Partial discharge pulse shape recognition using an inductive loop sensor

Partial discharges (PD) are a clear ageing agent on insulating materials used in high-voltage electrical machines and cables. For this reason, there is increasing interest in measuring this phenomenon in an effort to forecast unexpected failures in electrical equipment. In order to focus on harmful discharges, PD pulse shape analysis is being used as an insulation defect identification technique. In this paper, a simple, inexpensive and high-frequency inductive loop sensor will be used to detect and acquire PD pulses. Several measurements will be made on some controlled test cell geometries in order to characterize PD pulse shapes for different discharge sources. The sensor identification capability has been checked in an insulation system where two simultaneous PD sources were active.