Abstract: An apparatus for generating electrical discharge includes a component that generates an electrical discharge, a measurement circuit configured to measure a magnitude of the electrical discharge, and a controller configured to control the magnitudes of the electrical discharge. A method for controlling a reference partial discharge signal in an electric power system includes generating a partial discharge for built in self test, controlling an expected discharge magnitude of the partial discharge, and includes measuring an actual discharge magnitude of the partial discharge.

Abstract: A sensor package includes at least one conductive trace providing a voltage common and a base supporting the at least one conductive trace. A conductive extension extends from the base so as to contact a conductor of an insulated conductor when the sensor package is mounted on an insulator of the insulated conductor and thereby provide an electrical connection between the conductive trace providing the voltage common and the conductor.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electrical discharge includes a component that generates an electrical discharge, a measurement circuit configured to measure a magnitude of the electrical discharge, and a controller configured to control the magnitudes of the electrical discharge. A method for controlling a reference partial discharge signal in an electric power system includes generating a partial discharge for built in self test, controlling an expected discharge magnitude of the partial discharge, and includes measuring an actual discharge magnitude of the partial discharge.

Abstract: A sensor package includes at least one conductive trace providing a voltage common and a base supporting the at least one conductive trace. A conductive extension extends from the base so as to contact a conductor of an insulated conductor when the sensor package is mounted on an insulator of the insulated conductor and thereby provide an electrical connection between the conductive trace providing the voltage common and the conductor.

Abstract: A partial discharge detection system for detecting partial discharge events in an electrical component includes a transducer configured to receive a signal from the electrical component generated due to an occurrence of a partial discharge and responsively provide a transducer output. A signal processing chain includes a filter coupled to the transducer which filters the transducer output signal and responsively generating a filtered output. A digital signal processor performs a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) on the filtered output and generates coefficients which correspond to different modulation frequencies of the filtered, output. A controller identifies an occurrence of a partial discharge in the electrical component based upon the plurality of coefficients.

Abstract: A partial discharge detection system for detecting partial discharge events in an electrical component includes a transducer configured to receive a signal from the electrical component generated due to an occurrence of a partial discharge in the electrical component and responsively provide a transducer output signal to a signal processing chain A signal processing chain comprises one or more of the following. A filter coupled to the transducer filters the transducer output signal and responsively generating a filtered output. An amplifier coupled to the filter amplifies the filtered output and responsively provide an amplified output. A detector converts the amplified output to a detected baseband signal. A filter removes elements of the baseband signal that are not characteristic of partial discharge and outputs a filtered baseband output.