1. Project Background: Safeguarding GIS Insulation in Harsh Conditions
Xinjiang is known for its extreme climate—large temperature fluctuations between day and night, low humidity, and frequent environmental stress. These conditions place significant demands on the sealing performance and insulation reliability of Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) in 110kV substations.
Traditional periodic inspections often fail to capture intermittent or early-stage partial discharge (PD) activity. To enhance operational reliability and prevent unexpected failures, Zhuhai Huawang Technology was commissioned to implement a comprehensive online GIS partial discharge monitoring system.
2. Technical Deployment: UHF-Based Partial Discharge Sensor in GIS
In this project, high-sensitivity UHF partial discharge sensors were strategically installed at key positions within the GIS, based on equipment structure and field conditions.
Anti-Interference Capability
The electromagnetic environment on site is complex. By applying advanced filtering algorithms, the system effectively suppresses interference from mobile communication signals and ambient electromagnetic noise, ensuring accurate PD detection.
Real-Time Monitoring
The partial discharge sensor in GIS captures weak UHF signals generated by insulation defects. These signals are transmitted via low-loss coaxial cables to a centralized monitoring unit installed at the substation.
Intelligent Data Analysis
The system automatically generates PRPD (Phase Resolved Partial Discharge) and PRPS (Phase Resolved Pulse Sequence) patterns. These visual tools allow maintenance personnel to quickly identify discharge types and assess insulation conditions.
3. On-Site Implementation
The sensors were installed without disrupting normal substation operation. The compact design and flexible mounting options of the UHF sensors ensured seamless integration with existing GIS equipment.
Field deployment confirmed stable signal acquisition, even under harsh environmental conditions typical of Xinjiang.
4. Project Results and Customer Value
From Reactive Maintenance to Predictive Monitoring
The system enables 24/7 continuous monitoring, replacing reliance on manual inspection and significantly improving fault detection efficiency.
Accurate Fault Localization
With multi-channel synchronous triggering, the system can estimate the location of partial discharge sources based on signal time differences, helping maintenance teams act quickly and precisely.
Proven Reliability in Harsh Environments
The monitoring system has demonstrated stable operation despite extreme temperature variations and dry conditions. All performance indicators meet the requirements of industry standard DL/T 1512.
Conclusion
This project highlights how deploying a reliable partial discharge sensor in GIS can significantly enhance the safety and stability of high-voltage substations. By combining UHF detection technology with intelligent data analysis, utilities can shift from reactive maintenance to proactive asset management—especially in challenging environments like Xinjiang.