Partial discharge diagnostics and electrical equipment insulation condition assessment

Partial discharge (PD) measurement has long been used as a test to evaluate different insulation system designs, and as a quality control test for new equipment. However, in the past 20 years, PD measurement has been widely applied to diagnose the condition of the electrical insulation in operating apparatus such as switchgear, transformers, cables, as well as motor and generator stator windings. Improvements in the capabilities as well the lower cost of sensors, electronics and memory is partly the reason for the increased popularity of PD diagnostics. Another reason has been the development of methods-including the use of ultrawide band detection-to improve the reliability of the PD measurement in the presence of noise. In addition, rapid progress is being made in automated pattern recognition techniques that also helps to suppress noise. This paper reviews the various PD measurement technologies that have been specifically developed to improve PD diagnostic methods, and outlines how they have been implemented for stators, cables, transformers and switchgear. Areas for further research are also presented.

[1]  G.C. Stone,et al.  Effect of manufacturer, winding age and insulation type on stator winding partial discharge levels , 2004, IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine.

[2]  Ray Bartnikas,et al.  Partial discharges. Their mechanism, detection and measurement , 2002 .

[3]  G. Stone,et al.  DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF GENERATOR INSULATION WITHOUT SERVICE INTERRUPTION , 2022 .

[4]  R. E. James,et al.  Evaluation of partial discharge detection techniques on hydro-generators in the Australian Snowy Mountains scheme. Tumut 1 case study , 1994 .

[5]  A. Cavallini,et al.  Experience of testing polymeric HV cable systems by an innovative partial discharge measurement approach , 2004, 2004 International Conference on Power System Technology, 2004. PowerCon 2004..

[6]  D. M. Robinson,et al.  Dielectric phenomena in high voltage cables , 1936 .

[7]  N. Ahmed,et al.  On-line partial discharge detection in cables , 1998 .

[8]  T. Aschwanden,et al.  Assessment of insulation condition of large power transformers by on-site electrical diagnostic methods , 2000, Conference Record of the 2000 IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation (Cat. No.00CH37075).

[9]  H. Borsi,et al.  A New Method for Detection and Location of Distributed Partial Discharges (Cable Faults) in High Voltage Cables under External Interference , 1982, IEEE Power Engineering Review.

[10]  Greg C. Stone,et al.  Continuous on-line partial discharge monitoring of generator stator windings , 1999 .

[11]  Mors.  Assessment of Dielectric Degradation by Ultrawide-band PD Detection , 2004 .

[12]  R. Bartnikas,et al.  A Simple Pulse-Height Analyzer for Partial-Discharge-Rate Measurements , 1969 .

[13]  S. Boggs.  Electromagnetic Techniques for Fault and Partial Discharge Location in Gas-Insulated Cables and Substations , 1982, IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems.

[14]  B. T. Phung,et al.  Application of digital filtering techniques to the determination of partial discharge location in transformers , 1989 .

[15]  R. Bartnikas,et al.  Corona measurement and interpretation , 1979 .

[16]  L. Satish,et al.  Can fractal features be used for recognizing 3-d partial discharge patterns , 1995 .

[17]  H. G. Sedding,et al.  Practical implementation of ultrawideband partial discharge detectors , 1992 .

[18]  Magdy M. A. Salama,et al.  Determination of neural-network topology for partial discharge pulse pattern recognition , 2002, IEEE Trans. Neural Networks.

[19]  C. Mayoux,et al.  Partial discharge. XI. Limitations to PD as a diagnostic for deterioration and remaining life , 1992, IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine.

[20]  G. C. Stone,et al.  Preventing Failures in Outdoor Distribution-Class Metalclad Switchgear , 1985, IEEE Power Engineering Review.

[21]  Xiandong Ma,et al.  Interpretation of wavelet analysis and its application in partial discharge detection , 2002 .

[22]  C. L. Dawes,et al.  Ionization Studies in Paper-Insulated Cables---III , 1930, Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

[23]  J. P. Vora,et al.  Power Transformers and Corona Testing , 1965 .

[24]  W. L. Weeks,et al.  Estimating the location of partial discharges in cables , 1992 .

[25]  G. C. Montanari,et al.  Use of a mixed-weibull distribution for the identification of PD phenomena , 1995, IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation.

[26]  P. Boss,et al.  Detection and location of internal defects in the insulation of power transformers , 1993 .

[27]  E. Gulski,et al.  Computer-aided recognition of discharge sources , 1992 .

[28]  C. L. Dawes,et al.  Ionization Studies in Paper-Insulated Cables---I , 2022, Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

[29]  J. Fuhr,et al.  PD-fingerprints of some high voltage apparatus , 1990, IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation.

[30]  N. Hozumi,et al.  Discrimination of partial discharge patterns using a neural network , 1991 .

[31]  Alfredo Contin,et al.  Use of a mixed-Weibull distribution for the identification of PD phenomena [corrected version] , 1995 .

[32]  G. Stone,et al.  Electrical Insulation for Rotating Machines , 2003 .

[33]  Martin D. Judd,et al.  Broadband couplers for UHF detection of partial discharge in gas-insulated substations , 1995 .

[34]  Alfredo Contin,et al.  Advanced PD inference in on-field measurements. II. Identification of defects in solid insulation systems , 2003 .

[35]  S. A. Boggs,et al.  The influence of x-rays on partial discharges in voids , 1987, Conference on Electrical Insulation & Dielectric Phenomena — Annual Report 1987.

[36]  T. Okamoto,et al.  Novel Partial Discharge Measurement Computer-Aided Measuremnet Systems , 1986, IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation.

[37]  Magdy M. A. Salama,et al.  Fuzzy logic applied to PD pattern classification , 2000 .

[38]  F. Kreuger,et al.  Discharge detection in high voltage equipment , 1964 .

[39]  P. Brown.  Nonintrusive partial discharge measurements on high voltage switchgear , 1996 .

[40]  L. Satish,et al.  Wavelet-based denoising of partial discharge signals buried in excessive noise and interference , 2003 .

[41]  D. Wenzel,et al.  Partial discharge recognition and localization on transformers via fuzzy logic , 1994, Proceedings of 1994 IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation.

[42]  Alfredo Contin,et al.  Advanced PD inference in on-field measurements. I. Noise rejection , 2003 .

[43]  M. Mashikian,et al.  Evaluation of field aged crosslinked polyethylene cables by partial discharge location , 1994 .

[44]  H. G. Sedding,et al.  Unusual PD pulse phase distributions in operating rotating machines , 1995 .

[45]  E. Gulski,et al.  Advanced partial discharge diagnostic of MV power cable system using oscillating wave test system , 2000 .