A Compact Detector for Flexible Partial Discharge Monitoring of 10-kV Overhead Covered Conductor Lines

The availability of accurate and cost-effective solutions for the real-time monitoring of overhead covered conductors (CC) is now becoming an important tool for the reliability and condition assessments of this class of electrical lines. This is even more crucial due to the possibly large number of conductors and the wide geographical spread of the electrical network. This letter proposes a smart and compact detector for partial discharge (PD) based monitoring, matching the above needs and offering a flexible and cost-effective solution with some important features, including a non-invasive sensing, a field energy harvesting function, and a low-power working operation. The detector has been designed and implemented, proving its effectiveness on real cases involving PD-affected 10 kV CC lines.