1

Localization of Partial Discharge Sources along

HV and MV Cable Routes
F. Puletti, M. Olivieri, A. Cavallini, Member, IEEE, G. C. Montanari, Fellow, IEEE

Abstract--In this paper, partial discharge (PD) source

localization on HV polymeric cable systems is dealt with. The
capability to detect defects within insulating systems helps avoid
premature and unexpected failures and constitutes the
prerequisite for any effective risk analysis. Therefore, partial
discharge assessment, mainly aimed at detecting localized
degradations, can improve reliability and availability of electrical
apparatus, supporting effective practices of condition based
maintenance. However, information about the exact location of
the defect generating PD, which is a fundamental item for an
optimized and cost effective maintenance action, cannot be
derived from the usual results provided by partial discharge
measurements. Three different methods for PD source location
based on ultra wide bandwidth detection approach are presented
in this paper. Experiences of on site application of these three
methods are reported and discussed. Moreover an analysis of the
effectiveness of the different methods in relation to the type of
cable system under test is provided from both economical and
technical points of view.
Index Terms-- Risk Management, Cable Systems, Defect
Localization, Partial Discharges, On-site Cable Testing.

I. INTRODUCTION
The need of reducing asset management costs while
increasing the availability of the electrical systems calls for
advanced and effective tools to assess asset conditions.
Therefore, effective diagnostic techniques are needed to drive
proper condition based maintenance (CBM) actions.
Partial Discharge (PD) measurement is recognized as the
most effective technique to detect localized damages in
insulation systems. However, PD investigation can provide
misleading or non effective evaluations since results can be
heavily affected by several factors, such as the presence of
noise, the simultaneous presence of different PD activities, the
difficulty of identifying the nature and the position of the
source generating a certain partial discharge phenomenon. A
new approach, based on pulse waveform detection and
analysis, which is able to address successfully the above listed
issues, [1,2], has been presented recently.
This paper focuses on localization of defects in cable
systems. In fact, provided that a PD measurement apparatus is
able to reject noise, identify the presence of weak points and
F. Puletti and M. Olivieri are affiliated with TechImp, Bologna, Italy
(fpuletti@techimp.com, molivieri@techimp.com)
A. Cavallini and G. C. Montanari are affiliated with the Department of
Electrical Engineering, University of Bologna, Italy (e-mail:
andrea.cavallini@mail.ing.unibo.it, giancarlo.montanari@mail.ing.unibo.it).

evaluate their harmfulness [3], which is already a fundamental

achievement to drive CBM actions, its capability to locate the
defects along the cable route is the key for the optimization of
the needed maintenance actions.
The method proposed by the authors to address PD
measurement issues can be summarized briefly as follows. A
ultra wide band (UWB) detection system is used to sample
and store a large number of signals (including partial
discharge impulses), then the obtained dataset is divided into
clusters of homogeneous phenomena according to pulse shape
analysis. As a result, the original PD pattern is split in several
sub-patterns relevant to the above clusters. Each sub-pattern is
analyzed and identified trough artificial intelligence (AI)
techniques running on a set of parameters derived from the
main partial discharge distributions (occurrence time, height
and phase) [2]. This procedure is able to (a) provide effective
noise rejection and (b) identify the nature of each PD activity
occurring within the system under test. The latter is a
fundamental prerequisite to assess the harmfulness associated
with a given PD phenomenon (risk assessment). The same
detection system used to implement the above procedure can
be exploited to address the localization of defects generating
PD along a cable route. In the following, different methods to
locate PD sources are introduced and discussed, also in
relation to the type of cable system under test. Moreover,
testing experiences involving localization on cable systems
(rated from 220 kV to 400 kV) using the different proposed
methods are presented.
II. PD PULSE PROPAGATION AND LOCATION IN
CABLE SYSTEMS
II.1 PD source location methods
PD source location in a cable system can be achieved in
different ways. The most common options are:
(a). Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR). This technique
exploits the characteristics of the pulse train generated by
the reflections of a single PD pulse at cable terminations.
It has been dealt with in literature extensively (see, e.g.,
[4]) and, therefore, it will not be recalled here in detail.
(b). Arrival Times analysis. Through this method the location
is derived by means of simultaneous detection and
sampling from different locations. This technique,
originally proposed in [5], evaluates the arrival time of the
same PD pulse at different sensors along the cable route.
(c). Frequency-Amplitude analysis. It is a technique based on
the comparison of the characteristics of PD pulses

detected from several measurement locations. This

method has been first introduced by the authors in [6] and
can be regarded as an approximate location tool. This
method will be commented in the following.
II.2 Attenuation and dispersion as a tool to locate PD pulses
PD pulses are generated at the defect site as fast pulses having
rise and decays time of few nanoseconds and hundreds of
nanoseconds, respectively. Due to attenuation and dispersion,
these features are not preserved by pulse traveling in cable
systems. These phenomena can be used to locate PD sources
resorting to the so called Frequency-Amplitude analysis.
Attenuation
Attenuation is due to (a) dielectric losses in the solid
dielectric, (b) propagation through the resistance of semiconducting layers [7]. Due to attenuation, pulses are subjected
to reduction of the largest frequency components in their
spectrum. In particular, it is shown in [8] that attenuation, , in
XLPE cables is a function of the distance, z, traveled by a PD
pulse and of the frequency :

