Prognostication of Failures Using Signal-to-Noise Ratio to Determine Partial Discharges Activities in Power Transformers

Abstract

The increase in number of power transformer necessitates increased awareness among power system engineers to monitor transformer health in order to avoid complete failures that may results in prolonged outages. The utilities, nowadays, are exploring different ways of detecting these faults in an early stage. This paper aims to present a real-time monitoring technique for a three-phase transformer using data analytics. Accordingly, the use of signal to noise ratio (SNR) for fault detection in power transformers has been described. This technique determines the partial discharge with the help of sensors needed for unique identification of failed transformers in different test systems. The SNR for different transformer coils installed in field conditions has been compared and discussed in detail. The technique is expected to enable power transformer operators for detection of incipient faults and thus can avoid catastrophic failures and the resultant losses.

Keywords

• Incipient faults
• partial discharges
• signal-to-noise ratio
• transformer health