Localization of Partial Discharge by Using Received Signal Strength

The term partial discharge (PD) refers to a partial breakdown in an insulator which bridges two conductors. PD occurs due to insulation defects which arise as a result of high voltage stresses or insulation cracks. Continuous monitoring of PD activity can have a significant impact towards mitigating catastrophic failures. In recent times, it has become possible to detect and locate a PD activity on an automated basis using wireless sensor technology. In this paper, a novel technique for PD detection and localization using a wireless sensor network (WSN) is presented. The localization algorithm is based on received signal strength (RSS).