( z , ) = exp[ ()z ]

2nd reflection

Fig. 1: PD pulse generated at one termination of a cable system 260 m long

traveling twice along the cable route.

Therefore, the closer the detection point to the defect, the

larger the magnitude and the frequency content of PD pulses,
while the smaller the pulse duration. In order to extract
information relevant to frequency content and time duration,
the authors proposed to use the so-called equivalent timelength, T, and bandwidth, W, [1,6]. These two features can be
used as a mean to separate PD pulses on the basis of their
shape, as well as to provide an approximate estimation of how
close the PD pulse is to the coupler. This information can be
finally exploited for the location purpose along a cable route.

(1)

where the function () (reported in [8]) shows that

attenuation is severe for frequencies larger than a few MHz.
Dispersion
Dispersion occurs since components having different
frequencies will travel along the cable route at different
speeds. Thus, a frequency-dependent phase change will take
place:
(z , ) = exp[i()z ]

1st reflection

(2)

This phase change, will distort PD pulses even in the ideal

case where frequency-dependent attenuation does not take
place.
Summarizing the above paragraphs, both attenuation and
dispersion distort PD pulses as they travel along a cable route.
In general, it can be said that PD pulses will lose frequency
content due to attenuation, while they will spread in the time
domain due to dispersion. As an example, Figure 1 shows a
PD pulse injected at one cable termination and its reflections
[4] in correspondence of the other termination after
propagation through the complete cable route once and twice:
first and second reflection. As can be seen, the original PD
pulse loses most of its high frequency component while
traveling along the cable once (see the differences between the
first pulse and the first reflection), then attenuation and
dispersion become less significant (see the differences
between the first and the second reflection).

II.3 Discussion
It is self evident that methods a, b and c are characterized
by different efficiency and involve different costs.
TDR can be carried out on short cables only. In fact,
usually, for polymeric cable lengths that exceed 2 km, PD
pulses may suffer too much attenuation, so that reflections
cannot be properly detected. However, this technique,
involving a single measurement point only (one termination)
can be convenient, being fast and cheap. When the cable
length is so long to prevent TDR to be applied, the amplitudefrequency analysis technique, involving measurements carried
out from all the accessories, is certainly the most suitable
solution to achieve an effective evaluation of the overall cable
system and, at the same time, a first response about the
localization of possible PD sources.
When the evidences provided by this latter method are not
conclusive to locate a defect generating PD, a feasible way to
achieve a final location is resorting to method (b)
(simultaneous measurement). This is a very effective
technique, but involves considerable human and technological
resources. As a matter of fact, besides needing a multi-channel
simultaneous acquisition system, it requires laying fiber optic
cables from the sensors installed in different points along the
cable route to the single acquisition system.
III. ON SITE TESTING EXPERIENCES PD SOURCE
LOCALIZATIONS

Three different testing experiences, carried out for

localization purposes using the three methods previously
discussed, and all relying upon the UWB detection system
introduced above[1,2,6], are reported in the following. All the
tests are relevant to on-site diagnostic assessment of HV crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) cable systems.

For these tests PD were measured using High Frequency

Current Transformers (HFCT) installed in correspondence of
the cross bonding cables of the joints and around the
grounding connections of the terminations.
A. Defect localization by means of time-domain reflectometry.
The first example discusses the results of a test carried out
on a buried 132 kV XLPE cable link. The system is composed
by 3 cable spans, 2 joints and 2 outdoor terminations per
phase. The length is 136 meters. An off-line PD test was
carried out at 1.1 U0 (83 kV) using a Variable Frequency
Resonant Test Set (VFRTS). The cable was connected on one
side at the VFRTS, while it was open-circuited at the opposite
termination. The test setup scheme is reported in fig. 2.

(a)

27 meters

(b)

Fig. 4 (a) Pulse train relevant to a PD pulse detected from the termination. The
position of the reflection allows source location to be derived. (b) location
mapping reporting the results of location analysis of several PD pulse trains.

Fig. 2 Cable system under test. The PD sensor (HFCT) was installed in
correspondence of ground connection of termination A, which was the fed
termination.

