FDTD simulated propagation of electromagnetic pulses due to PD for transformer diagnostics

Partial discharge (PD) is one of the main causes for eventual equipment failure and it occurs where the electric field exceeds the local dielectric strength of the insulation. The PD signal captured at UHF has many advantages. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique, which is a widely used electromagnetic computational method, has been used to model propagation PD discharges generated in the form of a Gaussian pulse. The wave propagation in free space, oil and with a cylindrical metallic obstruction representing core/winding, in the two dimensions is realized and presented in this work. The perfectly matched layer (PML) which is a flexible and efficient absorbing boundary condition (ABC) has been incorporated in the simulations. Further, for localization time difference of arrival (TDOA) approach has been used.