EPRI Partial Discharge Monitors: Acoustic Emissions

What:

The PD RF Monitors developed by EPRI are advanced devices designed to detect Partial Discharge (PD) in electrical substations and transformers. These monitors come in two types: one that measures Acoustic Emission (AE) and another that measures Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). Both types are self-contained units that wirelessly transmit measurement data and status information to a base station.
  • What1 3.jpg Bushing AE

How:

The AE monitor uses a piezoelectric transducer to capture minute vibrations caused by PD, effectively filtering out ambient noise. The RFI monitor, on the other hand, connects to internal or external antennas to detect airborne PD signals. Data from these monitors is transmitted wirelessly to a base station, which can aggregate information from up to 48 monitors and send it to EPRI’s secure servers for analysis and storage.
  • How1.jpg Airborne PD signals

Why:

These PD RF Monitors are used to provide utility stakeholders with real-time and historical data on PD activity, enabling timely intervention when necessary. The built-in algorithms convert raw AE and RFI data into actionable information, helping to maintain the reliability and safety of electrical infrastructure. The ease of installation and long battery life make these monitors a cost-effective solution for continuous PD monitoring.
  • Why1.jpg Field data