This study presents a comprehensive review of the automated classification in partial discharge (PD) source identification and probabilistic interpretation of the classification results based on the relationship between the variation of the phase-resolved PD (PRPD) patterns and the source of the PD. The proposed automated classification system consists of modern, high-performance statistical feature extraction methods and classifier algorithms. Their application in online monitoring and recognition of the PD patterns is investigated based on their low-processing time and high-performance evaluation. The application of modern statistical algorithms and pre-processing methods configured in this automated classification system improves the pattern recognition accuracy of the different PD sources that are suitable to be employed in different high-voltage (HV) insulation media. To evaluate the performance of the different combinations of the feature extraction/classier pairs, laboratory setups are designed and built that simulate various types of PDs. The test cells include three sources of PD in , two sources of PD in transformer oil, and corona in the air. Data samples for different classes of PD sources are captured under two levels of voltage and two different levels of noise. The results of this study evaluate the suitability of the proposed classification systems for probabilistic source identification in various insulation media. Furthermore, of importance to the problem of the PD source identification is to assign a ‘degree of membership’ to each PRPD pattern, besides assigning a class label to it. Some of the classifier algorithms studied in this study, such as fuzzy classifiers, are not only able to show high classification accuracy rate, but they also calculate the ‘degree of membership’ of a sample to a class of data. This enables probabilistic interpretation of a new PRPD pattern that is being classified. The determination of the degree of membership for future PRPD samples allows safer decision making based on the risk associated with the different sources of PD in HV apparatus.

Increased voltage blocking capability and the development of packaging technology for IGBTs can enhance the local electric field that may become large enough to increase partial discharges (PDs) within the module. The study presents a survey on (i) simulation the electric field within an IGBT module; (ii) current standards for evaluation of the insulation systems of IGBTs; (iii) PD detection and localisation methods as well as other diagnostic and quality control test methods about IGBTs; and (iv) various methods for PD control in an IGBT module. The survey shows remarkable technical gaps in all four areas. More sophisticated numerical and theoretical techniques are needed to model complicated geometries, e.g. extremely sharp edges of the copper metallisation and protrusions in the substrate, and composite non-linear field grading materials. There is no model to take into account defects in the gel and on the ceramic substrate. IEC 61287-1 cannot sufficiently assess the behaviour of PDs on IGBT module under the actual operating conditions exposing fast rise pulse-width modulation-like voltages. There is no agreement on the exact origin and location of PDs in the module with relying on measured phase-resolved PD patterns. PD control methods using non-linear grading materials are not mature enough.

Slot discharge studies are very important from the insulation diagnosis perspective. Further in practice, testing of rotating machines with power frequency requires sources which are quite bulky and costly. Instead if the diagnosis is carried out at lower frequencies (<50 Hz), the size and cost of the test source can be reduced significantly. Therefore, it is important to know whether the study at low frequencies can be considered equivalent to study at power frequency. Hence, in this study, a slot discharge phenomenon occurring in a rotating machine insulation system was investigated experimentally at different frequencies (50, 10, 1 and 0.1 Hz). Slot discharges are known to have a distinct phase resolved partial discharge pattern for power frequency (50/60 Hz) excitation. These distinct patterns are useful in identifying the presence of slot discharge activity in rotating machines. Slot discharges were created on a 6.6 kV mica-epoxy stator coil and the slot discharge characteristics measured at different frequencies are compared. Slot discharge measurements were repeated by varying the air gap between the insulation surface and grounded steel plate. The changes in slot discharge characteristics due to the increase in air gap were found similar at all frequencies. The comparison suggests that the identification of slot discharge is also possible from the partial discharge (PD) measurement at low frequencies.

UHF (ultra high frequency) method has been widely used in PD (partial discharge) detection for its high sensitivity. The resonance, distortion, and attenuation appearing in the propagation process of UHF signals in GIS (gas insulated switchgear) will influence the real situation of PD detection. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effect of GIS components such as disconnectors or high voltage conductors on the propagation characteristics of PD-induced UHF signals in various voltage classes GIS. The factors of PD signals propagation characteristics in axial and radial directions are both analysed to avoid the effect caused by placement of sensor in this paper. First, the simulation models of GIS are built based on FDTD (finite difference time domain) method. Then the propagation characteristics of PD-induced UHF signals are studied in the GIS with different disconnector gap lengths and different high voltage conductor radii. Finally, the reliability of the simulation results is verified by compared with laboratory tests. The disconnector gap and the change of conductor radii can both result in the signals attenuation which rises highest in the direction of 180°. The lower the GIS class voltage is, the larger the attenuation of signals after passing through disconnector gap is.

