Smart DC Power Lines: Predictive Maintenance and fault location trough partial discharge analysis

As part of the WP6 “Smart cable diagnosis” Saliha has been focused on the materials used in cables and other assets by simulating basic partial discharge faults on AC and DC  both in the computer and in reality, and correlating the results with promising results for future applications in the monitoring or off line diagnostics of cables. Partial results have been shared trough publications and events to the High Voltage community.

This research focusses on the Study of Partial Discharges (PD) under DC voltage conditions. Characterization of the partial discharge on most common faults on a high voltage element under DC and generation of a “PD pattern” map on DC, similar to the available PD pattern on AC, allowing the differentiation between the basics failures in the laboratory under controlled circumstances. Partial discharge being one of the most reliable marker for dielectric quality under AC, mounting expectations for a similar prospect under DC conditions is a thriving notion. Some of the topics dealt with during the period of research are: Creation of artificial PD defect sources, Electrical PD measurement, Data Acquisition and Partial Discharge defect identification. The Analysis of the discharge data is the key aspect of this research. The analysis is primarily carried out using MATLAB user software amongst others. It has been focussed on the materials used in cables and other assets by simulating basic partial discharge faults on AC and DC both in the computer and in reality, and correlating the results with promising results for future applications in the monitoring or off line diagnostics of cables. Partial results have been shared trough publications and events to the High Voltage community.

Secondments

1^st secondment

University of Strathclyde (performed by former ESR11 Ondrej Kozak) (05.2017 – 08.2017)

2^nd secondment

Fundación para el fomento de la innovación industrial FFII (06.2019 – 07.2019)

Achievements

Saliha focused on the defect recognition under DC creating visual patterns that represent the unique behavioral features of various defects on HVDC that will be representative of defects on the system.

During her research, Saliha deals with the measurement of time synchronized PD measurements through conventional electrical means of signal acquisition. She deals with measurement and acquisition of high frequency (HF) signals and advanced signal processing in order to derive useful information from the discharge data. She has been performing repeated high voltage PD tests on insulation systems. Some of her research outcomes are as highlighted below:

• The in-depth study of the corona discharge under DC yielding unique features of each corona stage and patterns for defect identification
• Study of floating electrode defect patterns under AC, with a mathematical model for the defect behaviour.
• A detailed study of the floating electrode defect progression under DC stress conditions, providing once again several unique patterns for its identification.
• Investigation on the phenomenon of surface discharge under DC voltages.
• 6 papers have been delivered covering her research

Thesis title

Smart DC power lines: predictive maintenance and fault location through partial discharge analysis

Publications

• “Physical interpretation of the floating electrode defect patterns under AC and DC stress conditions”. Saliha Abdul Madhar, Petr Mraz, Armando Rodrigo Mor, Robert Ross (International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems) [Repository Link: https://pure.tudelft.nl/portal/en/publications/physical-interpretation-of-the-floating-electrode-defect-patterns-under-ac-and-dc-stress-conditions(5c9066e4-f88e-4b7e-9e6f-1b13488e64cd).html]
• “Study of Corona Configurations under DC Conditions and Recommendations for an Identification Test Plan”. Saliha Abdul Madhar, Petr Mráz, Armando Rodrigo Mor, Robert Ross (International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems) [Repository Link: https://pure.tudelft.nl/portal/en/publications/study-of-corona-configurations-under-dc-conditions-and-recommendations-for-an-identification-test-plan(de3e933b-b10c-486b-9935-609450f69d9b).html]
• “Simultaneous Electrical and UHF Measurement of DC-PD from Point-Plane Defect”. Saliha Abdul Madhar, Philipp Wenger (Proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering – Volume 2) [Repository Link: https://pure.tudelft.nl/portal/en/publications/simultaneous-electrical-and-uhf-measurement-of-dcpd-from-pointplane-defect(58f4b609-6ca9-4299-bbc6-e52407440543).html]
• “Simultaneous Electrical, UHF, Current and Optical PD Measurements on Floating Potential under DC Stress”. P. Wenger, S. Abdul Madhar, M. Beltle (2019 IEEE Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena (CEIDP)) [Repository Link: https://pure.tudelft.nl/portal/en/publications/simultaneous-electrical-uhf-current-and-optical-pd-measurements-on-floating-potential-under-dc-stress(d281a258-780d-4a6a-9564-713c5e8386ec).html]
• “Frequency response of a real cable network and its impact on field PD measurements”.  S. Abdul Madhar, P. Mraz, S.Barrios, N. Akroud ( CIRED, 25th International Conference on Electricity Distribution) [Repository Link: https://pure.tudelft.nl/portal/en/publications/frequency-response-of-a-real-cable-network-and-its-impact-on-field-pd-measurements(fee5df26-5b9a-4abe-9b37-f721859b3434).html]

Current position

PhD Researcher at HAEFELY AG