Laboratory Experimental System for Examination of Acoustic Emission Generated by Partial Discharges

Abstract

One of the major causes of transformer failures is dielectric breakdown. Partial discharges cause gradual insulation degradation thus partial discharge activity monitoring provides transformer state insight. This paper gives an overview of common methods for partial discharges detection and source location in transformers, with a special reference to the acoustic method as an noninvasive and interference resistant method suitable for application. For laboratory testing a laboratory experimental system for partial discharge diagnostics using acoustic emission measurement was developed.

Keywords

• Acoustic emission
• partial discharges
• online measurement
• diagnostics
• transformers