The ultra-wide band partial discharge detection is
successfully applied to assess on-line the insulation condition of
plug-in cable connectors. To enhance the performance of this
diagnostic method a series of numerical simulations on the
detailed 3D model of the cable termination was conducted. 3D
modelling of the UHF wave propagation was based on the Finite
Integration Technique. The impacts of sensor’s geometry and
positioning on the UHF PD signal coupling were studied. The
energy of the UHF PD pulse induced in sensor was used as a
criterion for comparison. The eigenmode simulation was
performed to match the working range of the sensors with the
strongest resonance frequencies originating in the cable
termination. The numerical results for capacitive and inductive
sensors of different geometries were successfully verified by a
series of laboratory measurements on a test setup using a built-in
artificial PD defect or a UHF pulse generator