Experimental Challenges when Measuring Partial Discharges under Combined DC and High Frequency AC Voltage

Abstract

The present paper reviews some of the challenges involved in designing and building an experimental setup for measurement of partial discharge under combined AC and DC voltage. A design of a modular test cell is discussed, as well as all parameters relevant to proper control of the experiment conditions. The described experimental setup is capable of producing sinusoidal AC voltage at a variable frequency up to 5 kHz superimposed a high DC voltage. The challenges related to intermittent noise reduction was remedied by placing the setup in a Faraday cage and controlling the setup from the outside by optical cables. All equipment in the test setup was connected to the power grid through low-pass filters.