Ensure Partial Discharge Monitoring To Keep Your Machinery Working In Its Optimal State

By Author: Cesar Muler
Total Articles: 106
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Every machine slowly progresses towards its entropic state. In the modern era, we have industries worth a lot of money which can be affected when even a single machine goes to its entropic state. There are many factors that drive a machine towards its entropic state; like heating of the machine, aberrant current flows, vibrations, sounds of particular frequencies, normal forces and frictions; there are probably a million factors but those nominated are the major ones. When Partial Discharge Transformers, motors and generators are the problem, the stakes can be high. Partial discharges account for about one tenth of all losses in motors, transformers and generators. Hence Partial Discharge Monitoring must be carried out on regular basis.

What is common between a transformer, motor and a generator? The coiling; crucial for the functioning of each, an insulated wire, wound around itself, experiencing high induction currents and magnetic forces, they require the current to follow the path intended for it. Partial Discharge Monitoring becomes essential due to defects in the making, defects produced over time and defects of ...
... random origin, the insulation may not remain intact. Especially when the machines handle high voltages, the current can flow from one coil to another through partial discharges; this path is of high resistance and has several effects on the machine.

The high resistance causes overheating of the machine which can be easily monitored by thermal sensors like magnetic mounts that ensure close contact with the walls and provide accurate temperature monitoring, thermal well probes, tap position sensors and bushing sensors. Quick diagnosis of the problem in high Partial Discharge Transformers and rotating will prevent production and economic losses by making the machine utilize optimal power. Besides the increased thermal generation and excessive power consumption, the machine also loses effective coil number or coiling length because the whole current is not flowing through the coil but is now taking shortcuts, reducing the force in a motor and induction in a transformer, thus lowering the production and output; adding to the losses.

In this age of professionalization, no one can handle any problem like a company dedicated to solving a problem, many companies make sensors like coil sensors, coupling capacitors, specific radio frequency detectors and ground path monitors. These sensors can be integrated in to the machines and with the aid of powerful computer software; the data generated can be analyzed into a meaningful diagnosis. Partial Discharge Monitoring can thus be easily handled professionally and discreetly.

There are engineering consultant companies out there that can help you with everything from the start to the end, from choosing the right machinery for the job, installing it the proper way, maintaining it and performing the Partial Discharge Monitoring properly. When the problem is dealt with in proper time, the rotors will run smoother, will consume optimal power, will generate less heat and will not put a drain on the economy but the biggest prevention would be the prevention of complete shutdown, which is the ultimate entropic state of the machine. Knowing before happening of the failure is a success.

All the machines with coiling integrated in to their structure and function are prone to many problems regarding partial discharges. Untreated, this entropic state of Partial Discharge Transformers could lead to lowered efficiency and other losses. Prevention is easier than cure, hence Partial Discharge Monitoring prevents partial discharges for your systems, understand your options better.