PD20 Acoustic Imaging Camera for Partial Discharge on Power Systems

PD damage could cause a massive 85% of disruptive failures in HV and MV equipment

Substation failure can cause severe outcomes, including injury or fatality, creating outages and halting production.

Cables, underground cables and switchgear are not easy to test during routine maintenance. However, if problems occur, Partial Discharge (PD) causes flashover and loss. It will damage the High Voltage switchgear and cabling and cost many repairs, replacements, and production halts. We can predict Power system issues from warning signs, most notably Partial Discharge (PD). Detecting and measuring PD activity gives insight into the condition of HV assets without the need for shutdowns or invasive testing methods.

Partial Discharge (PD) is a failure of part of the insulation system to withstand the electrical field. It can result from poor design, workmanship, defective materials, contamination, or ageing. This failure results in a high frequency, unipolar discharge and accompanying current that flows through or on the surface of the insulation from the conductor to the ground. This current pulse is low energy due to its short (microsecond) duration, but it can negatively affect the insulation and eventually cause catastrophic failure.