Bad insulator detection algorithm using microphone array

The paper proposes a new error detection algorithm of bad insulator, a part of high voltage equipment. Hierarchical fault detection method for the high voltage equipment using a microphone array to detect the location of faulty insulator and the thermal image camera to verify the fault and stores the image, respectively. There are partial arc discharges on the faulty insulators, which generate specific patterns of sound and spectrum. Detecting the signal using the microphone array, the location of the faulty insulator can be estimated. The 6th band-pass filter and auto-correlation scheme was applied to remove noise signal from wind or external influence. When the mobile robot carries the thermal cameras to the possible place of the fault insulator, the faulty insulators or power transmission wires can be detected by the thermal images, which are caused by the aging or natural erosion. Finally, the CCD camera captures the image of the faulty insulator for the record. The detection scheme of a fault location using the microphone array and the thermal images has been proved to be effective through the real experiments. As a result of this research, it becomes possible to use a mobile robot with the integrated sensors to detect the fault insulators instead of a human being.