Partial discharge investigation of a power transformer using wireless wideband radio-frequency measurements

The remote detection of a transformer internal partial discharge (PD) has been demonstrated using mobile wideband radio-frequency receiving equipment. The PD is externally detectable due to coupling within the transformer tank, causing impulsive signals to be radiated from external connections. A wideband direction-finding technique using a four-antenna array has shown the source of the radiation to be the tertiary winding connections; the radiated impulse has characteristics typical of this method of emission. No other external site of radiation from the transformer was detected. Due to the lack of coupling to the primary and secondary windings, it is believed that the PD is present between the tertiary windings and the core.