PORTABLE PARTIAL DISCHARGE DETECTION DEVICE

• US 20110156720A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prysmian SPA
• Original Assignee: Prysmian SPA
• Inventors: Di Stefano, Antonio, Fiscelli, Giuseppe, Giaconia, Giuseppe Costantino, Candela, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 8,816,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/629
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/1272 of cable, line or wire insulation, e.g. using partial discharge measurements locating faults in cables G01R31/083

Abstract

A partial discharge detection device for detecting and measuring partial discharges in electric systems or components, which delivers signals having a form much resembling that of the radiated pulse, for improved identification and analysis. The device is of small size, totally insulated and self-powered, and allows measurements to be performed with the highest safety with no need for direct connection, thereby allowing operators to stand at a distance and avoid any system shutdown while making measurements. Furthermore, it can also detect and deliver the sync signal, which is obtained by picking up the supply voltage of the discharge generating components.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A portable device for detecting partial discharges in a discharge source object comprising a wide-band antenna capable of being adapted to act as an electric field sensor and comprising a first planar conductor cooperating with a second conductor comprising a profile converging toward the first planar conductor at one point or along a line, wherein said second conductor is smaller by about two orders of magnitude than a field wavelength to be detected, so that the wide-band antenna is non-resonant in a band from about 0.1 MHz to about 100 MHz.

18. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first planar conductor has a size such as to contain at least the projection of the second conductor over the first planar conductor.

19. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second conductor has a three-dimensional shape.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second conductor has a shape of a hollow sphere or a hollow half cylinder or a hollow cylinder or a rational cusp.

21. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second conductor has a bi-dimensional shape.

22. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the second conductor has a shape of a disk or a flat cusp.

23. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second conductor has a diameter or a height from 3 to 30 cm.

24. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein an auxiliary magnetic field sensor is connected in series with said wide-band antenna.

25. The device as claimed in claim 24, wherein a wide-band amplifier is provided for adjusting the impedance of the wide-band antenna and/or the auxiliary magnetic field sensor and for amplifying the received signal thereby.

26. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said wide-band amplifier is equipped with high-frequency operational transistors and/or amplifiers.

27. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein control means are provided, which comprise a potentiometer for controlling the amplification of said electronic wide-band amplifier.

28. The device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said control means also short-circuit the terminals of the wide-band antenna or the auxiliary magnetic field sensor.

29. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein a synchronization circuit is provided for detecting the supply voltage of the source object by capacitive coupling, to synchronize the detected signals with the voltage that generates said detected signals.

30. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein two BNC connectors are provided to supply at the outside, the output signal of the wide-band amplifier and the output signal of the synchronization circuit, respectively.

31. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein an electronic circuit is provided for acquisition, processing and storage and/or transmission of an acquired signal or signals.

32. The device as claimed in claim 31, wherein all components are housed in a portable container, further comprising a compartment for the batteries that supply power to the circuits.