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Starting with a single PD pulse at 270° of the test voltage, growing in both directions by increasing the test voltage level. (see
following slides)
Only discharges in negative half cycle, similar amplitude, independent from test voltage level.
With test voltage level high above PDIV, there will be additional pulses in the positive test voltage cycle too.

As the tip of the corona spike is comparable big, the inception voltage, but also the PD level be much higher than using a sharp
spike. The second cluster visible well below the corona is a reflection coming from the test voltage supply.

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Even so the voltage increases, there is no change in the PD amplitude. The corona patern just gets wider.

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A further increase of the voltage. Due to the high repetition rate of the the density of the noise floor can decrease. The high
corona impulse following fast after each make it hard for the MPD to detect any small impulses in between.

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Same setup as for the big spike, but due to sharper tip, the inception voltage is lower and the PD level is smaller.

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A phase-to-phase corona is shown in the PRPD pattern

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A corona discharge on ground potential occurs in the positive sinussoidal half cycle.

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Here a reflection below the corona discharge is displayed.

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Let us assume that the dielectric of a ideal capacitor includes a gas void (upper left side figure), the equivalent circuit diagram of
this dielectric would look like shown in the lower left side figure. The capacitors CS and CF form a capacitive divider. Thus the
U1 drop voltage on CF is lower than the applied voltage Ut (right side picture).
If the electric field strength in the insulation becomes higher than the dielectric strength of the gas inside the void, the total
breakdown will appear inside the void. In this moment, the spark gap “S” flashes over and U1 drops to zero, then, the discharge
extinguishes. The process is repeated when the electric field strength in the insulation becomes higher again than the dielectric
strength of the gas inside the void. This process appears at the zero crosses of Ut and depends on the voltage gradient (around
the peaks the voltage gradient tends to zero).

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Void discharges on this cast-resine voltage transformer from a pattern of multiple clearly visible „banana“ shapes around the zero
crossing.

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Typical bow shaped structures, symmetrical in both half waves

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In this example the PD occurs directly in the zero crossing of the voltage and has a „banana“-shape. Most likely caused by some
single cavity.

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These are most likely void discharges. One can see the formation of the bow structures.

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The test-object shown above consists of two electrodes embedded in a silicone cube. In between the two electrodes there is a
defined void inside a polyamide screw.

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The setup does show a PRPD with a symmetric pattern on the left side of the voltage maxima. In comparison to other internal
discharges no bow-structures appear.

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A 145kV capacitive overhead line voltage divider with internal PD.
Symetrical pattern in both half cycles, curved shape.

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Some single bigger cavities (stronger bows) and some micro-voids (also HV corona visible)

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Bow structure in both half cycles, similar amplitude if the cavity is in the center of the dielectric layer.

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Small Transformer insulated with Epoxy Resin, containing metallic particles
Symetrical and quite flat pattern in both half cycles
The picture shows an X-Ray with the probable PD sources in the resin.

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This could be mixed surface discharges and internal PD

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Discharge pulses in both half cycles, but clusters are shaped differently. One half cycle has a higher PD rate, the other one a
higher PD level. The difference of PD magnitude in both half cycles is typically in a range of about 1:3.

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Surface discharges on the surface of a 10kV XLPE cable without terminations
The negative half cycle has higher discharges with a lower density (amount of PD per second).
The positive half cycle has lower discharges with higher density (amount of PD per second).

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The next slides show the PRPD pattern of surface discharges.

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The rule of thumb for surface discharges:
Pattern is three times higher in one half wave, but a symmetric pattern.
(This rule of thumb shall not be overrated. The factor might not be 3, but between 2 and maybe 5.)

Very often, the pattern usually shows a higher repetition rate in the half wave with the lower amplitude.

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A series of discharge pulses with a constant PD level around or after the zero-crossing of the test voltage.
Similar amplitude in both half cycles.
PDIV relatively low.
After a certain time the bad contact becomes better due to the arcing energy, the pattern can disappear.

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Depending on the contact, the PD can have very high altitude even at low PDIV

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Contact PD with reflection from the cable end. Pattern is located in the zero-crossing of the test-voltage and consists of a series
of clusters, all with approximately the same PD-level.
Also visible a two pulse bridge (solid state converter as source for resonance system).

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Similar to contact PD. It will be located close to the zero crossing of the test voltage.
Pulses do not disappear with time.
PD level is more equal compared to contact PD.

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Similar to contact PD. It will be located close to the zero crossing of the test voltage.
Pulses do not disappear with time.
PD level is more equal compared to contact PD.

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6 simliar spaced impulses with very small phase and amplitude variation.
In this case also multiple reflections are shown.

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2 simliar spaced impulses with very small phase and amplitude variation.

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Two groups of two impulses, with variable spacing, depending on the load of the system.
Very small phase and amplitude variation

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3 Phase noise pattern, measured on a 131MVA Powerplant Generator at 7MHz
Lots of vertical lines from indivdual noise sources

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Lots of vertical lines from inverter noise source – switching impulses of the inverter

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Lots of vertical lines from inverter noise source – switching impulses of the inverter

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Some standard literature shows a typical PD pattern.

the patterns differ in: symmetry, amplitude and phase,

PD can be influenced by voltage level, as well as by temperature, pressure, humidity or even rain by onsite measurements.
Monitoring systems examine more than 100 parameters.

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Further information can be found in the paper mentioned above.

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An old paper with basic information about the physics of PD.
This is in the old eclipse view – which can be displayed in the software as well.

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