Partial Discharge Detection using Developed Low-cost High Frequency Current Transformer

Maintenance of high voltage equipment is vital in order to detect an early partial discharge (PD) activity. PD based on IEC 60270 standard is defined as a localized electrical discharge that occurs between conductors and it only partially bridges the insulation. Nowadays, a commercial high-frequency current transformer (HFCT) has been used widely as a current transducer to detect and measure the PD current. However, commercial HFCT is very expensive in the market and quite heavy due to a large size. This paper presents a development of low-cost HFCT using ferrite core with a few benefits such as low cost, lightweight and also has a wide operating bandwidth which is suitable in detecting PD. Due to it is an iron-cored, it has also offered a higher sensitivity which makes the PD measurement more accurate. Two configurations of the developed HFCT with the different number of turns at the secondary side which are 7 turns and 12 turns were presented to analyze the higher sensitivity for PD detection. Based on the obtained results of PD measurement between two configurations of developed HFCT, the developed HFCT with the lower number of turn had more appropriate results as it provided higher sensitivity and wider bandwidth.