Patent EA-001639-B1 (EA)
Title: A device for sevnsing electric discharges in test object, preferably a cable joint
Inventor: ERIKSSON THOMAS
IPC: G01R31/12
Filed: 1998-03-09
Abstract: 1. A device for sensing electric discharges in a test object (1) with two electric connection conductors (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), preferably a cable joint, comprising evaluation equipment (EVU) and at least one first and one second sensor (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), each one for direction-sensitive sensing of current pulses through a respective one of the connection conductors by sensing a magnetic field generated by the current pulses, generating and supplying to the evaluation equipment sensor signals in dependence on said current pulses and their direction, the first sensor a first sensor signal (v1) and the second sensor a second sensor signal (v2), whereby the first and second sensors are located at a first mutual distance (L1), corresponding to a first time distance (ΔT1') for sensor signals originating from a current pulse which passes through the test object, and whereby the evaluation equipment in dependence an received sensor signals generates an indication signal (IND), indicating an electric discharge in the test object, when the sensors sense current pulses which flow either in a direction away from the test object through the two connection conductors, or in a direction towards the test object through the two connection conductors, characterized in that the evaluation equipment comprises a first tuning unit (T1) associated with the first sensor and a second tuning unit (T2) associated with the second sensor, each unit, in dependence on the respective sensor signal, forming a first filter signal (SF1) and a second filter signal (SF2), respectively, each one periodically oscillating with a preselected period time (TP) longer than the first time distance, as well as a multiplying member (MU), which is supplied with, and in dependence on said filter signals, forms a product signal (SP), and that the evaluation equipment forms the indication signal in dependence on the product signal. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of the tuning units comprises a resonant circuit (RESD1, RESD2), tuned to resonance at an angular frequency corresponding to said period time, whereby each one of the resonant circuits is supplied with a signal formed in dependence on the respective sensor signal and each one of the tuning units forms the respective filter signal in dependence on an output signal from the respective resonant circuit. 3. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of the tuning circuits comprises a bandpass-filtering member (BPD1, BPD2) with a passband which comprises an angular frequency corresponding to said period time and with a bandwidth corresponding to said decay time, whereby each of said bandpass-filtering members is supplied with a signal formed in dependence on the respective sensor signal and each of the tuning circuits forms the respective filter signal in dependence on an output signal from the respective bandpass-filtering member. 4. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the respective sensor signal is transmitted to the evaluation equipment via a transmission line (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) associated with each one of the sensors, characterized in that it comprises means (IMPD, 6a, 6b) connected to the respective transmission line and terminating this with an impedance which is at least approximately equal to the characteristic impedance (Z) of this transmission line. 5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation equipment comprises a first delay unit (D1) associated with the first sensor and a second delay unit (D2) associated with the second sensor, whereby the first delay unit forms a first measurement signal (SME1) in dependence on a difference of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, delayed by an optional first time delay (ΔT1'), and the second delay unit forms a second measurement signal (SME2) in dependence on a difference of the second sensor signal and the first sensor signal, delayed by the first time delay, and that the first tuning unit is supplied with the first measurement signal and forms the first filter signal in dependence thereon and that the second tuning unit is supplied with the second measurement signal and forms the second filter signal in dependence thereon. 6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second tuning units form the first and second filter signals, respectively, oscillating with a period corresponding to a frequency located in an interval of 10 kHz to 10 MHz. 7. A device according to claims 1-4, wherein the device comprises a third and a fourth sensor (2c, 2d, respectively) for direction-sensitive sensing of current pulses through the respective connection conductor, the third sensor at the same connection conductor as the first sensor, generating and supplying to the evaluation equipment a third sensor signal (v3) and the fourth sensor at the same connection conductor as the second sensor, generating and supplying to the evaluation equipment a fourth sensor signal (v4), whereby the first and third sensors are located at a second mutual distance (L2), corresponding to a second time distance (ΔT2') for sensor signals originating from a current pulse which passes through the test object, and the second and fourth sensors are located at a third mutual distance (L3), corresponding to a third time distance (ΔT3') for sensor signals originating from a current pulse which passes through the test object, characterized in that the evaluation equipment comprises a third delay unit (D3) associated with the third sensor and a fourth delay unit (D4) associated with the fourth sensor, the third delay unit forming a third measurement signal (SME3) in dependence on a difference of the first sensor signal and the third sensor signal, delayed by an optional second time delay (ΔT2), and the fourth delay unit forms a fourth measurement signal (SME4) in dependence on a difference of the second sensor signal and the fourth sensor signal, delayed by an optional third time delay (ΔT3), that the first tuning unit is supplied with the third measurement signal and forms the first filter signal in dependence thereon, and that the second tuning unit is supplied with the fourth measurement signal and forms the second filter signal in dependence thereon. 8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the time distance is at least approximately equal to the third time distance, characterized in that the first and second tuning units form the first and second filter signals, respectively, oscillating with a period time four times longer than the second time distance. 9. A device according to any of claims 5-6, characterized in that said delay units consist of a cable (4a, 4b). 10. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the tuning units comprises a series-resonance circuit (13a, 13b, 13c) connected in parallel with a parallel-resonance circuit (14b, 16), which are supplied with the respective sensor signal, and are tuned to exhibit towards this a constant impedance across a frequency range relevant to the sensing. 11. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the sensors mentioned comprises at least one Rogowski coil (2a, 2b, 2c) arranged around a connection conductor.