Partial Discharge Detection and Monitoring in Palm Oil

High-voltage transformer is the most critical and expensive component in a power system network in order to ensure the stability of the system. Partial discharge (PD) detection is a technique widely used for high voltage equipment insulation condition monitoring and assessment. PD phenomenon causes gradual deterioration of the insulating materials, sometimes over a period of several years, leading perhaps to eventual failure. Detecting PD in power transformers is vital both in industries and utilities to avoid damage of high-voltage equipment. The objectives for this work are: To detect and analysis the PD activity using acoustic sensor (piezoelectric sensor) and capacitive sensor in natural palm-oil and to compare the sensitivity of the two sensors. The capacitive sensor and PZT sensors were immersed in palm oil tank fitted with two steel electrodes which were connected to range of high voltage (0-15KV) from high voltage source, the detecting signal that gained by the acoustic and electric sensors would pass through high pass filter to eliminate the noise range below 100-KHz then it is connected to the oscilloscope by wiring connections means.