Practical partial discharge pulse generation and location within transformer windings using regression models adjusted with simulated signals

The early identification and location of high-frequency current pulses related to partial discharges (PDs) in the solid insulation of power transformers enable the optimization and planning of maintenance interventions, preventing unexpected power interruptions and reducing downtime. Even though several techniques for PD signal experimental generation and location have been proposed in the literature, limitations can still be noted, such as the difficulties in generating current signals similar to the PDs in incipient conditions and in the appropriate location. In view of these, in this work, new methods of experimental PD high-frequency current pulses generation and location are proposed, based on, respectively, the realization of small capacitive disturbances along the transformer windings and the use of multiple linear regression models. The proposed strategies allow the generation of current pulses similar to the PDs resulting from the initial degradation of the solid insulation and their effective location along the windings, even if only computational simulated data is employed in the adjustment of the locator linear regression models.