Partial discharge localization in transformer windings using multi-conductor transmission line model

Multi-conductor transmission line model (MTLM) of transformer winding has been used to find partial discharge (PD) location in transformers. To decrease computational complexity of the model, two methods for calculation of model parameters were studied and the most suitable method was chosen based on comparison between measured and calculated transfer functions of a 132 kV/20 kV transformer. To investigate the accuracy of MTLM in PD localization, PD pulses produced by a PD calibrator were injected into different points of a research 20 kV/0.4 kV transformer and measured at both ends of the winding. The sectional winding transfer functions computed by the model were used to refer measured PD signals to possible PD locations. Then by comparison of referred signals, PD location in the winding was estimated.