Technology Development

IPEC launched the world’s first continuous on-line partial discharge monitor in 1998, the OSM98. It was the result of a five year development program carried out in collaboration with The University of Manchester.

The OSM98 was a wall mounted system with 24 channels. These supported AE (Acoustic Emission) and HFCT (High Frequency Current Transducer) sensors.

Historical partial discharge data could be analysed by dialling into the monitor and using a standard web browser to view the data.

This web based approach to data analysis proved very successful as no specialist software was required by the customer to view the data.

As the technology was developed, the data acquisition rates increased and the systems became compatible with a wider range of PD sensors.

 

Research & Development

IPEC remains at the forefront of research into continuous PD monitoring.

IPEC has accumulated a database containing over 60 million examples of partial discharge sampled at a high resolution from a wide range of HV assets. This unique data resource is used for the continuous development of PD detection algorithms improving the accuracy and reliability of the analysis.

New products are under development that will make PD detection and location easier than ever before.

 

Published Papers

• "Influence of Network Events on Partial Discharge Activity"

Dr. C.D. Smith, IPEC Ltd, Matthieu Michel, EDF Energy
20th International Conference on Electricity Distribution CIRED, Prague, 8-11 June 2009

• "Avoidance of MV Switchgear Failure & Case Studies of On-line Condition Monitoring"

Cliff Walton, Sarah Carater, PPA Energy, Matthieu Michel, EDF Energy, Carl Eastham, IPEC Ltd
20th International Converence on Electricity Discharge CIRED, Prague, 8-11 June 2009

• "Integrated Condition Monitoring for Subsea Power Cable Systems"

Roman Svoma, PowerSure Technology Ltd, Colin Smith, IPEC Ltd, Chris Conway, Bandweaver
20th International Conference on Electricity Distribution CIRED, Prague, 8-11 June 2009

• “Advances in Continuous Partial Discharge Monitoring”

Colin Smith, Patrick Fleming, IPEC Ltd, Matthieu Michel, EDF Energy
19th International Conference on Electricity Distribution CIRED, Vienna, 21-24 May 2007

• "Condition-Based Asset Management"

Dr. C.D. Smith, Dr. L.A. Renforth, IPEC Ltd, Ross Mackinlay, HV Solution, Cliff Walton, LEGroup
18th International Conference on Electricity Distribution CIRED, Barcelona, 12-15 May 2003

• “Effective Asset Management for Life Extension of HV Plant”

Dr. C.D. Smith, Dr. L.A. Renforth and C. Armstrong
IPEC Ltd, High Voltage Plant Life Extension, Laborelec, Belgium, 23-24 November 2000

• “A Novel Approach to the Condition Assessment of HV Plant incorporating On-Line, Remote Access Acoustic Emission and Electromagnetic Partial Discharge Sensing”

C.D. Smith, L.A. Renforth, J. Zhao, K. Tavernier A.J., IPEC Ltd, McGrail, The National Grid Company plc
Proc. of 1st International Conference on Insulation Condition Monitoring of Electrical Plant, Wuhan China, 24-26th September 2000

 

Published Articles

• “On-line cable condition monitoring”

Switched On Magazine, EDF Energy, Nov 2004

• “PD Monitoring – A critical tool for condition based assessments”

Transmission and Distribution World, Dec 2003