During the test, a PD activity was detected within the cable

system. The PD pattern of this activity, reported in Fig. 3, was
processed by the identification software of the diagnostic
system which recognized that PD could be ascribed to an
internal defect. The identification prompted localization of the
defect site in order to carry out maintenance actions.

Fig. 3. Characteristics of PD activity detected during the tests described case

A: PD pattern,.

To locate the PD source, the TDR technique was applied.

In particular, the same measurement configuration and
hardware used to detect PD pulses were employed to infer the
defect position. Here, however, the UWB hardware able to
acquire PD signals was operated with a time length of 10 us.
In this way, PD pulses could be recorded along with their
reflections at the opposite termination. An estimate of the
pulse propagation speed along the cable was achieved by
injecting a calibration pulse at the cable termination (VRFTS
side).
An example of a pulse train detected during the test is
reported in Fig.4a. From such a pulse train the propagation
speed of 1.69E+8 m/s can be calculated (according to the
distance between the first peak and the 2L peak in Fig. 4a).
This speed is consistent with the estimation obtained during
calibration (difference less than 2%). The position of the
reflection peak provides an estimation of the distance between
the PD source and the measuring point of 27 meters. The same
analysis was carried out on several other pulse trains and the
results were plotted in Fig. 4b (location mapping). The
location results were centered around an average value of
about 27 meters (with extreme values of 25.5 and 28 m). Since
the cable system had a joint installed 27 meters away from the
termination, it was decided to replace this joint. After
replacement, the PD test was repeated. This time, no PD were
detected, confirming the diagnosis of the first assessment.

At each measurement location several phenomena were

detected. Therefore, a careful analysis was needed in order to
separate the different activities and avoid mistaking PD
phenomena for external disturbances and vice versa. In order
to infer the location of all the detected phenomena, method (c)
(frequency-amplitude analysis) was used. To do this, the
measurement data relevant to each accessory were first
separated highlighting the different phenomena. Then, the
maximum amplitude and average equivalent bandwidth for
each PD phenomenon were plotted as a function of the
measuring point along the cable route. As an example, the bar
chart relevant to amplitude and average equivalent frequency
of a corona activity (identified through pattern analysis) is
reported in Fig. 5. From this chart, it can be concluded that
this activity is generated in correspondence of termination T2
(where pulses have the largest magnitude and equivalent
bandwidth), which is coherent with the fact that this activity
has been identified as corona.

90,00
80,00
70,00

Bandwidth [MHz]

60,00

Amplitude [mV]

50,00
40,00
30,00
20,00
10,00
0,00
F

T2

Fig. 5 Bar chart relevant to the maximum amplitudes and average equivalent
bandwidth of PD pulses belonging to corona discharges at termination T2.

Besides discharges on terminations (all of them located

through amplitude frequency analysis) a PD activity was
detected along the cable route. The analysis of amplitude and
frequency of the signals recorded from different measurement
points relevant to this activity gave the result depicted in Fig.
6. As can be seen, at one joint bay (joint #H) the frequency
and amplitude of PD were at maximum indicating joint #H as
the most probable origin of the defect detected along the cable
route.

14
Amplitude
Frequency

60

Amplitude [mV]

An off-line after laying PD test was carried out on a XLPE

400 kV cable circuit. PD test was carried out at 1.1 U0 (254
kV) using a VFRTS.

70

12

50

10

40

30

20

10

Frequency [MHz]

B. After laying PD test on a 400 kV cable system: defect

localization by means of frequency-amplitude analysis.

0
E

Location

Fig. 6 Bar chart relevant to the maximum amplitudes and average frequency
content of PD pulses belonging to the PD phenomenon of Fig. 7, detected in
various joint bays of the HV cable system under test. Measurements on joint
bays #G, #L and #M (non sectionalized straight joints) had lower sensitivity
than for the other (sectionalized) joints, which explains the missed observation
of PD activity.

The analysis of the PD pattern detected on joint bay #H

provided by the automatic identification tool identified the PD
phenomenon as caused by internal discharges with
membership 100% and the treeing alert was activated [3]. The
joint was, therefore, cut and replaced. After joint replacement
the cable eventually proved to be PD free.
C. Assessment of a 220 kV cable system: defect localization
by means of arrival time analysis.
An on-site test was carried out on a buried 230 kV XLPE
cable system that was operated for some years. Repeated
failures had occurred during service life and, after various
maintenance actions, the utility decided to investigate the PD
activity in the cable link. Condition assessment based on PD
test was, therefore, carried out at 1.1 U0 (146 kV) using a
VFRTS.
During energization, a significant PD activity (300 pC) was
detected from several measurement locations. After noise
rejection and data analysis, the activity was characterized in
terms of pattern, amplitude and frequency behavior. Pattern
analysis allowed to conclude that the defect nature was
internal. Amplitude frequency analysis was used to try to
locate the PD source. In this case, however, the presence of
straight joints (characterized by a lower PD detection
sensitivity with respect to cross bonding joints) did not enable
to carry out a satisfactory location. In particular, from the
maximum amplitude/average equivalent bandwidth (reported
in Fig. 7) it was not possible to decide whether PD pulses were
occurring at joint 3, 4 or 5 (joint 4 was a straight one).

of further PD phenomena.

