Simulation of Partial Discharge Induced EM Waves Using FDTD Method—A Parametric Study

This paper reports the results of a parametric study on the characteristics of electromagnetic (EM) waves propagated due to surface- and cavity-type partial discharges (PD) in materials using the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method. First, the EM waves emitted by such discharges in material samples were measured using a broadband aperture antenna. The measurements showed that the frequency range of the measured signals lay within the ultra-high frequency (UHF) range, suggesting that by carefully choosing the UHF antenna characteristics and its location it might be possible to apply this method to characterize the PD-emitted waves; and hence, to potentially use it to detect and monitor PD defects. In this context, the FDTD simulations were used here to simulate the experimental set-up and examine the propagation characteristics of EM waves emitted by such discharges under uniform and non-uniform test electrode configurations. Using an approximation of the exciting PD current pulses, the electromagnetic field components and the voltage signals captured on a simulated monopole sensor were computed in the time domain at various locations. To explore the limits of the application of the UHF method for detecting these PD types, a parametric study was carried out to clarify how the captured signals are influenced by the PD intensity, the frequency content of the exciting PD pulse, the type of insulation material, the dimensions and the position of the UHF antenna. One of the challenges that needs further investigation is the accurate simulation of the actual PD current pulse produced by such discharges, and hence its frequency content, as there is limited or no measured data available. The results showed that while the amplitude of the captured EM signals increase with the PD intensity, no appreciable signal is detected when the PD pulse width is higher than about 4ns, which may not occur often in unbounded air insulated systems. Equally important is the location and orientation of the UHF sensor—the results showed improved sensitivity when the sensor is vertically polarized and placed in close proximity in the lateral direction with reference to the discharge path.