Optimization of Partial Discharge Detection Sensitivity of Transient Earth Voltage Sensors Using FDTD Modeling

Partial discharge (PD) measurement provides early warning information for assessing the condition of high voltage (HV) power equipment insulation systems, so maintenance can be taken to prevent service interruption due to isolation failures. Many methods and sensors have been tried and developed to detect PD. PD produces electromagnetic waves that can be detected using transient earth voltage (TEV) sensors. The TEV sensor is small, and it can be easily used by attaching the sensor to the metal casing of power equipment in several positions. This paper presents the optimization of TEV sensor by electromagnetic wave propagation simulation using three-dimension finite difference time domain (FDTD) modeling. The simulation was made with a three-dimension finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulation software (CTC Co.; MAGNA TDM version 8.3). The structure of newly proposed TEV sensor is optimized for partial discharge measurement in terms of a more compact physical construction and simpler to manufacture. The TEV sensor structure was developed and optimized using the FDTD software domain before the physical sensor was tested. The approach in this paper will help to make TEV sensor designs more compact in certain applications in the future.