international conferences and symposiums such us IEEE Pulsed Power Conference of IEEE International Conference on Liquid Dielectrics.

The starting date is the 1st October 2018 however, early applications are welcomed as this project may start early if it will be suitable for accepted candidates.