Anticorrosion coatings are commonly applied to prevent rust-based corrosion in transmission towers. Unfortunately, anticorrosion coatings may drip onto the surface of composite insulators during the construction process, which is likely to do harm to operation characteristics of composite insulators. This Letter was conducted to determine the influence of anticorrosion coatings on composite insulator performance. The mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, hydrophobic transfer, and flashover voltage of high-temperature vulcanised (HTV) silicone rubber specimens with and without the coating were investigated in detail. Appropriate solutions for avoiding unwanted effects on insulator performance are proposed accordingly. The influence of coating on the pollution flashover voltage of the composite insulator was also determined by changing the type, area, and shape of coating attached to the insulator surface. Finite element software was also used to analyse the effects of coatings on the electric field distribution of the composite insulator. The coating slightly affects the mechanical properties of HTV silicone rubber, but significantly impacts its hydrophobicity and hydrophobicity transfer. The pollution flashover characteristics of test composite insulators covered with the anticorrosion coating are also worst than those without coating.

Currently, it is founded that under unidirectional wind and certain landform, composite insulators are always fan-shaped non-uniformly polluted. In this paper, artificial pollution tests on three types of composite insulators with different shed configurations and under various fan-shaped non-uniform pollution conditions were carried out. Then the flashover performances of composite insulators, porcelain insulators and glass insulators were compared. Results indicate that there is a big difference between ac flashover performance of composite insulators under non-uninform pollution and uninform pollution. The flashover voltage of composite insulator is largely influenced by salt deposit density (SDD), the ratio of SDD of windward side to leeward side (W/L), the occupation ratio of leeward side k and the shed configurations. The relationship between SDD and U₅₀ still meets negative power function when composite insulator is fan-shaped non-uninform polluted. There is a reduction of 17.8–27.6% in the flashover strength when the ratio W/L of SDD decreases from 1/1 to 1/15. The shed configurations of composite insulators have great effects on the flashover performance. Composite insulators always have better withstand property compared to glass and porcelain insulators under either uniform pollution or fan-shaped non-uniform pollution.

Time-domain waveforms of sound pressure pulses generated by alternate current (AC) corona discharge from single corona sources are measured. The pulse amplitude and time interval of sound pressure pulses in positive and negative half cycles are analysed separately due to large differences of the sound pressure pulses in positive and negative half cycles. The influences of instantaneous voltages on the pulse amplitude and time interval are obtained, and statistical distributions of pulse amplitude and time interval are also obtained. Besides, empirical formulas of the pulse amplitude and time interval are derived by numerical fitting method. Based on the statistical results, stochastic simulation of the sound pressure pulses is conducted, and the validity of the simulated results is given by comparing the frequency-domain results and A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) with the measured ones. Finally, the stochastic simulation method is used to discuss modulating influence of AC voltage on the tones emission from AC corona discharge. Besides, the influence of the measurement time on the resultant SPL is also discussed on the basis of the stochastic model. In order to insure the SPL independent of the measurement time, the measurement time should be larger than 0.2 s.

Methods utilising current measurements for conductivity and permittivity determination require precise knowledge of the effective electrode area in order to obtain accurate results. Owing to field distortions (e.g. caused by fringing) in guarded electrode setups, the effective electrode area differs significantly from the geometrical calculated. Focusing on guarded electrode setups for conductivity determination, a generic method based on numerical field simulation is presented allowing a convenient determination of the relevant effective electrode area. For this purpose, a brief overview of yet existing normative guidelines and related research work is provided. State-of-the-art conductivity measurement setups are presented in order to identify parameters which affect the field distribution within the measurement arrangements. The description of the implemented method and its realisation in COMSOL multiphysics is followed by its validation using analytical fringing calculations. Furthermore, presented method is used for the evaluation of fringing effects and additional field distortion caused by design aspects of the measurement cell itself and potential imbalances related to the measurement setup. Moreover, dependencies on conductivity of the surrounding environment are considered. Achieved model-based accuracy enhancements are calculated and are leading to a gain in precision for conductivity determination of up to 25% compared to yet existing approaches.

Here, a new analytical method, state matrix transform method, is proposed for calculating the descriptions of current waveforms generated by commercial electrostatic discharge (ESD) generators. This method can be used to analyse and design lumped parameter ESD circuits. A relatively simple eight elements ESD circuit model is established and used to predict the current waveform of human-metal ESD events. To calibrate the ESD simulator, a mathematical expression of four exponentials curve for ESD current waveform is given. This careful theoretical study of ESD current waveform calculation makes an innovative contribution to ESD generator circuit simulation and design, and it provides a new mathematical description for ESD sensitivity test.

Almost all of the fault current limiters (FCLs) have a negligible voltage drop during normal operation mode of the power system and show considerable impedance during the fault period. In addition, the most of the FCLs employ a reactor to limit the fault current, which carrying a DC current and named DC reactor-based FCL (DRFCL) or carrying AC current named AC reactor-based FCL (ARFCL). Here, a novel ARFCL is introduced for radial distribution networks protection. Then, the ARFCL performance on the limitation of the fault current is compared with DRFCL in a simple radial distribution network. The MATLAB software is used to simulate both FCLs performance and their effect on the fault current. The laboratory prototype of the ARFCL is built and tested for the evaluation of the ARFCL performance during normal and fault operation modes. The simulation and experimental results show the superiority of ARFCL to control the fault current, fast, and set the point of common coupling voltage in an acceptable range.