Trichel Pulse Analysis: Physical Calculation and Validation by Using Broadband Measurements

Partial discharge measurement is part of the monitoring of equipment in power engineering systems. It provides important information about the condition of the equipment and in particular the condition of the insulation components. This information serves to take necessary preventive measures at an early stage to avoid failures of the affected energy system and thus ensure a high level of energy supply security. Possible causes of partial discharges in energy technology equipment include high field strengths at edges with small radii or defects within insulation materials itself. Depending on the location and extent of the occurrence, partial discharge events may cause lasting damage to components of equipment. In order to be able to interpret the measurement results of partial discharge monitoring with regard to the exact cause and, if necessary, to evaluate them automatically, a precise understanding of the physical phenomena that occur during a partial discharge is necessary. The physical replication of a partial discharge pulse helps to better understand, evaluate, and interpret measurement results and thus create a synergy between measurement data and model-based results.