Convenient Online Approach to Multisource Partial Discharge Localization in Transformer

Partial discharge (PD) online monitoring is an essential part of transformer insulation condition based maintenance and prognostics and health management in industrial power system. In order to realize online localization of multiple PD sources conveniently, an approach that uses single-channel mixed acoustic emission (AE) signal is proposed in this article. First, the combined method based on the singular spectrum analysis and the independent component analysis is used to calculate the number of PD sources and realize the separation of mixed AE signals. Next, a difference selection algorithm is proposed to solve the problem that the inherent disorder of signal blind source separation makes the time difference of arrival technology difficult to localize the multiple PD sources directly. Then, the simulation signals and measured signals have verified that the signal separation effect of the proposed single-channel-based method is no less than that of the multichannel-based method. Finally, the proposed approach is applied to a transformer. The disordered separated signals were successfully grouped to realize multisource PD localization.

Automated summary

This article proposes an approach for online localization of multiple PD sources using single-channel mixed acoustic emission (AE) signal. The approach utilizes a combined method and a difference selection algorithm to separate the mixed AE signals and solve the problem of multiple PD source localization. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified through simulation and measurement signals, and it is successfully applied to a transformer for multisource PD localization.