The analysis of ultrasonic signals by partial discharge and noise from the transformer

This paper presents the analysis of ultrasonic signals by the partial discharge in a model transformer as well as by corona in the air at a shielded high-voltage laboratory. In addition, various noises onsite, a 345-kV substation, were measured and analyzed, for example, the vibration by core magnetostriction, cooling pump, cooling fan, onload tap changer (OLTC) operation, OLTC filtering unit operation, and air discharge pulse by corona on the transmission line. Therefore, electrical and mechanical noises onsite were removed using the proper narrow bandpass filter and the noise discrimination algorithm. Also, the developed online ultrasonic detector was applied to detect partial discharge in a 154-kV transformer with a warning level in C₂H₂ gas. As a result of an internal inspection, the source of partial discharge was found at the estimated position based on ultrasonic detection and its reliability was verified.