Quantification of the performance of iterative and non-iterative computational methods of locating partial discharges using RF measurement techniques

This paper evaluates, through simulation, the location performance of an iterative method (the standard least squares method) and a non-iterative method (the Bancroft algorithm). Simulations were carried out using (i) a “Y” shaped antenna array and (ii) a square shaped antenna array, each consisting of a four-antennas. The results show that PD location accuracy is influenced by the algorithm's error bound, the number of iterations and the initial values for the iterative algorithms, as well as the antenna arrangement for both the non-iterative and iterative algorithms. Furthermore, this research proposes a novel approach for selecting adequate error bounds and number of iterations using results of the non-iterative method, thus solving some of the iterative method dependencies.