Initial experience in the Snowy Mountains Scheme with the PDA and installation and use of permanent capacitive couplers on hydro generators

Abstract

This paper describes t h e initial experiences of t h e Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority with O n t a r i o Hydro P a r t i a l Discharge Analyser (PDA) technology. T h e f a c t o r s necessitating modification of t h e standard XLPE c a b l e coupler a n d its installation method a r e described. S o m e initial PDA test m e a s u r e m e n t results and t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a r e presented.Comparisons a r e m a d e b e t w e e n P D A a n d o t h e r discharge d e t e c t o r measurements.T h e significant improvement in t h e Authority's knowledge of t h e condition of i t s g e n e r a t o r s t a t o r windings as a result of initial PDA m e a s u r e m e n t s is noted and it is concluded t h a t P D A condition monitoring will b e a n i m p o r t a n t tool in f u t u r e m a i n t e n a n c e s t r a t e g i c planning in t h e Snowy Mountains Scheme.