Online Partial Discharge Testing & Monitoring

Partial Discharge (PD) can be described as localized electrical discharges that only partially bridge the insulation between conductors, which may or may not occur adjacent to a conductor. In General, PD is a consequence of local electrical stress concentrations usually caused by defects within the insulation or alternatively on the surface of the insulation. Generally such discharges appear as small electrical discharges with durations of less than 1µs.

Partial Discharge activity degrades insulation in Medium Voltage (MV) equipment. Once degraded enough the insulation will fail to withstand the normal working voltage of the equipment, and will lead to catastrophic failure.