Characterization of UHF PD Sensors for Power Transformers Using an Oil-filled GTEM Cell

Common reasons for local failures in power transformers are partial discharges (PD) in the electric insulation. The ultra-high frequency (UHF) PD measurement method gained in importance for transformer diagnosis and monitoring within the last years. Due to its robustness against external noise, it is suitable for both, factory acceptance tests (FAT) and site acceptance tests (SAT). For the application at acceptance tests, it is necessary that the UHF technique is a reliable testing method and also comparable between different UHF measurement systems. Therefore, the UHF sensor's characteristic has to be included in a calibration procedure by using its antenna factor (AF). This contribution implements a custom-built oil-filled Gigahertz-Transversal-Electromagnetic cell (GTEM cell) for the AF evaluation. In the first part, the GTEM cell's design and dimensioning are illustrated and the cell is evaluated in terms of its high frequency behavior. The second part determines the AF of two different UHF sensor types: UHF Drain Valve Sensors and UHF Plate Sensors using the GTEM cell. Additionally, the influences of insertion depths and standardized gate valves on the Drain Valve Sensor's AF are taken into account.