A Modular Approach for Teaching Partial Discharge Phenomenon Through Experiment

Partial discharge (PD) monitoring is an effective predictive maintenance tool for electrical power equipment. As a result, an understanding of the theory related to PD and the associated measurement techniques is now necessary knowledge for power engineers in their professional life. This paper presents a modular course on PD phenomenon in which the design experiences are distributed across different modules so that ABET criteria are met to a great extent. The teaching methodology involves delivering theoretical lectures on concepts related to PD and its measurements, along with laboratory experiments, assignments, open presentation, and so on. The evaluation methodology comprises examinations, both oral and written reports, and an assessment of the effectiveness of teamwork and of the course itself by means of student feedback. Analysis of student feedback showed that the students liked the course and felt it would be helpful for their professional advancement.