Interference-compensated optimization of UHF partial discharge localization for open environment

• Published in: Measurement : journal of the International Measurement Confederation Vol. 257; p. 118916
• Main Authors: Chan, Jun Qiang, Azam, S.M. Kayser, Raymond, Wong Jee Keen, Illias, Hazlee Azil, Othman, Mohamadariff
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.01.2026
• Subjects: Electromagnetic interferences; Localization; Partial discharge; Substation; Time difference of arrival (TDOA); UHF; Substation; UHF; Partial discharge; Electromagnetic interferences; Localization; Time difference of arrival (TDOA)
• ISSN: 0263-2241
• DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2025.118916

Real-time environmental interferences such as surrounding telecommunication are highly unpredictable and can cause errors in measured partial discharge (PD) signals, ultimately affecting the accuracy of PD localization based on time difference of arrival (TDOA). This study introduces a simple and effective compensation technique designed to mitigate the effects of electromagnetic interferences at nanosecond precision. Field measurements were conducted in an outdoor open environment within a 10 m × 10 m × 2 m space under varying interference conditions. The proposed compensation technique significantly improved localization accuracy with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) achieving a 60.81% improvement and reducing the average error from 3.30 m to 0.55 m. Other optimization algorithms, including Newton Iterative (NI), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO), and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) were also employed for benchmarking, with PSO outperforming other methods. Notably, PSO’s simpler computational formulation resulted in significantly faster processing, being 27, 7.6, and 7.1 times faster than WOA, ACO, and GWO respectively. Additionally, this technique eliminates the need for complex PD localization algorithms by directly addressing environmental interferences that cause errors in TDOA. The proposed compensation method serves as a crucial advancement toward enhancing PD measurement in substations. •Iterative algorithms were fine-tuned using simulated data to near-perfect accuracy.•All algorithms were then tested practically with real world open field data.•An effective technique was implemented to compensate for dynamic interference.•With compensation, the average localization error reduced from 3.30 to 0.55 m.