Meta-Analysis of Data from Radiometric Partial Discharge Localization Systems

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• High-Voltage Engineering
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Partial discharge (PD) localization is vital for high-voltage equipment integrity.
• Signal strength is increasingly used for PD localization due to data acquisition limits.
• Varied testing conditions in literature obscure factors affecting PD localization accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis of PD localization methods using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and received signal strength indicator (RSSI).
• To investigate the influence of testing conditions and real equipment on PD localization accuracy.
• To compare the performance of TDOA and RSSI-based localization algorithms.

Main Methods:

• Meta-analysis of monitoring system data for radiometric PD localization.
• Application of TDOA and RSSI algorithms.
• Laboratory experiments using a partial discharge source in a potential transformer.

Main Results:

• High standard deviation in localization errors indicates significant variability in study conditions.
• TDOA is sensitive to noise and sampling rates; RSSI is affected by source type and sensor count.
• Real equipment experiments suggest non-omnidirectional signal propagation, impacting accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Controlled laboratory conditions do not accurately represent real-world PD localization challenges.
• Non-uniform signal propagation in actual equipment increases localization errors.
• Further research is needed to account for real-world signal propagation complexities in PD localization.