Partial discharge (PD) in electrical equipment, such as air switchgear, can lead to insulation degradation and, ultimately, equipment failure. Monitoring PD is crucial for preventing failures and ensuring the reliability of power systems. This study proposes an online monitoring method for PD in air switchgear based on characteristic gases generated by insulation defects. A novel gas detection system is developed that identifies gases released during partial discharge events. The system employs gas sensors to detect specific gases like acetylene (C2H2), methane (CH4), and ethylene (C2H4), which are associated with PD. The system's performance was evaluated in both laboratory conditions and in-field testing, showing that it successfully detected PD events with high accuracy. The research demonstrates the potential for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of PD to improve the reliability and safety of electrical switchgear.

Partial Discharge (PD) Detection, Air-insulated Switchgear (AIS), Real-time Monitoring

Yan, J.; Wang, Y.; Zhou, Y.; Wang, J.; Geng, Y. A novel meta-learning network for partial discharge source localization in gas-insulated switchgear via digital twin. IET Gener. Transm. Distrib. 2024, 18, 1785–1794. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Cairns, W.R.; Butler, O.T.; Cavoura, O.; Davidson, C.M.; Todolí-Torró, J.L.; von der Au, M. Research on environmentally friendly insulating gases under the control of PFAS and fluorine-containing gases and the prospect of application to power equipment. Chin. J. Electr. Eng. 2024, 44, 362–377. [Google Scholar]

Qian, H.; Zeng, X.; Zhou, K.; Zhang, W. Analysis of the correlation between GIS partial discharge current waveform and charge quantity with UHF signals. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2024, 2757, 012015. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Chelmiah, T.E.; Madigan, D.C.; Kavanagh, F.D. An acoustic sensor array approach for localising partial discharges in electric machines. Mech. Syst. Signal Process. 2024, 214, 111354. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Mier, C.; Mor, A.R.; Luo, T.; Vaessen, P. Partial discharge and interference discrimination in gas-insulated systems using electric and magnetic sensors. Int. J. Electr. Power Energy Syst. 2024, 158, 109911. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Wang, X.; Liu, M.; Lu, F. A spaceborne broadband circularly polarized conformal antenna for UHF band applications. Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett. 2024, 66, e34115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Shen, C.; Yan, L. Recent development of hydrodynamic modeling in heavy-ion collisions. Nucl. Sci. Tech. 2020, 31, 90–123. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Jiahao, S.; Shuyan, P.; JinZhao, D. Research status of partial discharge detection of power transformer based on pulse current method. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2022, 2195, 012024. [Google Scholar]

Chai, H.; Phung, B.T.; Mitchell, S. Application of UHF sensors in power system equipment for partial discharge detection: A review. Sensors 2019, 19, 1029. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Azam, S.K.; Othman, M.; Illias, H.A.; Latef, T.A.; Fahmi, D.; Raymond, W.J.K.; Ababneh, A. Unknown PD distinction in HVAC/HVDC by antenna-sensor with pulse sequence analysis. Alex. Eng. J. 2024, 91, 457–471. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Dukanac, Đ. Power Transformer Numerical Modeling to Locate Partial Discharge Source Using the UHF Technique. B&H Electr. Eng. 2023, 17, 24–31. [Google Scholar]

Yan, X.; Cheng, C.; Zhang, C.; Bai, L.; Zhang, W. On-Line Partial Discharge Monitoring System for Switchgears Based on the Detection of UHF Signals. Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 11850. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Mier, C.; Mor, A.R.; Vaessen, P. A directional coupler for partial discharge measurements in gas-insulated substations. Measurement 2024, 225, 113996. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Escurra, C.M.; Khamlichi, A.; Dalstein, M.; Vidal, J.R.; Garnacho, F.; Mor, A.R.; Vu-Cong, T. Methods for partial discharge calibration in gas-insulated substations for HVDC power grids and charge evaluation uncertainty. IEEE Sens. J. 2023, 23, 23486–23493. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Stanescu, D.; Digulescu, A.; Ioana, C.; Serbanescu, A. On the existing and new potential methods for Partial Discharge source monitoring in electrical power grids. In Smart Trends in Computing and Communications: Proceedings of SmartCom 2021; Springer: Singapore, 2021; pp. 155–166. [Google Scholar]

Stanescu, D.; Enache, F.; Popescu, F. Smart Non-Intrusive Appliance Load-Monitoring System Based on Phase Diagram Analysis. Smart Cities 2024, 7, 1936–1949. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Jiang, J.; Wang, K.; Zhang, C.; Chen, M.; Zheng, H.; Albarracín, R. Improving the error of time differences of arrival on partial discharges measurement in gas-insulated switchgear. Sensors 2018, 18, 4078. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Bas-Calopa, P.; Riba, J.R.; Moreno-Eguilaz, M. Measurement of corona discharges under variable geometry, frequency and pressure environment. Sensors 2022, 22, 1856. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Zhang, X.; Gui, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Qiu, Y.; Chen, L. Influence of humidity and voltage on characteristic decomposition components under needle-plate discharge model. IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul. 2016, 23, 2633–2640. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Tan, Q.; Song, B.; Wang, L.; Wu, S. Study on characteristics gases of metal protrusions partial discharge in 10-kV air-insulated switchgear. IET Sci. Meas. Technol. 2023, 17, 221–229. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Zhu, Y.F. Modeling simulation of surface dielectric barrier discharge for nanosecond pulse of atmospheric pressure N2-O2 gas mixture. High Volt. Technol. 2013, 39, 1716–1723. [Google Scholar]

Xin, Z.; Xunnian, W. Numerical simulation and experimental verification of startup excitation characteristics of nanosecond pulsed plasma in atmospheric air. J. Aeronaut. 2013, 34, 2081–2091. [Google Scholar]