Partial Discharge Testing
A partial discharge test can be dangerous and expensive if not located and detected early on. Void and surface tracking are the types of partial discharge which have the highest potential to cause damage to equipment or create an arc flash.
In general, Partial discharge testing occurs where there is high voltage present and defects of various types cause an area of electrically stressed insulation to eventually break down. Void discharge is the result of breakdown across a void in the insulation whereas surface tracking results from contaminated insulation and occurs on the outside of insulation. These can occur in high voltage equipment such as transmission or distribution systems or in high voltage electrical machines such as generators or motors.
Because partial discharge damages equipment over time, it is often difficult to determine how severe the damage is. Regular inspection makes the process of initial detection and monitoring fast and easy. It can be helpful to focus on connection points of the system since those are the most common places for Partial discharge to occur.
Mega Power team carry out comprehensive partial discharge testing and provides recommendations to identify and correct defects in electrical networks.