Partial discharge localization method utilizing a 3D optical sensor array

Partial discharge detection, as an effective means for identifying insulation defects, plays a crucial role in the assessment and diagnosis of power equipment's insulation. As a detection method that closely aligns with the intrinsic characteristics of partial discharge, the optical measurement method possesses inherent advantages such as strong anti-interference capability and rich information contained within the discharge spectrum. This paper presents an optical sensor 3D sensor array-based approach for locating partial discharges. The results demonstrate that when satisfying the distance relationship, light entering the sensor surface can be treated as parallel light. The response intensity of optical sensor sensors adheres to the cosine relation between the surface normal vector and incident light angle, resulting in minimal positioning error for discharges occurring in open spaces. However, different positioning accuracies are observed when distributing light sources at various positions within Gas Insulated Switcher (GIS) equipment due to occlusion from guide rods and housing; nevertheless, it still provides certain insights into light direction.