The University of Southampton

An investigation into partial discharge sources and locations along the high voltage transformers

Date:
2010-2014
Themes:
High Voltage Engineering, Condition monitoring

This project is concerned with a new approach to the condition monitoring and measurement for Partial discharge (PD) especially in terms of its location along high voltage transformer windings. PD may occur in a transformer winding due to aging processes, operational over stressing or defects introduced during manufacture. The presence of PD indicates a serious degradation and ageing mechanism which can be considered as a precursor of transformer failure. The concept developed in this project is based on the fact that the PD which occurred at any point along the winding produces a signal which contains high frequency components with a bandwidth up to 150-200 MHz, that will propagate as a travelling wave towards both ends of the winding eventually reaching a bushing core bar which will allow high frequency components of the PD signal to propagate to its tap point. In the experiment in the lab enviornment, the measurement of PD signals is obtained using Radio Frequency Current Transducers (RFCT) from both ends of the winding which are connected to earth via the bushing tap and neutral earth connection respectively. A new approach is need to be developed for location by using simualtion and digital signal processing techniques. An experiment has been developed that can be used to create common types of PD sources artificially in order to investigate the applicability of the proposed methods.

Primary investigators

Secondary investigator

  • msar106

Associated research group

  • Electronics and Computer Science
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