Assessment of dielectric degradation by ultrawide-band PD detection

Partial discharges (PD) and the way they affect insulation quality has for decades been a rewarding subject for many researchers. There are two topics that are of particular interest to the workers in the field of PD. One is the impact of a wide variety of statistical tools on the interpretation of discharge data obtained with standard PD detection apparatus according to IEC270. The other topic is the study of discharge-induced degradation processes by looking into the physics of the discharge process. This can be done by different means but a valuable technique, at least for the laboratory, is the use of ultra-wide band PD detection systems. This paper is a mix of a short review on the progression in the understanding of deterioration by internal PD obtained with such systems and of results recently obtained by the author.>