Partial Discharge Measurement with Non- Intrusive Broadband RF Sensors in the Fabrication Inspection of an 800 kV HVDC Converter Transformer

Existing experimental studies using an external radio frequency (RF) antenna to detect leaked partial discharge (PD) signals from transformer are commonly carried out in a controlled lab environment with a cabinet of reduced size. In this contribution, broadband RF sensors in the very-high frequency (VHF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) range are distributed outside an 800 kV HVDC converter transformer in its fabrication inspection for PD measurement. Results show that leaked PD signals can be successfully detected and discriminated from persistent background interferences at the test site. The capability of the developed broadband RF pulse detection and analyzing system has been demonstrated and its effectiveness for non-intrusive continuous on-line PD monitoring has been verified in fabrication inspection scene.