Accurate estimation of the time-of-arrival of partial discharge pulses in cable systems in service

• Published in: IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 1190 - 1199
• Main Authors: Wagenaars, P., Wouters, P.A.A.F., Van Der Wielen, P.C.J.M., Steennis, E.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-08-2008; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Analytical models; Assessments; Cables; Computer simulation; Criteria; defect location; Delay estimation; Frequency domain analysis; Frequency domains; Impedance; Mathematical analysis; Methods; Noise shaping; Partial discharges; Position (location); Power cables; Pulse measurements; Pulse shaping methods; Shape; signal analysis; Studies; System testing
• ISSN: 1070-9878; 1558-4135
• DOI: 10.1109/TDEI.2008.4591242

Accurate location of the origins of partial discharges in power cable systems, based on arrival times, is imperative for the identification and assessment of defects. This paper evaluates different time-of-arrival algorithms in order to determine which method yields most accurate location under different circumstances. These methods are based on trigger level, Akaike Information Criterion, energy criterion, Gabor's signal centroid and phase in frequency domain. Several criteria are defined by which the algorithms are evaluated. These criteria include the sensitivity to noise, pulse shape and effect of load impedance. The sensitivity of the methods upon varying these quantities is evaluated analytically and by means of simulations. Further, the methods are tested on a medium-voltage cable system by injecting PD pulses in a cable with one joint. Each algorithm is applied to the measured pulses and the resulting location is compared with the known joint location. From the results the energy criterion method and the phase method show the best performance.