The specialized production of partial discharge testers for UHV power can help many power workers conduct various power tests more conveniently.
What is partial discharge?
Partial discharge (PD) is a discharge or spark that bridges a small portion of insulation between two conductive electrodes. Partial discharge may occur at any point in an insulation system where the electric field strength exceeds the breakdown strength of the insulation material in that part. Partial discharge may occur on the surface of insulating materials (mainly due to pollutants or irregularities), inside bubbles in liquid insulation, in gaps in solid insulation, or around electrodes in gas (corona activity).
Local emissions
The energy emitted by partial discharge is as follows:
Electromagnetic radiation, in the form of radio waves, light, and heat
Acoustic emission, within the audible and ultrasonic range
Ozone and nitrous oxide gas
The evidence provided by partial discharge activity indicates that assets are deteriorating in a manner that is highly likely to cause failure. The degradation process can propagate and increase until the insulation can no longer withstand electrical stress, leading to flashover. The ultimate failure of HV/MV assets is usually sudden and catastrophic, resulting in large-scale damage and network interruptions.
