On-line partial discharge detection in turbine generators

The basic principles, design, and construction of a wide bandwidth directional coupler applied to on-line PD detection in operating turbine generators have been described. This device is known as the SSC. These couplers have been installed on a number of turbine generators. In each case PD has been successfully detected, in some cases in the presence of severe electrical noise. The basic premise under which the SSCs produce outputs and from which discrimination of PD from noise is possible, i.e. pulse shape, has been validated. This result implies that, in principle, the construction of an instrument which would have the ability to acquire the PD data while eliminating electrical noise is feasible. Currently, construction of such a device, known as the turbine generator analyzer (TGA), is underway