System and method for applying partial discharge analysis for electrostatic precipitator

1. A system for detecting partial discharge activity in an electrostatic precipitator, the system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to receive and transmit signals representative of voltage or current behavior of the electrostatic precipitator; and

a processor configured to receive the signals from the one or more sensors and configured for detecting one or more occurrences of partial discharge activity in the electrostatic precipitator.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is disposed on a bumper of the electrostatic precipitator.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the bumper is coupled to a ground plate of the electrostatic precipitator.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is disposed on a ground lead of a high voltage power supply coupled to the electrostatic precipitator.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an antenna disposed about a high voltage power supply coupled to the electrostatic precipitator.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to process the signals and detect aging of one or more components of the electrostatic precipitator.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to analyze spark patterns in the electrostatic precipitator.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the occurrence is at least one of sparking, corona discharge and commutation noise.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to collect data over time, and further comprising a controller for using the processed data to issue a control signal to the electrostatic precipitator.

10. The system of claim 1 , the processor being configured for:

extracting features from the data related to occurrences of partial discharge in the electrostatic precipitator;

classifying the features to determine if the partial discharge is related to a corona discharge or a spark or a commutation noise;

identifying sources or locations of the occurrences of sparks;

extracting patterns of the occurrences of sparks from partial discharge data collected over a period of time; and

predicting spark behavior in the electrostatic data based on the patterns.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is a partial discharge analyzer.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a capacitor connected to a high voltage power supply coupled to the electrostatic precipitator.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to analyze patterns of the detected one or more occurrences of partial discharge and determine detrimental trends therefrom.

14. An electrostatic precipitator system, the system comprising:

an electrostatic precipitator for extracting pollutants; and

a partial discharge analyzer coupled electrically to the electrostatic precipitator and configured for detecting one or more occurrences of partial discharge activity in the electrostatic precipitator.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising one or more sensors configured to receive signals representative of voltage or current behavior of the electrostatic precipitator and to transmit the signals to the partial discharge analyzer.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the partial discharge analyzer is configured to process the signals and detect aging of one or more components of the electrostatic precipitator.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the partial discharge analyzer is further configured to analyze spark patterns in the electrostatic precipitator.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the occurrence is at least one of sparking, corona discharge and commutation noise.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the partial discharge analyzer is configured to collect data over time, and further comprising a controller for using the data to issue a control signal to the electrostatic precipitator.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the sensor comprises a capacitor connected to a high voltage power supply coupled to the electrostatic precipitator.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the partial discharge analyzer is further configured to analyze patterns of the detected one or more occurrences of partial discharge and determine detrimental trends therefrom.

22. A method for monitoring partial discharge activity in an electrostatic precipitator, the method comprising

obtaining current or voltage data from the electrostatic precipitator;

detecting patterns in the data indicative of partial discharge; and

analyzing the patterns for determining a normal condition or an aging condition of one or more components of the electrostatic precipitator.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising sending an alert message to a controller if an unacceptable aging condition is detected.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising providing control instructions for operating the electrostatic precipitator within an allowable voltage range.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising collecting the current or voltage data over a period of time for an electrostatic precipitator.

26. The method of claim 22 , the detecting and analyzing further comprising:

extracting features from the data related to occurrences of partial discharge in the electrostatic precipitator;

classifying the features to determine if the partial discharge is related to a corona discharge or a spark or a commutation noise;

identifying sources or locations of the occurrences of sparks;

extracting patterns of the occurrences of sparks from partial discharge data collected over a period of time; and

predicting spark behavior in the electrostatic data based on the patterns.