A Novel Sinusoidal Damped Oscillating Voltage Generator for the Detection of Partial Discharge in MV Distribution Power Cables

This paper presents a damped oscillating voltage generator with a novel topology. In the proposed system, a sinusoidal voltage shape, rather than a cosinoidal shape, is used to detect the partial discharge (PD) of medium-voltage distribution power cables. Since this scheme uses a lithium battery instead of a high-voltage dc source, a mains power supply is unnecessary. The energy-storage device is used as an inductor rather than a capacitive test object, thus ensuring that the energizing process is successful even during the test of a deeply deteriorated specimen. This paper describes the working principle and the assembly and implementation of a laboratory prototype for the PD detection of a 200-m cable circuit. The experimental results prove the feasibility of the scheme.