Partial discharge investigation of a power transformer using wireless wideband radio-frequency measurements

• Published in: IEEE transactions on power delivery Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 528 - 530
• Main Authors: Moore, P.J., Portugues, I.E., Glover, I.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.01.2006; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Antenna arrays; Antenna measurements; Applied sciences; Arrays; Condition monitoring; Discharge; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Joining; Joints; location; Partial discharge measurement; Partial discharges; Power measurement; Power networks and lines; Power transformer insulation; Power transformers; Radio frequency; radiometric measurements; Radiometry; Tanks; Transformers; Transformers and inductors; Wideband; Winding; Wireless LAN; Partial discharge; power transformers; Radiation source; Frequency measurement; Radiofrequency; Power transformer; Remote sensing; Partial discharge measurement; Condition monitoring; Experimental result; Rental; Failure detection; location; radiometric measurements; partial discharges; Antenna array
• ISSN: 0885-8977; 1937-4208
• DOI: 10.1109/TPWRD.2005.848438

The remote detection of a transformer internal partial discharge (PD) has been demonstrated using mobile wideband radio-frequency receiving equipment. The PD is externally detectable due to coupling within the transformer tank, causing impulsive signals to be radiated from external connections. A wideband direction-finding technique using a four-antenna array has shown the source of the radiation to be the tertiary winding connections; the radiated impulse has characteristics typical of this method of emission. No other external site of radiation from the transformer was detected. Due to the lack of coupling to the primary and secondary windings, it is believed that the PD is present between the tertiary windings and the core.