Application of acoustic emission to high-voltage electric power equipment diagnostics

Abstract

Acoustic emission has been applied in identifying evolving failures of electrical, mechanical or thermal nature in power transformers and reactors. Different kinds of failures can be identified by the characteristics of the signals received and also give the location of the source of the signals. Also, operating sequence and contact timing of on-load tap changers can be evaluated with the aid of acoustic emission. The technique has the advantage of being utilized with in-service, energized equipments, avoiding downtime to perform tests. Case studies of acoustic emission tests performed to condition monitoring of several high-voltage power transformers and reactors, rated 230 and 500 kV are presented. Results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the acoustic emission technique as a tool for the condition diagnostic of electric power equipments. © RILEM 2013.