Optical detection of partial discharges using fluorescent fiber

An optoelectronic system for detecting partial discharges in a sheltered HV device is described. The system consists of a fluorescent plastic optical fiber, with photomultipliers or photodiodes measuring the light intensity at the end of the fiber. The result depends on various factors that might influence the optical detection sensitivity. Information is given on commercially available fluorescent fibers to facilitate the best choice of fiber/photodetector pair for a given application.>