Study on the Measurement Technique and Judgment Procedure of Ultrasonic Corona Imaging Equipment

Corona discharge is a phenomenon wherein gas on the surface of electrical equipment is ionised. Severe ionisation can lead to insulation breakdown and cause equipment damage. Consequently, non-contact portable devices are employed to detect corona discharge in real time while the electrical equipment is pressurised. Recently, several devices capable of visualising corona discharge phenomena occurring in the ultrasonic region have been developed. However, these devices are primarily used for scanning purposes to verify the occurrence of partial discharge, as detailed guidelines for operating the equipment in real-world field conditions are yet to be established. Therefore, this study proposes a measurement technique for utilising ultrasonic corona imaging diagnostic equipment in the field. This technique involves the use of corona discharge electrodes and aged epoxy insulator samples. First, the performance of the ultrasonic corona imaging diagnostic equipment based on environmental conditions was evaluated by varying the distance, frequency, temperature, and humidity using the corona discharge electrodes. Then, parallel measurements were conducted with a high-frequency current transformer sensor on epoxy insulator samples subjected to simple ageing, cracking, and partial surface damage, and the results were analysed. Finally, an efficient measurement technique, including equipment operation procedures, was proposed by integrating the measurement results.