Bo Zhang

Bio: Bo Zhang is an academic researcher from Tsinghua University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Electric power transmission & Ground. The author has an hindex of 27, co-authored 207 publications receiving 2579 citations.

Polymer/molecular semiconductor all-organic composites for high-temperature dielectric energy storage.

Abstract: Dielectric polymers for electrostatic energy storage suffer from low energy density and poor efficiency at elevated temperatures, which constrains their use in the harsh-environment electronic devices, circuits, and systems. Although incorporating insulating, inorganic nanostructures into dielectric polymers promotes the temperature capability, scalable fabrication of high-quality nanocomposite films remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report an all-organic composite comprising dielectric polymers blended with high-electron-affinity molecular semiconductors that exhibits concurrent high energy density (3.0 J cm−3) and high discharge efficiency (90%) up to 200 °C, far outperforming the existing dielectric polymers and polymer nanocomposites. We demonstrate that molecular semiconductors immobilize free electrons via strong electrostatic attraction and impede electric charge injection and transport in dielectric polymers, which leads to the substantial performance improvements. The all-organic composites can be fabricated into large-area and high-quality films with uniform dielectric and capacitive performance, which is crucially important for their successful commercialization and practical application in high-temperature electronics and energy storage devices. Dielectric polymers are widely used in electrostatic energy storage but suffer from low energy density and efficiency at elevated temperatures. Here, the authors show that all-organic composites containing high-electron-affinity molecular semiconductors exhibit excellent capacitive performance at 200 °C.

Field-dependent charging phenomenon of HVDC spacers based on dominant charge behaviors

Abstract: Spacers are key components that are used to support high voltage conductors in gas-insulated substations or gas-insulated lines. The analysis of the surface charge patterns on spacers remains a difficult task, which requires a comprehensive understanding of the physical mechanism of the gas-solid interface charging phenomenon. In this letter, we reported a field dependent property of surface charge accumulation patterns on spacers under DC stress. We verified this finding through experiment, and further, we put forward a field-dependent charging model based on dominant charge transport behavior under different electric fields. It was found that the charging characteristics of the spacer are dominated by the Ohmic conduction from the volume below an electric field of 2.5 kV/mm. When the electric field stress is higher than 2.5 kV/mm, the charging property of spacers is dominated by the enhanced gas ionization according to Townsend's law. The correctness of this model was verified by surface charge measurement results in literature studies, and a method for determining the dominant mechanism of charge accumulation under different electric fields was proposed.Spacers are key components that are used to support high voltage conductors in gas-insulated substations or gas-insulated lines. The analysis of the surface charge patterns on spacers remains a difficult task, which requires a comprehensive understanding of the physical mechanism of the gas-solid interface charging phenomenon. In this letter, we reported a field dependent property of surface charge accumulation patterns on spacers under DC stress. We verified this finding through experiment, and further, we put forward a field-dependent charging model based on dominant charge transport behavior under different electric fields. It was found that the charging characteristics of the spacer are dominated by the Ohmic conduction from the volume below an electric field of 2.5 kV/mm. When the electric field stress is higher than 2.5 kV/mm, the charging property of spacers is dominated by the enhanced gas ionization according to Townsend's law. The correctness of this model was verified by surface charge measurem...

Diagnosis of breaks in substation's grounding grid by using the electromagnetic method

Abstract: According to the method of moment, a new method to analyze the grid fed by harmonic currents is presented. The method can be used for the condition that the grid is in at least ten-layer soil with a frequency of the injected currents up to 1 MHz. There can be more than one injected current, and the grounding conductor of the grid can be put in any form. Validation of the method is presented by comparing it with other existing methods. As an application of the presented method, breaks in the substation's grounding grid are diagnosed by the measured voltages on the surface of the ground.

Understanding surface charge accumulation and surface flashover on spacers in compressed gas insulation

Abstract: Surface charges have the effect of changing the electric field over spacers in compressed gases, which may affect the stable operation of gas insulated equipment and could possibly trigger a catastrophic surface flashover without warning. In this paper, we review the literature on surface charge accumulation and related surface flashover phenomenon on spacers in compressed gases. A summary of experimental research of surface charge accumulation is presented and, the surface charge accumulation mechanism is also summarized, with some newly identified factors in mind that may affect surface charge transport and measurements thereof. Subsequently, the correlation between surface charge accumulation and the surface flashover phenomenon is thoroughly discussed, and the effect of surface charges on surface breakdown under applied voltage pulses of various waveforms is analyzed. Finally, several important research topics in this area are proposed. In addition, some ideas on potential surface charge control methods are presented to aid the design of a better spacer free from surface charges in future studies.

Effective length of counterpoise wire under lightning current

Abstract: In a high soil resistivity area, counterpoise wires are applied to decrease the grounding resistance of tower grounding devices. If the conductor of counterpoise wire is very long, although the power frequency grounding resistance of the tower grounding device is decreased, the lightning protection performance of the transmission line is still not good. The influences of the length of grounding electrodes on the lightning transient characteristic were analyzed. The dynamic and nonlinear effect of soil ionization around the grounding electrode was considered in the analysis model of transient characteristics for the grounding electrodes under lightning impulse. The counterpoise wire has an effective length when lightning passes through it. When the length of a grounding electrode exceeds the effective length, the grounding conductor will not be utilized effectively. The simulating experiments were performed to analyze influences of the length of the counterpoise wire on the impulse characteristics. The formulae to calculate the impulse effective lengths of counterpoise wires were proposed. The model proposed in the paper has been validated by comparing the numerical results with experimental tests.

Overview of Recent Progress in Lightning Research and Lightning Protection

Abstract: This review paper, prepared for this second special issue on lightning of the IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, summarizes major publications on lightning and lightning protection since the first special issue published in November 1998, i.e., during the last decade. The review is organized in the following five sections: lightning discharge-observations, lightning discharge-modeling, lightning occurrence characteristics/lightning locating systems, lightning electromagnetic pulse and lightning-induced effects, and protection against lightning-induced effects.