New practices for partial discharge detection and localization in large rotating machines

This paper presents a new technique for detection and localization of partial discharges (PD) in large rotating machines. In this technique, denoted "InTech", a stator winding with (n) coils is equipped with (n + 1) inductive sensors; as a result, every stator coil is situated between two sensors. The measurement is then focused on the individual stator coils. In this way common difficulties facing partial discharge measurements in rotating machines such as attenuation and distortion of the signals in the stator winding, noise reduction, and the calibration accuracy are reduced considerably. The treatment of the sensor signals, using a special method, results in a measurement of PD in each respective stator coil. In addition, the stator coil from which the PD originates is identified. Results from field measurements on both hydro and turbo machines are presented and discussed.