Detection and location of internal defects in the insulation of power transformers

With the development of fast, and low-cost analog-digital converters (ADCs) and new mathematical procedures for waveform description, e.g., time encoded signal processing and recognition (TESPAR), novel approaches to detect and locate internal defects in the insulation of power transformers become feasible if the following requirements are fulfilled: the equivalent circuit of the insulating system, suitable for the fast partial discharge (PD) signals with risetimes of ~10 ns, is known; the response of the insulating system to PD signals injected at least at three different sites of each winding (top, center, bottom) is calculated, or measured at the signal tap-off points (i.e., bushings); and the pattern matrix of all calculated or measured signals exists: e.g., encoded and signal processes with TESPAR as a reference. The above mentioned requirements are examined for quasi-simultaneous detection and location of internal defects in power transformers. The method is applied to PD measurements on power transformers