Mathematical Model and Regression Analysis of Acoustic Emission Signals Generated by Partial Discharges

Abstract

An improved mathematical model describing acoustic emission (AE) signals generated by different types of partial discharges (PD) that occur in electric power transformer insulation system is presented in the paper. AE signals are analyzed within the AE method as applied for power transformer failure detection due to occurrence of PD. There are several types of basic defects, which are characterized by different types of PD. The mathematical model presented here is crucial for numerical analyses and simulations, where it acts as the function describing the acoustic source in an acoustic model of power transformer insulation system. The regression procedure was performed based on empirical AE signals, registered in a laboratory experiment. The AE signals are described by a mathematical model being a multi-parameter function, which involve both the time domain and the frequency domain. Goodness of the model was evaluated based on analysis of 480 data samples in the time, frequency and time-frequency domains. Also coherence between the registered and modeled signals was calculated. It was stated that the improved model fits very well to the real data, although, due to high level of noise embodied in signals registered in experiments, the coherence values remain low. Moreover, analyses of the estimated data were performed and some example results are presented in this paper. Based on the achieved outcomes a collection of parameter values was prepared for each of the eight considered PD basic types. One can simple use it now in a numerical model for simulation of AE signal source generated by specified type of PD, what corresponds to a particular power transformer insulation system failure. Furthermore, the regression procedure presented in this paper can be easily transferred to any other types of AE sources including processes of compression, tension and cracking.