Double-End Location Technology of Partial Discharge in Cables Based on Frequency-Domain Reflectometry

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Power Systems Analysis
• Non-Destructive Testing

Background:

• Partial discharge (PD) is a critical issue in power cable insulation, potentially leading to insulation failure.
• Accurate localization of PD events is essential for timely maintenance and preventing catastrophic failures.
• Existing PD localization methods may face challenges in accuracy and reliability, especially in complex cable networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a robust double-end location technique for cable partial discharge.
• To accurately determine the region and precise location of partial discharge events in power cables.
• To assess the practical applicability of the proposed technique in engineering contexts.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a frequency-domain reflectometry (FDR) based double-end location technique.
• Utilizing a frequency band modulation technique to establish a reliable transfer function range.
• Employing spectral analysis of the cable transfer function to construct location and region determination functions.

Main Results:

• The proposed technique effectively determines the existence region of cable partial discharge.
• Accurate localization of partial discharge events was achieved with a location error of less than 1%.
• Simulations and experimental results validated the technique's effectiveness and reliability.

Conclusions:

• The FDR-based double-end location technique offers a reliable solution for identifying partial discharge regions and precise locations.
• The method demonstrates significant potential for practical engineering applications in power cable monitoring.
• This approach enhances the safety and operational integrity of power cable systems.