Photoacoustic spectroscopy for fault diagnostics in high voltage power transmission systems: A review

The diagnosis of incipient faults in high-voltage power transmission equipment is vital to the normal operation of the power grid. Monitoring the contents and variation trends of the decomposition gases is a diagnostic method widely used to determine incipient faults. Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), with the advantages of fast response time, compact structure, strong anti-interference ability, and real-time and in-situ monitoring, is an effective technique to detect decomposition gases for fault diagnostics of high-voltage power transmission systems. In this review, a brief introduction to PAS's theoretical background and system requirements is first described. Subsequently, a detailed summary of the recent applications of PAS to high-voltage power transmission systems, with a focus on fault diagnosis in both oil-immersed power transformers and SF6-insulated equipment, is provided. Finally, PAS perspectives for using decomposition gas analysis to monitor faults in high-voltage power transmission lines are discussed.