Abstract
In this paper, the design and development of a bio-inspired UHF sensor for partial discharge detection in power transformers is presented. The UHF sensor was developed for external use in dielectric windows of power transformers. For this purpose, a microstrip antenna was designed with a radiating element shape based on the leaf of the Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill plant. Then, an epoxy coating and an aluminium enclosure were developed to protect the antenna against corrosion and to provide mechanical support, external noise immunity, and a lifetime compatibility with power transformers. In order to verify the electrical parameters of the developed sensor, measurements of the gain and the reflection coefficient were performed in an anechoic chamber. Lastly, the antenna sensitivity for denominated partial discharge (PD) detection was compared with the IEC 60270 standard method. For this purpose, simultaneous tests were carried out in a partial discharge generator setup, composed of an oil cell with needle-plane electrodes. The experimental tests demonstrated the effectiveness of the sensor for detecting PD signals with apparent charge values higher than 35 pC.
Highlights
Electrical insulation systems are one of the main components of high-voltage equipment.In general, these insulation systems have higher dielectric strength than air, allowing them to support high-voltage levels with a shorter distance between electrodes
In order to contribute to the state-of-the-art techniques in transformer monitoring, this paper presents the design and development of a bio-inspired UHF sensor for partial discharges (PD) monitoring of power transformers
The UHF sensor designed in this research is composed of three main parts: (1) one microstrip antenna with bio-inspired technology, to capture the UHF signal radiated from PD sources; (2) an epoxy coating, which provides the sensor with protection against corrosion, mechanical support, and high temperature tolerance; and (3) an electromagnetic shield, in order to guarantee immunity to external noise
Summary
Electrical insulation systems are one of the main components of high-voltage equipment. The microstrip antennas with classical radiating element (patch) shapes (such as, rectangles, circles, triangles, squares, and others) designed to operate in the UHF range would assume relatively large dimensions [20,21,22,23,24], limiting their practical application for PD detection in power transformers. Techniques applied in antenna miniaturization mainly seek geometries that maximize the patch perimeter These optimized geometries can be addressed in the shapes of living beings found in nature, developed in order to provide greater efficiency regarding the ability to survive. With the simultaneous application of a bio-inspired geometry design and the truncated ground plane bandwidth enhancement technique, it is possible to develop a UHF sensor that presents a compact size (necessary for the application) and with enough bandwidth for the PD detection in power transformers.
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