Partial discharge detection by extracting UHF signal from inner grading electrode of insulating spacer in GIS

In this study, a novel ultra-high frequency (UHF) sensor using an inner grading electrode inside an insulting spacer is employed to detect gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) partial discharge (PD). The simulation of the waveguide modes of the 252 kV GIS and the frequency response characteristics of this UHF sensor are performed by using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. Three kinds of typical defects are employed to investigate the PD detection characteristics of this UHF sensor. It is shown that the resonance frequencies of this sensor are extremely abundant below 3 GHz, and the major resonance frequencies around 0.5–1.2 and 2.2–3 GHz. The phase-resolved PD (PRPD) images accumulated by using this UHF sensor present the typical PRPD images of defects. The main frequency spectrum of the metal protrusion on a high-voltage conductor and floating potential defects are distributed below 1.5 GHz, which is consistent with waveguide mode simulation. A resonance frequency of a grading electrode UHF sensor appears at about 115 MHz, which is close to the simulation value of a resonance frequency at 140 MHz. The PD detection sensitivity of this sensor is much higher than that of an external sensor; however, it is a little lower than that of an internal sensor.