The Partial Discharge Tester under Wuhan UHV can help many power workers conduct various power tests more conveniently.
Identifying partial discharge (PD) is a key technology for monitoring the insulation status and warning faults of power equipment.The following are several main identification methods:
1."Hear" Electrical Signals (Most Common):
Measure Current Pulses: Use sensors on equipment ground wires or capacitors to detect high-frequency current pulses from PD (Standard method, accurate but often requires power-off).
Measure Electromagnetic Waves: Use antennas (UHF sensors) to capture ultra-high-frequency radio waves emitted by PD (Ideal for online monitoring of metal-enclosed equipment like GIS/transformers, good noise immunity).
Measure Surface Voltage: Scan equipment metal surfaces with a probe to detect transient earth voltages (TEV) induced by PD (Simple for live inspections, but prone to interference).
2."Hear" Sound:
Use ultrasonic sensors on equipment surfaces to pick up PD's "crackling" or "hissing" ultrasonic sounds. Helps locate PD, immune to electrical noise, but sound weakens and distorts through materials.
3."Smell" Chemical Changes (Best for Oil-Filled Equipment):
Analyze dissolved gases in transformer oil. PD produces characteristic gases .Determine the presence and type of discharge through chromatographic analysis.
4."See" Light (Limited Use):
Use UV cameras to detect ultraviolet light from external corona discharge (e.g., on insulators) during live inspections.
Internal PD is usually invisible.
Simple Warning Signs (Preliminary only - NOT a substitute for professional testing):
Listen: Persistent "buzzing," "crackling," or "hissing" near equipment.
Smell: Ozone (sharp, clean odor) or burning insulation smells.
Look (in darkness): Visible blue-purple corona glow or sparks on external parts.
Key Points:
Professional instruments are essential: Senses alone cannot reliably identify or assess PD.
Choose method based on scenario: Consider equipment type (transformer, switchgear, cable), power-on/off needs, and whether qualitative or quantitative data is required.
Combine methods for reliability: Often use electrical + ultrasonic or other combinations to confirm findings.
Safety first: Live detection MUST be done by trained professionals following safety protocols.
Trends matter: Regular checks or online monitoring to track signal changes over time is more valuable than a single test.
In short: Identify PD by detecting its electrical pulses, electromagnetic waves, ultrasonic sounds, or insulating oil decomposition gases, using specialized tools operated and analyzed by experienced personnel.
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