Partial electrical discharges at insulations or connection points are caused by inhomogeneities, contamination and faults. They can be used for early detection of faults in electrical systems. If repairs are not implemented, partial discharges lead to breakdowns and thus irreversible damage to insulations and electrical equipment. Partial discharges can already occur from 400V and thus affect almost any equipment or system in the low, medium and high voltage range.
Used in combination with ultrasonic testing device SONAPHONE, the parabolic dish SONOSPOT detects damages that are difficult to reach or further away e.g on transmission and distribution lines. The high sensitivity and the precise directionality of the sensor allows detection of electrical partial discharges and damage at electrical insulations on e.g. medium-voltage equipment or switchgears. PD activity increases over time and can lead to progressive and irreversible damage in insulation systems.
The SONAPHONE range of devices are used in a large variety of industries. The extensive software and accessories available enable these devices to be used for a multitude of applications. Ultrasound data, including levels, spectra, and audio can be recorded during individual or series of tests. All data can then be transferred from the device to a computer and presented through the SONAPHONE DataSuite software, for further trending and analysis.
Another method to inspect electrical assets is to use our SONASCREEN acoustic camera. The acoustical visualization of ultrasound allows defective components to be identified with pinpoint accuracy and without interrupting plant operation. Your maintenance staff can easily detect high-frequency sounds from partial discharge, such as corona, tracking or arcing. Furthermore, typical forms of partial discharge can be recognized in the spectrogram. Regular ultrasonic inspections of electrical assets will help to detect partial discharges at the earliest stage and to ensure plant reliability and safety.
