Partial Discharge testing
Maximising high voltage network integrity, keeping you online, all the time.
Online Partial Discharge Testing
By harnessing the power of partial discharge testing, businesses & industries can gain valuable insights into the health & performance of their electrical assets.
Online Partial Discharge (PD) testing provides an accurate assessment of the insulation condition for your plant rated at 3.3 kV and above.
LIVE HV provides testing, while the plant is in service. The integrity of the insulation condition can be assessed and locations of concern can be identified without requiring an outage. PD testing can be conducted on Cables, Rotating Machines, Switchgear, and Transformers.
Online Partial Discharge Applications
- Periodic Testing
- Continual Partial Discharge Monitoring
- Non-intrusive Partial Discharge Site Survey
- Partial Discharge Sensor Installation
Online PD testing services
Online PD Testing
Online PD testing is an excellent insulation condition tool which can be deployed rapidly. Without requiring an outage, whole network assessments can be performed, across all HV assets, in as little as a day. LIVE HV can identify and pinpoint areas of concern so they can be addressed before an unplanned outage occurs.
LIVE HV PD Testing Benefits
- The best condition assessment tool for MV & HV plant
- Detect & locate imminent faults prior to failure
- No requirement for outage during testing
- No additional stress placed on plant during testing
- Reduce downtime & increase safety
Cables
LIVE HV can provide Online PD testing services for cables rated from 3.3 kV to 750 kV and use cable mapping to pinpoint any discharge detected to within 0.5% of the cable’s length. High Frequency Current Transformers (HFCT’s) are used to detect discharge from the entire cable length including any joints or terminations.
Cable PD Testing Benefits
- Provide accurate condition assessment of cable
- Check cable joint & termination integrity to prevent failures
- Cable mapping for PD location while cable is energised
- Advanced noise filtering for electrically ‘noisy’ conditions
Motors & Generators
Online PD testing is widely accepted as the best condition assessment tool for motors and generators rated from 6.6 kV to 30 kV. Testing can be made using portable or permanent High Frequency Current Transformers (HFCT’s) or permanently installed coupling capacitors.
Motor PD Testing Benefits
- Identify & monitor insulation damage prior to failure
- Spot testing or continuous monitoring
- Monitoring with split core HFCT’s if no coupling capacitors are installed
- Differentiate between slot section & end winding discharge
- Monitor machine from remote end of HV cable if machine is in a hazardous area
Switchgear
Our Online PD monitoring in switchgear can identify dangerous PD activity and anticipate insulation faults before they occur, removing the chance for switchboard failure and increasing safety. Non-intrusive sensors including Transient Earth Voltage (TEV), Acoustic and High Frequency Current Transformers (HFCT’s) are used. If you are already taking PD measurements with a ‘handheld’ PD testing device LIVE HV can assist by providing diagnostic and PD location services.
Switchgear PD Testing Benefits
- Accurately assess & quantify the asset condition
- Detect & locate pending insulation faults prior to failure
- Increase switchboard safety
- Reduction in potential downtime
Case Studies
SwitchgearTransformers
Online PD testing produces an instant condition assessment of your transformers insulation via spot testing; or extended monitoring is performed to determine how operational and environmental impacts affect the transformer during regular use. Measurements are taken while in service via bushing tap sensors, acoustic sensors or HFCT’s attached to connected HV cables.
Transformer PD Testing Benefits
- Identify & monitor insulation damage prior to failure
- Trend insulation condition without outages
- Acoustic testing for defect location
- Reduce downtime & increase safety
Complete Network Monitoring – Hazardous Areas
LIVE HV can provide insulation condition monitoring across your entire HV network. Installed HFCT sensors at the central switchboard enable diagnostic readings to be obtained from all connected assets. This was specifically designed for the Oil and Gas industry to enable PD measurements of HV motors installed in hazardous areas. The technique eliminates any requirement to install sensors at the machine, rather the sensors are installed in the remote switchboard.
Our expertise
Australian pioneers in online Partial Discharge, our experience & technical knowledge are unrivalled.
- Flexible assessment options for all industries
- Spot testing & continuous monitoring for all HV plant
- Insulation defect detection & pinpointing
- Precise reporting with actionable recommendations
- Multiple assets tested per day
Where we work
LIVE HV are proud to offer all of our services across Australia and New Zealand.
- Mobile testing vans
- Latest range of test equipment
- Experienced, qualified technicians
Case Studies
Read more for examples of LIVE HV providing engineering and service solutions for our partners.
A mine site in NSW, Australia was experiencing reliability issues with their 33 kV cable network
A pipeline across Queensland comprised of several pumping stations. The machines at six of these pumping stations were monitored, while
During an online Partial Discharge survey at a Queensland resort, high levels of Partial Discharge were detected while assessing medium