Partial discharge

About: Partial discharge is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 13997 publications have been published within this topic receiving 102058 citations. The topic is also known as: PD.

Condition monitoring of power transformers using DGA and Fuzzy logic

Abstract: Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) is a widely used technique to estimate the condition of oil-immersed transformers. The measurement of the level and the change of combustible gases in the insulating oil is a trustworthy diagnostic tool which can be used as indicator of undesirable events occurring inside the transformer, such as hot spots, electrical arcing or partial discharge.

On-line signal analysis of partial discharges in medium-voltage power cables

Abstract: Partial discharges are symptomatic of many degradation phenomena in power cables and may cause further deterioration of the insulation in many cases. Electrical im- pulses, generated by partial discharges, travel towards the cable ends, and can there be detected using appropriate sensors. Continuous monitoring of the insulation con- dition can be achieved by on-line detection and location of partial discharge (PD) signals. An important aspect of such a diagnostic is the analysis of on-line measure- ments. The research reported in this thesis is aimed at analysis of PD signals from on-line measurements and location of discharge sites. Signal analysis depends on knowledge of both signals and disturbances that are to be expected. To that end, characteristics of PD signals in medium voltage cables are studied in this thesis. The result of this study is a signal model of the propagation path between the discharge site and the sensors. The model accounts for cable sections with di®erent properties, and incorporates the propagation channel load impedances, i.e. the equipment to which a cable is terminated in an on-line situation. The exact propagation properties and load impedances depend on the speci¯c cable connection under test, and are unknown a priori. For this reason, research is conducted on meth- ods that enable experimental characterization of the parameters, by evaluating the response of the cable to applied transients. The presented methods rely on the ex- traction of pulses that are re°ected on impedance transitions within the cable system under test. On-line ¯eld measurements are corrupted by noise and interference, which impede PD signal detection and location. Generally, narrowband interferences resulting from radio broadcasts dominate the measurements, thus prohibiting data-acquisition trig- gered by PD signals. Broadband background noise is present within the entire PD signal bandwidth, and therefore poses a fundamental limit on PD signal analysis. Generally, existing extraction techniques for PD signals only partially exploit a priori knowledge of both signals and interference. In this thesis, matched ¯lters are ap- plied that are derived from the signal model, and are optimally adapted to the signals that can be expected. Besides signal extraction, matched ¯lters provide a means to estimate the PD magnitude and the signal arrival time. Likewise, discharge location methods based on the signal model are proposed, resulting in optimal location esti- mators. Computer simulations illustrate the e®ectiveness of the proposed algorithms and show that the attainable accuracy can be speci¯ed by theoretical bounds. Accurate PD location relies on estimation of the di®erence in arrival times of signals originating from the same discharge. In case of on-line detection, the cable is connected to the grid, and signals are not necessarily re°ected at the cable ends. Therefore signal detection at both sides is generally required for the purpose of dis- charge location. Synchronization of the measurement equipment is achieved using pulses that are injected into the cable connection. Finite-energy disturbances, such as PD signals that originate outside the cable connection under test, frequently occur in on-line situations. Since measurements are synchronously conducted at both cable ends, pulses originating within and outside the cable can be distinguished by examining the di®erence in time of arrival. Moreover, in many situations, the signal direction of arrival can be determined by detecting pulses in two di®erent current paths at a cable termination. This method is applied as an additional technique to discriminate PD signals and disturbances. Based on the results of research, a measurement system is proposed, which enables automated on-line PD detection and location in medium voltage cable connections. The conceptual design is validated by experiments, and the results demonstrate that the practical application is promising.

Condition assessment of power cables using partial discharge diagnosis at damped AC voltages

Abstract: The thesis focuses on the condition assessment of the distribution power cables, which have a very critical part in the distribution of electrical power over regional distances. The majority of the outages in the power system is related to the distribution cables, of which for more than 60% to internal defects. The material degradation in the power cables can be categorised into four local degradation processes, which are related to partial discharges. Partial discharge characteristics therefore provide sensitive parameters for detecting degradation processes. With partial discharge diagnostics, the insulation defects (discharge sources) can be pinpointed by "time domain reflectometry" to a specific component over the length of the cable system. To detect partial discharges external energising sources are required. In this thesis, damped AC voltages (temporarily attenuating AC voltages as a result of an oscillation obtained by means of an LC resonant circuit) are successfully investigated in this thesis as an effective energising method for partial discharge diagnostics. The compact and low weight measuring system results in a low noise level and high sensitivity in the field during the low power damped AC voltages with frequencies in the range of 100-500Hz for 100-200ms, for discharging defects in impregnated paper as well as polymeric cable insulation. The effects of the different test voltages on discharge activities are investigated by measuring different defect models in the laboratory and power cables in the field with 50Hz AC voltages, damped AC voltages at various frequencies and 0,1Hz voltages. It is shown that the test voltage shapes and frequencies do not have major influence on the values for the partial discharge parameters. Knowledge rules for condition assessment of the different insulation systems are developed. Statistical analysis of large amounts of measurement data are for this an effective and reliable method to determine experience norms (standard based on experience) for condition assessment. The various partial discharge properties relate to different aspects of the condition of a cable system and its components. The weighted combination of the various knowledge rules results in a methodology for decision making of maintaining cable systems.

Time behaviour of discharge current in case of nanosecond-pulse surface dielectric barrier discharge

Abstract: Nanosecond-pulse surface dielectric barrier discharge is a promising method used for airflow control application. In our letter, atmospheric-pressure plasmas in open air are produced in a configuration of discharge actuators by repetitive nanosecond pulses. The electrical parameters including applied voltage, total discharge current, and transported charge are measured and analysed, especially it is aimed at the time behaviour of the total discharge current. Experimental results show that the total discharge current pulse includes two obvious spikes during the rise time of the applied pulse voltage. According to the simulation, it is concluded that the first current spike is due to the discharge propagation in the form of wave ionization and displacement current. The second current spike is caused by the repeated re-ignition of the surface dielectric barrier discharge on the area covered previously by the wave ionization.