Effect of mechanical vibration on the behavior of partial discharges in generator windings

As mechanical vibration usually exists in HV motors and generators, its influence on the partial discharge (PD) needs to be studied so as to improve the reliability of on-line PD monitoring method. In this report, the mechanical vibration frequency was synchronized to the power frequency and the effects of vibration phase and frequency were investigated. Because the length of the discharge gap changed with the vibration, obvious variation in the slot-PD patterns was observed at different vibration lead phase and frequency. Moreover, when the vibration amplitude was large, it was also found that the PD behavior at low voltage just above the PD inception voltage was different from that at higher voltage. This was explained in terms of the effects of the field variation in the gap due to the vibration and the charges left on the insulating surface due to PD.