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Partial discharge (PD) testing of high-voltage (HV) cables and cable accessories has been implemented predominantly using high-frequency current transformers (HFCTs) as PD sensors. PD currents initiating at PD sources are coupled onto cable conductors. They travel away from the PD sources and are detected by HFCTs installed at cable terminations. In this paper, based on combining finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) modeling and transfer function theory, a hybrid modeling approach is proposed to investigate the processes of PD coupling and detection involved in HFCT-based PD testing of HV cables. This approach allows exciting a PD event anywhere in FDTD models of the cables and predicting output from HFCTs some distance away. Implementation of the method is illustrated using an 11 kV XLPE cable. Moreover, a “direct measurement” method of obtaining original PD pulses as the excitation source waveform is presented. The modeling approach introduced here will facilitate studies on the relationship between measured PD signals and those excited at PD sources, which can potentially give useful insight into the basic mechanisms behind PD detection in cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel Partial Discharge (PD) localisation method, based on PD pulse Rise-Time and Transfer Function (RTTF), for use in on-line cable PD monitoring systems. This is based on the change in rise time as a function of cable length along which a PD pulse has propagated. A comparison with four other well-known location techniques, i.e. Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR), Phase difference, Arrival Time Analysis (ATA) and Amplitude-Frequency (AF) mapping has been made and presented. Analysis shows that the TDR and Phase difference methods, although requiring a single measurement point, are only applicable to short length cable systems as both incident pulse and reflected pulse should be observable when it reaches the detection point. On the other hand, the ATA and AF mapping, which can be applied to longer cable systems, need to install detectors at multiple points and detect synchronously. In comparison, PD localisation by the proposed RTTF method, which requires detection of the incident pulse at only one measurement point, can be used to localise a PD source which is further away from the PD detection point than other methods and can be used in on-line PD monitoring systems. As on-line PD monitoring sensors commonly comprise of a high frequency current transformer (HFCT) and a high-pass filter, the rise time of detected PD pulses depends on the attenuation of the cable, the HFCT used and the filter applied. Simulations of pulse propagation in a cable and PD monitoring system are performed, based on analyses in the frequency domain using the concept of transfer functions. Results of RTTF from the simulations have been verified by laboratory experiments and on-site PD measurements, which provide evidence that the RTTF method is a very valuable and useful PD localisation technique. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper addresses the detection and localization of partial discharge (PD) in crossbonded (CB) high voltage (HV) cables. A great deal has been published in recent years on PD based cable insulation condition monitoring, diagnostics and localization in medium voltage (MV) and high voltage (HV) cables. The topic of pulse propagation and PD source localization in CB HV cable systems has yet to be significantly investigated. The main challenge to PD monitoring of CB HV cables is as a result of the interconnectedness of the sheaths of the three single phase cables. The cross-bonding of the sheaths makes it difficult to localize which of the three phases a PD signal has emanated from. Co-axial cables are used to connect cable sheaths to cable link boxes, for ease of installation and protection against moisture. A second challenge is, therefore, the coupling effect when a PD pulse propagates in HV cable joints and the co-axial cables, making PD detection and localization more complex. The paper presents experimental investigations into PD pulse coupling between the cable center conductor and the sheath and the behavior of PD pulse propagation in CB HV cables. It proposes a model to describe PD pulse propagation in a CB HV cable system to allow monitoring and localization, and also presents the knowledge rules required for PD localization in CB HV cable systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial discharge (PD) based condition monitoring has been widely applied to power cables. However, difficulties in interpretation of measurement results (location and criticality) remain to be tackled. This paper aims to develop further knowledge in PD signal propagation in power cables and attenuation by the PD monitoring system devices to address the localization and criticality issues. As on-line or in-service PD monitoring sensors commonly comprise of a high frequency current transformer (HFCT) and a high-pass filter, the characteristics of detected PD pulses depend on the attenuation of the cable, the HFCT used and the filter applied. Simulation of pulse propagation in a cable and PD monitoring system are performed, based on analyses in the frequency domain using the concept of transfer functions. Results have been verified by laboratory experiments and using on-site PD measurements. The knowledge gained from the research on the change in pulse characteristics propagating in a cable and through a PD detection system can be very useful to PD denoising and for development of a PD localization technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]