Amplitude [mV]

160

16

Frequency [MHz]

140

14

20

Te
rm
in
at
io
n

Joint 6

J.
5

40

J.
4

60

J.
3

J.
2

10

80

J.
1

12

100

120

Joint 5

Fig. 7 Measured value of maximum amplitude and average frequency of PD

pulses detected along the cable route, sequential testing on 220 kV XLPE
cable, method (b).

Therefore, additional investigations were needed to locate

precisely the PD source. For this purpose, arrival time analysis
was employed. This method requires PD sensors to be
installed at two or three consecutive accessories along the
cable route and a multiple channel simultaneous acquisition
system to be used for PD detection. A traveling pulse arrives
(and is detected) at different times in the three sensors. Thus,
if the pulse propagation speed is estimated accurately through
calibration, the differences between the arrival times allow an
accurate PD source location to be achieved. To carry out such
measurements, the signals detected by the three sensors were
sent to the acquisition unit through fiber optic decoupling
systems suitable for high frequency signals. Before laying the
fiber optic leads, the system was calibrated to take into
account the time delays due to the differences among the
lengths of the fiber optic cables. In fact, one fiber optic cable
was 1 km shorter than the other two. This difference was
compensated by adding an artificial delay, evaluated during
calibration (roughly 3s).
It is noteworthy that the PD measurement tool devised for
the location was also provided with all the diagnostic features
described above [1,2]. Therefore, besides acquiring
simultaneously the pulses from the three sensors, the tool was
able to separate the different discharge contributions on the
basis of pulse shape and achieve noise rejection. As a result, it
was possible to focus the arrival time analysis on pulses
actually belonging to the detected PD activity, solely. An
example of arrival time sequence (for joints 3, 5 and 6) is
reported in Fig. 8.
On the basis of the results reported in Fig. 8 (all the pulses
acquired, belonging to the PD phenomenon, presented the
same arrival time behavior) it could be concluded that the PD
pulse reaches the sensors installed in correspondence of joints
#3 and #5 almost at the same time, while it arrives roughly
after 3.6 s at the third sensor installed in joint bay#6.
According to the calculated propagation speed (1.71E+8 m/s)
and the lengths of the cable spans, the evaluation of the
differences among the arrival times indicated that the source
generating PD was located in joint #4. Joint #4 was therefore
replaced. A PD measurement was then carried out again to
confirm the diagnosis and to provide a quality control of the
installation of the new joint, and did not provide any evidence

Joint 3

Fig. 8. PD location by time-of-arrival analysis. The same PD pulse is detected

by the three sensors. As can be seen, comparing the position of the pulses, the
signals acquired from joint #3 and #5 are to be considered almost
simultaneously (in fact, the fiber optic connection relevant to joint #5 is 1 km
shorter than the others). Thus, PD source is likely located midway between
these two joints, i.e., at joint 4, method (b).

IV. CONCLUSIONS
The reported experiences of PD source location application
provides significant insights into effectiveness and viability of
the analyzed three methods for PD location in cables. While
TDR seems to be the most cost-effective and convenient way
to achieve PD location, its performance is affected by cable
length; in particular, this method cannot be employed for long
cable systems. Moreover, in cable systems it is very important
to carry out sensitive measurement in all the accessories and,
clearly, this cannot be achieved using a single measurement
point when the length of the cable reaches significant values.
Amplitude frequency analysis can be always obtained as a byproduct of a PD survey carried out on cable installations. It
seems, therefore, the most convenient technique to address
both PD detection and location for mid-long cable
installations. However, sometimes, it could be not conclusive,
particularly in the presence of straight joints. Finally arrival
time analysis seems to be very effective, but quite expensive
and complex for data evaluation to be employed as the first
option. Rather, it must be employed when amplitude
frequency analysis fails to provide conclusive evaluations but
has already focused the attention on a few joints.
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[1]
[2]

[3]

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Inference in On-Field Measurements. Part.2: Identification of Defects in
Solid insulation Systems, IEEE Trans. on DEI, vol.10, no. 3, pp. 528538, June 2003.
A. Cavallini, G. C. Montanari, F. Puletti, A Fuzzy Logic Algorithm to
Detect Electrical Trees in Polymeric Insulation Systems, accepted for
publication on IEEE Trans. on DEI, Vol. 12, April 2005.

6
[4]

[5]

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[7]

[8]

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