On-line partial discharge source location in single-core cables with multi sheath-ground connections

This paper presents an on-line method for location of single partial discharge (PD) source on a cable network with multi sheath-ground connections. The main approach relies on comparing those transient components of currents passing through any two adjacent sheath-ground connections that relate to each other only by parameters of in-between cable. The proposed method is more reliable than the methods based on wave arrival time (ATA), due to processing on more than single points of the two considered PD pulses, which is the basis of ATA methods. This approach is then employed in discrimination between internal and external PD sources on a cable section and also location of an internal PD source on defected cable section. Comprehensive and straightforward guidelines for applying the proposed algorithm in any on-line applications are given. The proposed algorithm has shown accurate simulation results for various PD source characteristics, cable properties, and PD source locations even with additive noise on reference signals.