Design of a pulse generator for testing partial discharge measurement systems

This paper deals with the design and implementation of a pulse generator serving as a reference generator for setting up measuring systems for monitoring partial discharges (PD) in high-voltage power transformers or gas insulated switchgear (GIS). After installing the measuring device, it is advisable to test the entire measuring chain and, if necessary, set parameters that would validate the correct detection of PD signals. Fast pulse generators are important for this verification. In systems that sense the electromagnetic activity of PD. The proposed generator should serve as the output stage of a programmable generator, which did not reach sufficient parameters for output pulses. The goal was to achieve a rising time around 100 ps and an amplitude of more than 6 V using very fast operational amplifiers and step recovery diodes to sharpen the input pulse. The measurements show waveforms of the output voltage pulse to evaluate its performance.