Discharge Detection In Power Transformers Research Articles

DFB Fiber Laser Based on External Optical Feedback Theory Applied in Long-Distance Power Transformer Partial Discharge Detection

Active fiber optic acoustic emission (AE) sensors cause external optical feedback (EOF) in engineering applications, resulting in performance loss when used for long-distance partial discharge detection in power transformers. This work employs a distributed feedback fiber laser (DFB-FL) as a sensor to construct a partial discharge detection system. Furthermore, two schemes that improve the long-distance detection performance of DFB-FL are proposed by Suppressing EOF (S-EOF) and Introducing EOF (I-EOF). Then, partial discharge tests in an 80 kVA power transformer validate that both schemes can implement long-distance partial discharge detection. Experimental results indicate that the S-EOF system has a significant signal-to-noise ratio, which is 6.01 dB higher than the piezoelectric transducer (PZT). The S-EOF scheme is suitable for long-term online partial discharge monitoring. The I-EOF system has a high sensitivity for partial discharge detection, and its detectable discharge magnitude is lower than 65.8 pC. The I-EOF scheme is applicable for short-term systemic sampling and daily inspections.

PIFA antenna for partial discharge detection in power transformers

PIFA antenna for partial discharge detection in power transformers

Development of Acoustic Emission Sensor Optimized for Partial Discharge Monitoring in Power Transformers.

The acoustic emission (AE) technique is one of the unconventional methods of partial discharges (PD) detection. It plays a particularly important role in oil-filled power transformers diagnostics because it enables the detection and online monitoring of PDs as well as localization of their sources. The performance of this technique highly depends on measurement system configuration but mostly on the type of applied AE sensor. The paper presents, in detail, the design and manufacturing stages of an ultrasensitive AE sensor optimized for partial discharge detection in power transformers. The design assumptions were formulated based on extensive laboratory research, which allowed for the identification of dominant acoustic frequencies emitted by partial discharges in oil–paper insulation. The Krimholtz–Leedom–Matthaei (KLM) model was used to iteratively find optimal material and geometric properties of the main structures of the prototype AE sensor. It has two sensing elements with opposite polarization direction and different heights. The fully differential design allowed to obtain the desired properties of the transducer, i.e., a two-resonant (68 kHz and 90 kHz) and wide (30–100 kHz) frequency response curve, high peak sensitivity (−61.1 dB ref. V/µbar), and low noise. The laboratory tests confirmed that the prototype transducer is characterized by ultrahigh sensitivity of partial discharge detection. Compared to commonly used commercial AE sensors, the average amplitude of PD pulses registered with the prototype sensor was a minimum of 5.2 dB higher, and a maximum of 19.8 dB higher.

Design and Development of a Bio-Inspired UHF Sensor for Partial Discharge Detection in Power Transformers.

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.

A Novel Ultraviolet Discharge Detection Scheme for Power Transformers

The incipient fault discharge detection in power transformers is one of the crucial methodologies to prevent serious system damage incurred from deterioration of electrical insulation. In this paper, we propose a new scheme to detect incipient fault discharge for power transformers, which is based on a novel ultraviolet assay approach. In this method, we derive a new detection model by a careful analysis for ultraviolet light characteristics and properties due to fault discharge from the corresponding power transformers. Combining with a new positioning scheme, we show that our corona discharge detection approach can efficiently compute and determine the locations of fault transformers with high accuracy that also outperforms the existing detection methods in the literature.