The Study of PD Propagation Phenomenon in Power Network

Abstract

This paper presents the measured and analyzed responses of the partial discharge (PD) when it propagates in a power network from its origin to the measuring nodes. On and offline measurements are done in a power network consisting of a 16.5-kV/250-MVA-rated power generator, busbar, and step-up transformer. The simultaneously measured PD at two ends of the busbar indicated that the intensity of PD decreased as it traveled a longer distance and the time interval of its occurrence had a finite delay indicating the dominant mode of PD propagation as a transmission line. Frequency-domain analysis indicated the presence of characteristic resonance frequencies and the number increased as the measuring node moved away from the PD origin. The offline measurement by injecting an exponential PD signal at the neutral indicated that the signal will be absorbed in the generator, and the signal at the measuring node will be attenuated by 50 times and will be distorted. Pspice simulation is used to develop the network model for the propagation path. The Pspice analysis indicated that the distributed models of generator, busbar, and lumped parameter models of a transformer can be used to match the offline measurement. The model showed that each model can have the characteristic resonant peaks depending on the selected parameters and it can distort the simultaneously observed PD at two different nodes.